SMARTer Kids Foundation, Changes to SMARTer Kids Foundation Grant Programs

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Changes to SMARTerkids Foundation Grant Programs

Changes to SMARTer Kids Foundation Grant Programs

Dear educator,

As a member of the education community, you may know about the SMARTer Kids Foundation of Canada and the noncompetitive grants it provides to educators on products from SMART Technologies, NEC and eInstruction. As of October, these product grants will be replaced by an education pricing program from SMART Technologies. This program is designed to offer grant-equivalent pricing on SMART products and services without requiring educators to submit a formal grant application.

To better accommodate the way school districts are now purchasing SMART products, SMART is launching a new education pricing program in October. This means that after September 30, 2006, the SMARTer Kids Foundation will not accept or renew grant applications for SMART products. Grants for NEC and eInstruction products will also cease after September 30, 2006. Please contact NEC and eInstruction directly for information on their new education pricing programs.

Funding for other SMARTer Kids Foundation programs will remain unchanged. The Foundation will continue to support PREP grants, Teaching Excellence Awards, Imaginations, Connections and SMARTer Kids Research.

Yours truly,

Nancy Knowlton
Executive Director
SMARTer Kids Foundation of Canada

En français

FAQs

Why is this change being made?
SMART products have evolved from being bought by individual teachers to large-scale purchases made by entire schools or districts. To reflect that evolution, pricing on SMART products will change from a grant-based program to one that allows schools and districts more flexibility. These changes to SMARTer Kids Foundation product grants reflect new purchase patterns and aim to make the process easier for our customers.

Who is eligible for education prices on SMART products?
All accredited, not-for-profit education institutions will be eligible for discount pricing on SMART products such as interactive whiteboards, interactive pen displays and wireless slates. These not-for-profit institutions include all public or private, accredited not-for-profit education institutions, authorized home schoolers, museums, science centers, libraries involved in K–12, colleges, universities, and vocational and technical institutions.

What about other programs from the SMARTer Kids Foundation?
Funding will remain intact for all other programs, including PREP grants, Teaching Excellence Awards, ImagiNations, Connections and SMARTer Kids Research.

SMART Technologies and the SMARTer Kids Foundation have always supported the highest standards in education. The Foundation will continue to actively support and spread the use of interactive technology in classrooms around the world. For more information on the programs the Foundation will continue to support, please visit the SMARTer Kids Foundation website.

When will SMART's new education pricing take effect?
The new pricing will take effect on October 1, 2006.

Will I be able to use an existing grant until September 30, 2006?
Yes.

Will I be able to use an existing grant after September 30, 2006?
No. At that time, SMART will provide new educational pricing to SMARTer Kids Foundation grant holders at the equivalent of the grant pricing previously promised.

Upon expiry of the existing grant or on September 30, whichever comes first, all accredited, not-for-profit education institutions will be eligible for the education pricing program that takes effect October 1, 2006. You do not need to apply for this education pricing.

Will this change to the SMARTer Kids Foundation product grants affect budget plans?
No. The discounted education pricing from SMART Technologies will be equivalent to grant pricing from the Foundation. SMART pledges to you, our customer, that this administrative change will not affect your school or district budget.

What if I am using the SMARTer Kids product grant to obtain matching grants?
SMART will work on a case-by-case basis with grant holders using (or planning to use) their product grants to obtain matching funding from one or more sources. Full program details will be published at the beginning of October, and we will be able to give you a more comprehensive answer at that time.