Missouri Grants

Federal Grants:

ESSA Title II-A (Supporting Effective Instruction)
- What it is: Professional development, teacher mentoring, reducing class size
- Why it matters: Can support PD for staff adopting new attendance or HR systems, or training to improve their time tracking software setup.
ESSA Title IV-A (Student Support & Academic Enrichment, SSAE)
- What it is: one of the most flexible ESSA funding streams. It allows districts to invest in three areas: (1) well-rounded education, (2) safe and healthy students, and (3) effective use of technology. Up to 15% of Title IV-A technology funds can be used for infrastructure upgrades.
- Why it matters: This is a strong federal funding fit for Touchpoint’s SmartClocks and teacher absence software. Districts can justify purchases as technology that supports staff accountability, accurate HR compliance, and safe school operations—ensuring teachers are present and classrooms are covered, which directly impacts student learning and safety.
ESSA Title VB (Rural Education Achievement Program)
- What it is: Provides additional flexibility to small, rural, and low-income districts. REAP funds can be used to support activities allowable under Titles I-A, II-A, III, and IV-A, giving rural schools more options to address local needs.
- Why it matters: Because REAP dollars can be spent on Title IV-A activities, rural districts can use them for time and attendance systems, HR/payroll compliance software, and SmartClock hardware. This is a particularly valuable path for small districts that need to modernize operations but have limited budgets.
Perkins V (Career and Technical Education)
- What it is: Provides federal funds to states and districts to strengthen career and technical education (CTE) programs. Funds support technology, equipment, instructional materials, and program operations that align education with workforce needs. The goal is to ensure students in high schools and postsecondary programs gain the skills and experience required for in-demand careers.
- Why it matters: Perkins dollars can be used for technology and equipment purchases tied to CTE program delivery. Touchpoint’s time and attendance software and SmartClock hardware help districts ensure CTE instructors, aides, and lab supervisors are present and accountable, so students consistently receive the hands-on instruction they need. By tracking staff time and absence within CTE programs, districts can demonstrate program quality, maintain compliance with federal performance measures, and align with Perkins’ mission to prepare students for the workforce.
BSCA Stronger Connections Grants
- What it is: A competitive, one-time federal infusion (via BSCA) administered by PDE, with funds available for obligation through September 2026. Applications were invitation-only for high-need LEAs identified by PDE (based on poverty, violence, exclusion, and lack of mental health supports). Awards ranged into the millions for selected districts and must be used for activities under Title IV-A Section 4108 — focused on safe, healthy, and supportive schools.
- Why it matters: For districts that qualified, Stronger Connections is a powerful opportunity to fund infrastructure hardware like SmartClocks that improve accountability and safety visibility. By framing these devices as security technology that ensures real-time staff presence, emergency headcounts, and attendance tracking, schools can cover significant hardware deployments while tying them directly to safety and climate goals.
COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)
- What it is: A federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice that provides funding to improve security at schools and on school grounds. Districts can apply for competitive grants of up to $500,000 to purchase and install evidence-based safety technology, including security infrastructure and deterrent measures. A portion of funds is reserved for rural and low-resource schools through microgrants with waived local match requirements.
- Why it matters: School safety funding is no longer limited to cameras and locks — programs like SVPP recognize the value of accountability technology. For districts, this means SmartClock hardware can be positioned as part of a secure entry and staff accountability system, directly improving emergency readiness and compliance with school safety mandates. While ongoing HR/payroll software isn’t covered, the program offers a powerful way to fund durable, capital-grade SmartClock devices that make schools safer and more accountable.

Missouri State-Specific Funding Opportunities:

Foundation Formula
- What it is: Missouri’s primary school finance mechanism. It distributes state aid to school districts based on a weighted Average Daily Attendance (ADA) calculation that considers student demographics (low-income, IEP, ELL), local property wealth, and tax effort. Every district receives Foundation Formula dollars.
- Why it matters: Because it’s broad, flexible operating revenue, districts can allocate it to almost any core need — including technology and operational infrastructure. SmartClocks can be justified here as improving compliance (accurate attendance reporting ties directly to ADA, which drives funding) and staff accountability. The recurring nature makes it sustainable for hardware + ongoing system costs.
Proposition C Sales Tax for Education
- What it is: A dedicated 1% statewide sales tax (approved by voters in 1982) earmarked for K–12 education. Funds are distributed to districts on a per-ADA basis, acting as a supplemental revenue stream alongside the Foundation Formula.
- Why it matters: It’s unrestricted aid that districts receive every year. Since it’s tied to ADA, tools like SmartClocks that help ensure accurate attendance records and operational efficiency can be positioned as supporting compliance with the revenue formula itself. This makes Prop C funds a strong candidate for covering technology investments.
Classroom Trust Fund (CTF)
- What it is: A state fund built from gaming revenue (casinos, riverboats, etc.). DESE distributes these dollars annually to districts on a per-pupil basis. The funds are legally restricted to classroom/educational uses, but definitions are broad enough to include technology and instructional infrastructure.
- Why it matters: Because it is earmarked for classroom purposes, districts often use CTF dollars for one-time instructional or tech purchases. SmartClocks could be justified if tied to supporting classroom instruction indirectly — for example, reducing admin time spent on manual timekeeping, or ensuring staff are present and accountable so classrooms run smoothly. It’s recurring, though smaller per-pupil than the Foundation Formula or Prop C.
Small Schools Grant
- What it is: A Missouri-specific add-on for districts with fewer than 350 Average Daily Attendance (ADA). Provides supplemental state funding to very small rural schools to offset diseconomies of scale in operating costs.
- Why it matters: These schools often struggle with admin bandwidth and tech infrastructure. SmartClocks could be particularly valuable in such districts, automating compliance and payroll tasks that small staffs might otherwise manage manually. Since funds are recurring and somewhat flexible, small schools can reasonably allocate them toward operational technology upgrades.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we use safety grants for SmartClocks?

Yes. Many federal and state-level school safety grants allow funding for secure entry systems, visitor management, and accountability technology. Attendance kiosks and time-collection devices often qualify when tied to improving building safety, student supervision, and emergency preparedness.

Do federal funds cover staff training for new systems?

Absolutely. Federal programs like Title II-A and Title IV-A explicitly permit the use of funds for professional development and training. This means districts can not only purchase new compliance or attendance systems, but also train staff to use them effectively.

Which grants require local matches?

Most formula-based federal funds (such as Title I–IV, IDEA, Perkins) do not require a local match. However, some competitive safety and security grants (for example, COPS SVPP or certain state-level safety funds) may require a partial cost share. Districts should review the application guidelines for each program.

What’s the best fit for rural or small districts?

Rural and small districts often benefit most from flexible funding streams such as the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP/RLIS), smaller targeted state safety grants, and regional cooperative programs (like service agencies or intermediate units). These sources are designed to give smaller districts the flexibility to cover essential needs like attendance or HR compliance technology.

Can foundations or private donations support pilot projects?

Yes. Across the U.S., local education foundations, community foundations, and corporate giving programs frequently support pilot programs, innovative technology, or attendance improvement initiatives. Many states also have tax-credit donation programs where businesses fund local education foundations. These funds can help districts test attendance or HR tools before scaling them district-wide.