Comprehensive Guide to K-12 Education Funding

Education funding, especially through federal sources like ESSA, IDEA, and state-level grants, offers school districts an unparalleled opportunity to invest in transformative learning tools. By leveraging funding to integrate Book Creator into classrooms, educational leaders can promote deeper learning, collaboration, and engagement.

How can schools fund Book Creator for classroom use?

The U.S. Department of Education offers several funding opportunities to help K-12 public and charter schools invest in innovative educational tools like Book Creator. By utilizing federal, state, and local funding sources, schools can provide students with a creative platform for interactive learning while aligning with key educational priorities such as digital literacy, equity, and personalized instruction.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Book Creator supports federal title funding in the USA by aligning with several key educational goals and initiatives funded by these federal programs. Here’s how Book Creator supports each specific Title funding:

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Book Creator supports IDEA by providing an accessible and flexible platform that meets the diverse learning needs of students with disabilities. Through its multimodal features, such as text, audio, video, and visuals, Book Creator allows teachers to create differentiated instructional materials that cater to various learning styles and abilities.

Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD)

Book Creator supports the Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) program by offering a dynamic and flexible platform that enhances literacy instruction for K-12 students, especially those in disadvantaged groups. With its multimodal capabilities, including text, images, audio, and video, Book Creator allows educators to create engaging, interactive literacy materials that cater to diverse student needs.

By supporting differentiated instruction and personalized learning, Book Creator helps teachers close literacy gaps, promote equity, and foster a culture of reading and writing for all students.

Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (CTE)

In 1984, the Carl Perkins Vocational Education Act was signed into law, expanding career and technical education (CTE) to better prepare students for the workforce. Over time, the Perkins Act has been reauthorized, most recently in 2018 as the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. This legislation provides nearly $1.5 billion annually to support CTE programs across the nation.

The Perkins Act emphasizes improving access to high-quality CTE for underserved and underrepresented students, aligning programs with regional economic development goals, and integrating academic and technical learning.

States develop implementation plans to address their specific CTE needs, and funding is provided through state formula grants and competitive discretionary grants. The Perkins Collaborative Resource Network supports this process by offering resources and data on state plans, enrollment, and performance metrics.

State and Local Funding

At the state level, about 44% of school funding comes from resources like income and sales taxes, distributed through foundation program formulas to ensure equitable allocation. These formulas guarantee a minimum level of funding per student, with additional consideration for factors such as low-income or disability status that may impact a student’s access to quality education.

Schools in districts with a higher concentration of underserved students often receive more state funding, and they can also apply for state-level grants or business-supported funding to supplement their budgets. Locally, around 43% of school funding comes from property taxes, donations, and fundraising efforts.

Traditionally, districts allocated local funds for personnel, equipment, and other resources, but many are now adopting student-based allocation models that prioritize school budgets according to student needs, offering a more equitable approach. Local districts and schools also have access to various grants, which can help address gaps left by limited state and local funding, ensuring they have the resources to support specific educational programs and initiatives.