Dear PBIS Rewards –
Our school district has been using PBIS for a while now, and we’d love to be able to make the most of our initiatives. PBIS Rewards is the game-changer we’ve been looking for, especially since it automatically tracks things like points, referrals, and school stores. However, our budget (like a lot of budgets) doesn’t seem to have any room in it to purchase the software. How can we find funding for PBIS Rewards?
Signed –
Ready to Buy
Dear Ready –
As you already know, PBIS can create powerful and long-lasting changes in a school’s culture, particularly when it comes to academic achievement and social-emotional skills. It is a multi-year process requiring a long-term commitment, which can be challenging to fund from year to year.
Easy, efficient management of a PBIS initiative almost always involves technology to some degree. Technology can pull all the elements of your initiative together in one location. Many schools use spreadsheets to track different parts of their program, but it can be time-consuming to make sure everything stays updated. That’s one reason we created PBIS Rewards. We want it to make it easy for your teachers to recognize students, simple to operate a school store, and provide high-quality data to help you fine-tune PBIS as you move through the school year.
Still, finding the funding for such an endeavor can be one of your biggest obstacles. Let’s take a look at some of the funding options available:
PBIS Funding
Title I
For individual schools, Title I can be a great source of funding. A school must meet specific government criteria to qualify for funds, but once you meet these criteria the funds can be used for many types of expenditures. You can learn more about Title I funding here.
Title IV
Title IV is part of a flexible block grant provided by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). School districts seeking to fund PBIS activities may find that their initiatives qualify under the guidelines of Title IV. Learn more about Title IV funding here.
Other Grants
Because Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and PBIS often go hand-in-hand, schools and districts can often apply for funding earmarked for SEL programming. When conducting research for such funding, search for such terms as Social Emotional Learning Grant and School Climate Transformation Grant. Criteria for these grants will vary, so read the rules carefully.
Community Partnerships
Within your local business community, there may be opportunities for financial assistance with some of the elements of your PBIS initiative. Community foundations, private donors, and local groups can be sources for item donations for your school store, funding your school store in part or in full, or even funding the purchase of PBIS Rewards software. You don’t know until you ask!
Nonprofit Organizations
There are numerous nonprofit organizations and national foundations with funds available for a variety of education-centric programs. It might take a little bit of research, but chances are you’ll find one or more grants that can be applied to a PBIS initiative. The NEA Foundation is a good place to start your search.
Ultimately, PBIS Rewards can help your school to sustain a strong PBIS initiative. It’s definitely worth exploring every avenue available for funding. Need to get your school or district decision-makers on board? Ask for a demo of our software! Have questions or need help with the software? Our support staff is glad to help!
Sincerely –
PBIS Rewards