In order to adapt and respond to extraordinary student needs and circumstances, especially during the 2020-21 school year, Impact on Education has transitioned our long-standing Opportunity Fund into a new Student Academic Support Fund. We will begin this as a pilot program in Fall 2020 (September-November), evaluating applications on a case-by-case basis. Up to $10,000 will be available per month to fund student needs.

This year, with our Critical Needs Fund dollars being used to support large-scale district initiatives including providing home internet to every student in need, continuing food distribution for students facing food insecurity, and plans to address gaps in learning stemming from the school building closures, we know that schools may still face immediate student need for academic support to supplement district plans.

We have created a Google form that we ask school administration to use to request funding from Student Academic Support Fund. The form includes information about community resources (Spanish Version) outside of IoE as well, for schools to consider first.

These highly flexible Student Academic Support Funds should be used as a final resort to access funding for the following categories:

• Class fees (lab materials, textbooks, test fees, concurrent enrollment fees, costs for specific classes and activities)

• Technology (adaptive technology, software licenses, devices, device supplemental equipment)

• Supplemental equipment (specifically class supplies or equipment items that are needed to support students’ at-home learning or because classroom items cannot be shared)

• Transportation expenses (RTD bus passes, bicycles) so that kids can get to school for child care, outdoor learning opportunities or to access resources

• Music instrument rentals/repair so that students can participate in music instruction

• Other student academic needs

Community volunteers will review requests and evaluate them against set criteria in order to help us identify the requests for funding. We’re proud to be able to continue to do the most we can to help individual schools meet the needs of their individual students.

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