Bringing Technology Into Underfunded Schools
✨ Key Points
- Start with the biggest learning gap. Spend limited funds on technology that solves a specific problem for students or teachers rather than buying new tools simply because they are popular.
- Look beyond the school budget. Federal programs, education technology grants, nonprofits, local businesses, refurbished-device programs, and community partnerships can help schools expand technology access without carrying the entire cost themselves.
- Plan for the real cost of technology. Devices need repairs and replacement, software requires subscriptions, networks need upgrades, and teachers need training. A sustainable technology plan considers these costs before the first purchase is made.
Technology access in American schools has improved dramatically, but having a laptop is no longer enough to close the digital divide.
Today, underfunded schools also need reliable internet, updated devices, cybersecurity, educational software, technical support, and teachers who know how to use new technology effectively.
The numbers show how the problem is changing:
- 88% of U.S. public schools reported having a one-to-one computing program in the 2024–25 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
- Only 68% of public schools provided digital literacy training for students, showing that access to devices does not automatically mean students are learning how to use technology effectively.
- 99.3% of U.S. schools have high-speed broadband connections, according to EducationSuperHighway, but connection quality and capacity can still vary considerably between schools.
- Among schools with one-to-one computing programs, 46% allowed students to take devices home on school days and weekends, compared with only 34% of schools in high-poverty neighborhoods, according to NCES.
For underfunded schools, this creates a different challenge.
The question is no longer simply “How can we buy more computers?” It is “How can we make limited technology budgets deliver more value for students?”
That means looking beyond the initial price of a laptop or tablet and considering the entire technology system: connectivity, repairs, software, teacher training, device replacement, and access outside the classroom.
For schools working with limited resources, the goal should therefore be better access, not simply more technology.
The following strategies show how underfunded schools can stretch their budgets while building technology programs that remain useful for years.
Underfunded Schools: Apply for Any Available Grants
A huge problem that school administrators face when they are looking at their budgets each year is finding any available money to allocate toward tools that can educate their students.
Within the education sector, it is notoriously hard to find funding for even basic needs, let alone supplemental technology that can enrich students’ education.
One way to get that funding is by hunting down and applying for any grants that your school could be eligible for.
Corporate donors in the past, like Daniel Gordon GLD, have also been able to assist in securing technology as well.
The NEA Foundation has worked to find many grants that schools can try to apply for, including grants such as the Dollar General Literacy Foundation Youth Literacy Grants, Foundation for Rural Service Grants, and many more.
If you put in the effort, the money could be there for you and your school to add to its technology collection.
There are also grants offered by the U.S. Department of Education that schools and school districts can look into for their technology purchasing needs.
Buy Refurbished Technology or Purchase in Bulk
New technology is not always the best use of a limited school budget.
Professionally refurbished laptops, tablets, monitors, storage devices, and other equipment can help underfunded schools expand access while spending considerably less than they would on brand-new hardware.
Schools can explore several options before paying standard retail prices:
- Look for certified refurbished devices. Major technology companies such as Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Microsoft have sold refurbished or education-focused equipment, while specialized refurbishers often work directly with schools and nonprofits.
- Ask about education and volume pricing. Buying 50 laptops, tablets, chargers, or wholesale USB drives can produce very different pricing from purchasing individual products at retail.
- Contact local corporations about device donations. Businesses regularly replace laptops and other office equipment that may still have years of useful life for basic classroom applications.
- Consider the cost of ownership, not just the purchase price. A $150 refurbished laptop is not a bargain if replacement batteries, repairs, or software support make it more expensive to maintain than a $250 alternative.
- Standardize devices where possible. Using fewer models can make repairs, chargers, software installation, device management, and teacher support much easier.
Portable storage can still have a role as well.
USB flash drives are inexpensive and do not require an internet connection, making them useful for students who need to move larger projects between school computers or access files where reliable broadband is unavailable.
Schools can purchase drives in bulk and assign them to students or specific classes rather than relying on them as a replacement for cloud-based collaboration.
Before accepting donated or refurbished computers, however, schools should check the device age, operating-system support, battery condition, security requirements, warranty, and compatibility with the software students actually use.
For an underfunded school, the cheapest device is not necessarily the smartest purchase.
The better investment is technology that provides the lowest practical cost per year of useful classroom life.
Create a Shared Technology Hub
If a school cannot provide every classroom with specialized technology, concentrating higher-cost equipment in one shared technology hub can make limited resources available to more students.
The idea goes beyond a traditional computer lab.
A modern school tech hub can support digital projects, media production, STEM activities, coding, research, and AI literacy while allowing equipment to be shared across different classes and grade levels.
Depending on the school’s curriculum, a hub could include:
- Higher-performance computers for coding, design, video editing, or other applications that basic student devices cannot handle.
- STEM and maker equipment, such as robotics kits, 3D printers, electronics tools, or digital microscopes.
- Creative technology, including cameras, microphones, drawing tablets, and audio or video production equipment.
- Accessible technology that supports students with different learning or physical needs.
- Charging and secure storage stations so devices can be shared between classrooms without being lost or left unusable.
This approach can be particularly valuable when expensive equipment would otherwise sit unused for much of the school day.
Instead of buying the same specialized tools for several classrooms, schools can create schedules that allow multiple teachers and student groups to use one well-equipped space.
Centralizing technology can also make asset management easier.
Schools can use a school asset management system to record where laptops, tablets, cameras, and other equipment are located, who has checked them out, their warranty information, repair history, and when they are due for replacement.
That last point matters for schools with little room for financial waste.
A technology hub should not simply help a school share devices. It should help administrators see which equipment is being used, which tools deliver the most educational value, and where the next technology dollar will have the greatest impact.
Implement Off-Campus Solutions
Often, students who live in underfunded districts do not have access to their own computer, much less have a reliable internet connection at home to get a Powerpoint themes download or anything else they may need for a school assignment.
Ways you can implement off-campus solutions so they can still access the internet could include:
- Portable WiFi hotspots: Students can check out portable WiFi hotspots from your school that will give them a chance to use the internet at home. These hotspots can even have a filter applied to access valuable educational resources to complete assignments or learn more about what they are doing in class. A local phone company may partner with you in offering these hotspots, and it never hurts to call around to ask for donations or discounts.
- Install WiFi on school buses: While this may be more difficult to fund, it could be a viable option for some districts. Putting WiFi on school buses gives the students a chance to work on assignments while traveling to and from school.
- Put up WiFi hotspots throughout the district: Again, partnering with a local phone company may be the best way to make this happen, but you can look into installing WiFi hotspots throughout the district where the kids can get to the internet via phones, tablets, or other types of available technology. There are also nonprofit organizations that can help you implement these strategies to improve access for everyone in the surrounding neighborhood.
Trying to improve access to technology in your underfunded district may seem impossible at first glance.
Still, there are many solutions and strategies that you can try and use within your school district.
Make sure to create an environment where staff members feel comfortable collaborating and trying to offer solutions.
A brainstorming session with your team could lead to your school finding the best way to increase access to technology and get it into the hands of your students.
