Not everyone got the memo that ALL schools received massive funding allocations from COVID relief bills. We put this page together to tell you three things.

• THIS FUNDING IS REAL! This is the second of three rounds of what will be the greatest influx of new dollars to schools in Michigan history. We’re talking thousands of dollars per pupil in additional funding
• Remember, this funding must be spent on qualifying expenses or your school doesn't get to keep it. The details are here. Budget Challenge is a 100% approved expenditure and there are plenty of funds to purchase 1,2,3,4 or 5 years’ worth of the best personal finance program in America.
• How you go about getting the funds:
  1. Determine your allocation using the table below. If you are a private school, the formula has yet to be announced by the state Department of Education. These are big numbers and if you divide it by the number of students in your district it will give you a sense of per-pupil funding.
  2. Request an estimate from us by clicking on this link or calling (513) 335-0619. We can provide you with a no-obligation estimate for this school year or summer, next school year, or a multi-year subscription. Just tell us what you’d like.
  3. Provide this information to your supervisor or the person who approves expenditures in your district. The rules for these funds are similar to the previous CARES Act ESSER funds. Here is a link to the final guidelines and a comparison of the two: https://oese.ed.gov/files/2021/01/Final_ESSERII_Factsheet_1.5.21.pdf
     In summary, funds can only be used on expenditures related to the pandemic and expanding educational technology options including hardware, software and programs that can expand remote and blended learning, such as Budget Challenge.
  4. Be persistent! Michigan schools have been in a scarcity mentality for decades. The first reaction of many school administrators is there must be strings attached (there are, see #3) and we can’t spend the money yet until we look at the big picture. Those are legitimate concerns, but it is also important to note the size of the program in relation to the ask. And there is much more money coming in the newest relief bill. This will be the largest new influx of funds into Michigan schools ever.
  5. If you haven’t been on the site recently, log in to your teacher account. Check out the pre-release of the new textbook chapters in the Curriculum section and review the enhancements made to the 401(k) accounts and quiz scheduling. Budget Challenge is better than ever! And this fall you’ll be able to sign up for +Investing which is currently in beta testing.