Rural Tech Fund
Grants for rural Florida schools building coding and physical computing programs. No fixed deadline, reviewed every 30-60 days.
About This Grant
The Rural Tech Fund provides grants for technology education in rural US schools. Florida's rural schools, particularly in the Panhandle, Central Florida, and North Florida, often lack access to the technology education resources available in urban areas. Rural Tech Fund grants help close this gap.
Grants are reviewed on a rolling basis, typically every 30 to 60 days, making this one of the most accessible grant programs for rural Florida schools that need equipment quickly. The amounts are modest but can fully fund a classroom set of micro:bit kits or coding curriculum.
View Rural Tech FundEligibility
- Rural public schools (K-12) in Florida
- Schools in communities with limited technology education access
- Any grade level; STEM and coding focus
- Individual teacher or school applications accepted
Allowable Uses
- Physical computing kits (micro:bits, sensors, coding tools)
- Coding curriculum and software
- Technology education materials
- Equipment that would otherwise be out of reach for rural schools
Forward Education Products for This Grant
These kits align to the learning outcomes this program funds.
- micro:bit Starter Kit — Physical computing for CS education. Aligns to Florida CS standards for computational thinking and programming at grades K-8.
- MicroChat AI Literacy Kit — AI literacy curriculum for middle and high school. Addresses AI and data literacy across Florida CS standards.
- Coding for Good Kit — Project-based coding curriculum with real-world connections. Strong alignment to Florida standards.
- micro:bit Robotics Kit — Robotics and physical computing for grades 5-12. Supports CS standards across computational thinking and programming.
Keep in Mind
Check NCES rural school classification to confirm your school qualifies as rural.
Rural Tech Fund applications are straightforward. Describe your school's location, the technology gap you face, and exactly what you'll purchase.
There's no deadline pressure. Submit when you're ready and you'll be reviewed within a couple months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as rural for Rural Tech Fund?
Generally schools in rural-classified communities per NCES data. Remote and small-town schools in Florida's rural regions typically qualify.
How quickly are grants awarded?
Applications are reviewed every 30-60 days. Most applicants hear back within two months.
Can a Florida Panhandle school apply?
Yes. North Florida and the Panhandle have many rural schools that are strong candidates for Rural Tech Fund grants.
How can Forward Education help?
We provide curriculum alignment documents mapped to Florida standards, pricing letters for grant budgets, and letters of support. Contact us before you apply.
Related Florida Grants
Explore more Florida funding resources
View all Florida AI & CS grants →Need Help Writing Your Grant Application?
Forward Education works with schools and districts to build strong funding proposals. We can help you connect our tools to your grant requirements.
- Curriculum alignment documents — Florida CS Standards mapped to our kits
- Program quotes and pricing — classroom sets, bundles, and multi-site pricing
- Letters of support — documentation for grant applications
Download the Forward Education Grant Guide
Our grant guide helps educators find the right funding sources and build strong applications for STEM and coding programs.
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