Kentucky Grants

Federal Grants:

ESSA Title II-A (Supporting Effective Instruction)
- What it is: Professional development, teacher mentoring, reducing class size
- Why it matters: Can support PD for staff adopting new attendance or HR systems, or training to improve their time tracking software setup.
ESSA Title IV-A (Student Support & Academic Enrichment, SSAE)
- What it is: one of the most flexible ESSA funding streams. It allows districts to invest in three areas: (1) well-rounded education, (2) safe and healthy students, and (3) effective use of technology. Up to 15% of Title IV-A technology funds can be used for infrastructure upgrades.
- Why it matters: This is a strong federal funding fit for Touchpoint’s SmartClocks and teacher absence software. Districts can justify purchases as technology that supports staff accountability, accurate HR compliance, and safe school operations—ensuring teachers are present and classrooms are covered, which directly impacts student learning and safety.
ESSA Title VB (Rural Education Achievement Program)
- What it is: Provides additional flexibility to small, rural, and low-income districts. REAP funds can be used to support activities allowable under Titles I-A, II-A, III, and IV-A, giving rural schools more options to address local needs.
- Why it matters: Because REAP dollars can be spent on Title IV-A activities, rural districts can use them for time and attendance systems, HR/payroll compliance software, and SmartClock hardware. This is a particularly valuable path for small districts that need to modernize operations but have limited budgets.
Perkins V (Career and Technical Education)
- What it is: Provides federal funds to states and districts to strengthen career and technical education (CTE) programs. Funds support technology, equipment, instructional materials, and program operations that align education with workforce needs. The goal is to ensure students in high schools and postsecondary programs gain the skills and experience required for in-demand careers.
- Why it matters: Perkins dollars can be used for technology and equipment purchases tied to CTE program delivery. Touchpoint’s time and attendance software and SmartClock hardware help districts ensure CTE instructors, aides, and lab supervisors are present and accountable, so students consistently receive the hands-on instruction they need. By tracking staff time and absence within CTE programs, districts can demonstrate program quality, maintain compliance with federal performance measures, and align with Perkins’ mission to prepare students for the workforce.
BSCA Stronger Connections Grants
- What it is: A competitive, one-time federal infusion (via BSCA) administered by PDE, with funds available for obligation through September 2026. Applications were invitation-only for high-need LEAs identified by PDE (based on poverty, violence, exclusion, and lack of mental health supports). Awards ranged into the millions for selected districts and must be used for activities under Title IV-A Section 4108 — focused on safe, healthy, and supportive schools.
- Why it matters: For districts that qualified, Stronger Connections is a powerful opportunity to fund infrastructure hardware like SmartClocks that improve accountability and safety visibility. By framing these devices as security technology that ensures real-time staff presence, emergency headcounts, and attendance tracking, schools can cover significant hardware deployments while tying them directly to safety and climate goals.

Kentucky State-Specific Grants:

Kentucky Education Technology System (KETS)
- What it is: The Kentucky Education Technology System (KETS) is a statewide matching-funds program that ensures every district maintains a baseline level of modern technology infrastructure. Each year, the state provides “Offers of Assistance” that districts must match with local funds, effectively doubling the investment in core technology. The 2024–2030 Master Plan outlines Kentucky’s priorities around equitable access, cybersecurity, network reliability, data systems, instructional technology, and long-term sustainability. Eligible costs include hardware, networking, software, security systems, and administrative platforms that directly support teaching, learning, and school operations.
- Why it matters: For districts, KETS dollars represent a guaranteed and recurring stream of technology funding that can be planned into multi-year strategies. Because the program covers both instructional and administrative systems, schools can justify investments not just in classroom devices, but also in accountability and compliance tools. This means SmartClock hardware and absence/time management software could be positioned under KETS as part of the district’s technology infrastructure for staff accountability, secure access, and operational efficiency. With the state matching local dollars, districts that adopt solutions tied to compliance, safety, and data integrity effectively get a 2-for-1 return on their tech investment—making it one of the most reliable ways to sustain and scale systems that improve both staff and student outcomes.
SEEK (Support Education Excellence in Kentucky)
- What it is: An annual, recurring, formula-based funding stream for Kentucky school districts—no application required. The General Assembly sets a per-pupil amount; districts receive allocations based on ADA with add-ons for at-risk, exceptional child, transportation, LEP, and home/hospital. SEEK includes Capital Outlay funds restricted to capital purposes and supports the district’s general operating budget where administrative systems are funded.
- Why it matters: Why it matters: Because SEEK is predictable and recurring, districts can confidently budget for both capital assets (SmartClocks) and operational software that improve compliance, safety, and efficiency. SmartClocks can be scoped as facility-integrated assets (capital) when tied to building/security infrastructure, while software and services can be maintained in general operating budgets. This combination gives districts a sustainable path to deploy and scale time tracking solutions that underpin accurate payroll, staff accountability, and reliable coverage, ultimately supporting instructional continuity and operational resilience.

Miscellaneous Areas to look into:

School Safety & Resiliency Act (SB 1, 2019)
- What it is: An ongoing Kentucky school safety law (SB 1, 2019) that mandates access-control practices, annual security risk assessments, SRO coverage (as funds/personnel allow), threat-assessment teams, and an anonymous reporting tool—while authorizing the Center for School Safety to run safety grants when funded by the General Assembly. There is no fixed application window in the statute; funding opportunities arise via periodic state appropriations and agency announcements.
- Why it matters: Because SB 1 requires secured entries, locked classrooms, visitor ID/badging, and documented safety readiness, districts need building-mounted, durable security and accountability hardware that proves who is on campus and when. SmartClock-style devices (often POE, wall-mounted) dovetail with access-control and emergency muster workflows, strengthening compliance with SB 1 and providing auditable presence data for drills and incident response. When paired with compatible software, districts can meet SB 1’s proof-of-practice expectations, while using state safety allocations or SB 1-enabled grant dollars (when announced) to fund initial deployment.
Kentucky Education Technology System (KETS)
- What it is: The Kentucky Education Technology System (KETS) is a statewide matching-funds program that ensures every district maintains a baseline level of modern technology infrastructure. Each year, the state provides “Offers of Assistance” that districts must match with local funds, effectively doubling the investment in core technology. The 2024–2030 Master Plan outlines Kentucky’s priorities around equitable access, cybersecurity, network reliability, data systems, instructional technology, and long-term sustainability. Eligible costs include hardware, networking, software, security systems, and administrative platforms that directly support teaching, learning, and school operations.
- Why it matters: For districts, KETS dollars represent a guaranteed and recurring stream of technology funding that can be planned into multi-year strategies. Because the program covers both instructional and administrative systems, schools can justify investments not just in classroom devices, but also in accountability and compliance tools. This means SmartClock hardware and absence/time management software could be positioned under KETS as part of the district’s technology infrastructure for staff accountability, secure access, and operational efficiency. With the state matching local dollars, districts that adopt solutions tied to compliance, safety, and data integrity effectively get a 2-for-1 return on their tech investment—making it one of the most reliable ways to sustain and scale systems that improve both staff and student outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we use safety grants for SmartClocks?

Yes. Many federal and state-level school safety grants allow funding for secure entry systems, visitor management, and accountability technology. Attendance kiosks and time-collection devices often qualify when tied to improving building safety, student supervision, and emergency preparedness.

Do federal funds cover staff training for new systems?

Absolutely. Federal programs like Title II-A and Title IV-A explicitly permit the use of funds for professional development and training. This means districts can not only purchase new compliance or attendance systems, but also train staff to use them effectively.

Which grants require local matches?

Most formula-based federal funds (such as Title I–IV, IDEA, Perkins) do not require a local match. However, some competitive safety and security grants (for example, COPS SVPP or certain state-level safety funds) may require a partial cost share. Districts should review the application guidelines for each program.

What’s the best fit for rural or small districts?

Rural and small districts often benefit most from flexible funding streams such as the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP/RLIS), smaller targeted state safety grants, and regional cooperative programs (like service agencies or intermediate units). These sources are designed to give smaller districts the flexibility to cover essential needs like attendance or HR compliance technology.

Can foundations or private donations support pilot projects?

Yes. Across the U.S., local education foundations, community foundations, and corporate giving programs frequently support pilot programs, innovative technology, or attendance improvement initiatives. Many states also have tax-credit donation programs where businesses fund local education foundations. These funds can help districts test attendance or HR tools before scaling them district-wide.