US$60 million in SMARTer Kids™ Grants for SMART products available for the 2003–2004 school year

Educational institutions, museums, libraries and home schools
in the U.S. and Canada eligible for technology funding

Calgary, AB --- October 9, 2003 --- The SMARTer Kids Foundation of Canada announces US$60 million in SMARTer Kids Grants for SMART products for the 2003–2004 school year. Available to all accredited, not-for-profit educational institutions, museums, libraries and home schools in the U.S. and Canada, these Grants are worth 20 to 70 percent of the suggested list price of SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards, whiteboard cameras, multimedia furniture and software. Schools may apply for an unlimited number of products. This grant program brings the total of available SMARTer Kids Foundation funds through various programs to more than US$135 million for the current school year. Other SMARTer Kids Foundation programs include collaborative learning projects and research initiatives.

“SMART products have enabled tens of thousands of schools worldwide to create interactive learning environments that inspire students to learn,” says Nancy Knowlton, executive director of the SMARTer Kids Foundation. “The SMARTer Kids Grant program helps make classroom technology integration an affordable reality for schools.”

“Using the SMART Board interactive whiteboard has rejuvenated my teaching career and has supplied me with the catalyst to become more innovative in my teaching techniques,” says Tom Reardon, instructor at Fitch High School in Austintown, OH, and winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching in 1997.

Notable Recipients
The SMARTer Kids Foundation has helped schools across the U.S. and Canada purchase technology they might otherwise be unable to afford. Recipients of SMARTer Kids Grants include New York City Public Schools, Pomona Unified School District, Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet), Harvard University and many others.

How to Apply
Applications are available online at www.smarterkids.org/K12/SMARTproducts or from the Foundation office at 403.228.8565. Applications must be received by midnight, September 30, 2004.

Qualifying SMART Products
SMART products available for SMARTer Kids Grants include:

• SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards and optional SMART Floor Stands
• Rear Projection SMART Board interactive whiteboards
• SMART Board for Flat-Panel Displays interactive overlays
• Sympodium™ interactive lecterns and integration modules
• Expression™ multimedia cabinets
• LightRaise™ projector mounts
• Camfire™ whiteboard cameras
• SynchronEyes® computer-lab instruction software
• SMART Ideas® concept-mapping software
• Bridgit™ data-conferencing software
• X-Port™ multimedia switches

For more information about these products, visit www.smarterkids.org/smartproducts/products

Other Technology Grants
In addition to SMARTer Kids Grants for SMART Products, the Foundation also offers the following grant programs to educators:

• SMARTer Kids Grants for NEC Visual Presentation Products – US$75 million in technology funding for qualifying NEC products is available to eligible educational institutions, museums, libraries and science centers in North America for the 2003–2004 school year.
• PREP Grants – US$2.4 million in technology funding for SMART products is available to enhance technology integration in qualifying teacher-preparation and training centers.

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