Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania State-Specific Grants:

PCCD School Safety & Security Grants (Act 44)
- What it is: Recurring grants for SROs, SPOs, security tech, and safety training.
- Why it matters: Ideal to fund hardware like visitor management kiosks, access control systems, and secure entry points.
PCCD School Mental Health & Safety Grants
- What it is: State-run, often with federal passthrough funds, for student wellness staffing and programs.
- Why it matters: Can be leveraged to fund tools that track attendance and early warning signs of disengagement.

Miscellaneous areas to look into:

Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)
- What it is: Businesses get tax credits for donating to Education Improvement Orgs.
- Why it matters: District foundations can secure private dollars to fund attendance or compliance pilots.
Grable & Neubauer Foundations [their site]
- What it is: Focused on innovative models, blended learning, data-driven improvement.
- Why it matters: Ideal for piloting new attendance apps or HR compliance systems.
Basic Education Funding (BEF Formula)
- What it is: Annual, formula-based state aid (Basic Education Funding) appropriated in the PA state budget and distributed by PDE to public school districts each fiscal year—no application needed; funds are programmed through the district’s budget process.
- Why it matters: Because BEF is unrestricted operating revenue, districts can allocate it to infrastructure hardware like SmartClocks and the required software/services—and sustain them year over year—without being constrained by grant category caps or eligibility carve-outs. This makes BEF one of the most reliable pathways to deploy and maintain district-wide time tracking solutions.

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.