On Thursday, January 4, the United States Department of Education announced that the California Department of Education (CDE) will receive a grant of $4.99 million to support facility needs in small and rural school districts across California. The funds, awarded through the first-ever Supporting America’s School Infrastructure (SASI) Grant Program, will be invested in a variety of programs to address those needs over the next five years. For instance, a technical assistance program will allow facility professionals to conduct visits in order to assess needs and costs; provide training to the appropriate school personnel and officials on the cycle of facilities maintenance; and coordinate the necessary contracts to meet the needs of the district. The funds will also allow the CDE to develop an online resource through which school staff may access a network of facility professionals supporting their districts; identify national funding sources; access standardized forms and tools; and view an on-demand library of webinars and short videos. For more information on the Supporting America’s School Infrastructure (SASI) Grant program and the awardees, visit the U.S. Department of Education website. For information on grants available to rural counties, contact RCRC Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will.
