SMARTer Kids Foundation ending SMART product grants as new education pricing program launched by SMART Technologies Inc.
CALGARY, Alberta --- September 11, 2006 --- The SMARTer Kids™ Foundation of Canada announces that as of September 30, 2006, it will no longer accept applications for new or renewed grants for SMART products. The product grant program was originally designed to support individual educators seeking funding from their school budgets, but educators today tend to purchase in large volumes, which requires a more streamlined approach.
SMART Technologies Inc. is, therefore, launching a new education pricing program on October 1, 2006, to better accommodate today's purchasing requirements. The new education pricing program offers discounts on the manufacturer's suggested retail price for SMART products and services, and will be available directly through SMART resellers. Current grant holders will not be affected by this change if their grants are used prior to September 30, 2006.
In 1997, the SMARTer Kids Foundation introduced product grants that mainly supported individual educators seeking funding for technology adoptions from their school budgets. However, technology purchasing decisions are now more often made at the district level on behalf of multiple schools or at the school level for multiple classrooms. The new education pricing program streamlines ordering for educators, while continuing to support them with education pricing. Other SMARTer Kids Foundation initiatives (the PREP grant, Teaching Excellence Awards, Connections program, ImagiNations program and SMARTer Kids Research) will not be affected by this change. The Foundation will continue to explore ways of supporting the adoption of education technology.
"The SMARTer Kids Foundation continues to be committed to providing educators with programs that make a difference to their teaching and students," says Nancy Knowlton, executive director of the SMARTer Kids Foundation and president and co-CEO of SMART Technologies Inc. "Over the last nine years, tens of millions of dollars in grants have been provided by the SMARTer Kids Foundation. The Foundation is proud to have played an important role in the early and broad deployment of interactive classroom products."
About the SMARTer Kids Foundation
Founded in 1997, this private, not-for-profit organization supports the improvement of learning through collaborative programs, research support and other initiatives. The Foundation's programs provide students with enriched learning experiences and support teacher-training projects that integrate multimedia tools into the curriculum. Research programs supported by the SMARTer Kids Foundation focus on the impact and effectiveness of technology in the classroom. The SMARTer Kids Foundation is committed to working with educators to provide programs that make a difference in education. For more information, visit http://www.smarterkids.org.