(PRWEB) November 24, 2013
Many school districts face budget concerns as the state, local and federal dollars are being cut for public schools. To add to Administrations task of providing a safe environment for our students to learn, they must also contend with old buildings in need of repair. With the current emphasis on cost-savings and energy conservation school administrators and boards have begun to consider the Qualified Zone Academy Bond as a viable option.
By using this low profile Federal program school superintendents in North Carolina, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas are considering the benefits of working with the National Education Foundation in securing these funds. QZAB is a NO INTEREST bond program with up to 25 years to pay back the principal. Nearly all states have millions of dollars still available in QZAB bonds, see qzab.org for state allocations.
At the start of 2013 there was a billion dollars in QZAB dollars which is designated for schools with low income students – at least 35% to be eligible. Approximately, 25% has been used which still leaves enough funds for many Urban and rural school administrators and board members to provide their students technology in preparation for the Common Core can access these funds.
QZAB has a requirement for a ten (10%) percent match partner before the QZAB bonds can be issued. The National Education Foundation (NEF) has solved that problem for schools by agreeing to provide this match for interested schools. NEF is also interested in partnering to meet another QZAB requirement – the establishment of a new educational program designed with the school’s partner to prepare students for the rigors of college and/or of the demanding workforce. NEF enables teachers and students in partner schools to have access to nearly 6000 online curriculum courses which schools may implement in flexible ways.
The Founder and Chairman of the Foundation, Dr. Appu Kuttan states, “We are most pleased to be able to help schools access QZAB funds to acquire technology within existing buildings. We want to close the digital divide.”
Technology budgets are important in closing the digital divide for the nation’s over 50 million K-12 students. QZAB is a funding vehicle that can fill in budget gaps for school technology.
Dr. Art Stellar, a former school superintendent and administrator in Oklahoma, Ohio and North Carolina, helps school superintendents apply for QZAB funds, he says: “QZAB funds are an excellent funding source for school superintendents to establish technology plans or make other renovations. They can also use QZAB funds for student achievement, equipment, and energy efficiency”.
In addition to the 10% match grant, NEF helps the school districts to create QZAB STEM+ academies capable of advancing a student one grade level in a subject in 20-30 learning hours in the NEF system, as documented by the State University of NY (SUNY), which implements the academies nationally with a grant from NEF.
Dr. Appu Kuttan, Chairman of the National Education Foundation (NEF), global expert in digital education and empowerment, and the recent University of Wisconsin Distinguished Achievement Award winner, states, "School districts across the Nation are faced with serious budget cuts. Our $100 million match program enables schools to receive Federal QZAB funds” (http://www.qzab.org).
For additional information contact Dr. Art Stellar at 703-823-999 or visit http://www.qzab.org.
About NEF
National Education Foundation (NEF), founded in 1989 in Washington, DC area, is the national non-profit leader in bridging the academic and job skills divides through high-quality, affordable STEM+ education solutions. NEF provides total STEM+ education solutions including 6,000 top-quality Web-based differentiated learning courses, mentoring, motivational rewards, teacher stipends and teacher training to disadvantaged school districts across the nation.