Calgary, AB --- January 30, 2002 --- The SMARTer Kids Foundation announces that US$2.4 million in Grants is available to enhance technology integration in teacher-preparation and training centers. PREP Grants, which cover up to 70% of the suggested list price of qualifying SMART Roomware products, are available to all accredited, non-profit teacher-training centers in North America. Roomware products include interactive whiteboards, multimedia cabinets and computer-lab instruction software. Since the program's inception in 1999, the PREP Grant has enabled hundreds of teacher-training facilities worldwide to integrate Roomware into their teacher-preparation programs.

The PREP Grant covers 62.5% of the suggested list price of a SMART Board 560 or 580, 70% of the suggested list price of a Floor Stand 570 or SynchronEyes 2.0, and 50% of the suggested list price of SMART Expression 303 or 503.

"Delivering interactive lessons is critical to creating an enriched learning environment," says Nancy Knowlton, executive director of the SMARTer Kids Foundation. "With leading-edge technology tools in teacher-training facilities, both new and experienced teachers can develop skills for integrating technology into their classrooms."

"The SMART Board is the most useful, versatile, teacher-friendly tool ever!" says Denise Eslinger, director of curriculum and technology at Midview Local School District in Ohio, a previous Grant recipient. "Children beg their teachers to use the Board and teachers beg me to purchase the SMART Board...Every classroom teacher should have one, allowing for phenomenal teaching and learning potential."

Eligibility and How to Apply
The PREP Grant is available to all accredited, not-for-profit North American universities, colleges, teacher-training schools, institutes or centers involved in pre-service or in-service teacher training and/or education leading to an education degree or professional teaching certification. The Grant is also available to all local, district or regional in-service teacher-training centers that train a minimum of 100 teachers per year. For-profit institutions do not qualify for the PREP Grant. Prior recipients of a PREP Grant in any previous year are not eligible.

Applications are available online at www.smarterkids.org/prep or from the Foundation office at 403.228.8565. All applications must be received prior to midnight, December 1, 2002. The Foundation will use its reasonable best efforts to notify all applicants within 15 working days of receiving a completed PREP Grant application. Applicants are encouraged to apply early since only 500 Grants per product class will be awarded. The award of any and all PREP Grants is at the sole discretion of the Foundation. Grants must be utilized by December 31, 2002.

Previous Recipients
Previous PREP Grant recipients include Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI), Hopewell City Public Schools (Hopewell, VA), Aquinas College (Nashville, TN), Archdiocese of Louisville Schools (Louisville, KY), Lethbridge Community College (Lethbridge, AB), University of Houston (Houston, TX) and California State University – Sacramento (Sacramento, CA).

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For more information, contact:
Public Relations
SMARTer Kids Foundation
403.802.2556
pr@smarterkids.org