Ohio · National Grant

Rural Tech Fund (Ohio)

The Rural Tech Fund provides grants to rural U.S. schools for coding and CS education, supporting Ohio's Appalachian and rural communities where technology instruction is limited by funding gaps and teacher shortages.

Funding

$1,000–$10,000

Eligibility

Rural U.S. public schools

Grade Focus

K-12

Subject

Computer Science / Coding

Deadline

Annual

Type

National Grant

About This Grant

Ohio's Appalachian region — encompassing 32 counties in southeastern Ohio — is among the most economically distressed areas in the Midwest. Rural Tech Fund grants are purpose-built for communities like these, where CS education access is severely limited. Schools in Meigs, Morgan, Vinton, and Perry counties face the same challenges as rural schools nationwide: no dedicated CS teacher, no hardware, and no budget to change either.

The Rural Tech Fund's accessible application process is designed for first-time grant writers. Ohio rural teachers who have never written a grant can succeed with Rural Tech Fund, opening a door to classroom resources that would otherwise take years to obtain through state and federal grant programs.

Appalachian Ohio's economic development challenges make CS education both more critical and more fundable. Programs that frame technology skills as an economic opportunity pathway — helping rural Ohio students compete for remote tech jobs or in-state technology employment — resonate with the fund's mission.

View Rural Tech Fund (Ohio) →

Eligibility

U.S. public schools in USDA-defined rural communities
Ohio rural public schools, especially in Appalachian counties
Schools demonstrating lack of existing CS education resources
Priority for schools serving high percentages of low-income students

Allowable Uses

Physical computing hardware (coding kits, micro:bits, robotics)
CS and AI literacy curriculum
Teacher professional development
CS curriculum subscriptions and online learning platform access

Forward Education Products for This Grant

Forward Education offers classroom-ready kits that align with Ohio CS standards and fit cleanly into grant budgets. All kits include teacher guides and curriculum.

micro:bit Starter Kit — Entry-level physical computing, perfect for introducing coding and computational thinking.
MicroChat AI Literacy Kit — Hands-on AI literacy curriculum covering machine learning concepts for K-12 classrooms.
Coding for Good Kit — Project-based learning kit connecting coding skills to real-world community challenges.
micro:bit Robotics Kit — Advanced robotics and engineering challenges for deeper CS exploration.

Keep in Mind

Ohio Appalachian counties almost universally qualify as rural under USDA definitions — document your community's classification.
Frame CS as economic opportunity for rural Ohio students: remote work, in-state tech jobs, and digital entrepreneurship are all compelling narratives.
Rural Tech Fund grants are small but accessible — a first successful grant builds credibility for larger state and federal applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ohio have significant rural areas qualifying for Rural Tech Fund?

Yes. Ohio has 32 Appalachian counties and many additional rural communities across the state that meet USDA rural definitions.

Can a small K-8 school in rural Ohio apply?

Yes. The Rural Tech Fund is designed for small rural schools that are often too small for larger grant programs.

Can Rural Tech Fund grants be combined with Ohio DOE grants?

Yes. Rural Tech Fund grants are typically small enough to layer well with state and federal funding for a comprehensive program.

Are there any Ohio-specific rural CS initiatives to connect with?

Ohio has some Appalachian-focused education initiatives worth exploring. Connecting your application to regional economic development goals strengthens the case.

How can Forward Education help?

We provide curriculum alignment documents mapped to Ohio CS standards, pricing letters for grant budgets, and letters of support for qualifying applications. Reach out before you apply.