Governor McKee, RIDE Launch Second Round of 21st Century Technology and Equipment Fund with $3 Million Investment
Published on Thursday, April 24, 2025
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Governor Dan McKee and Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green today announced that a second round of grants from the Rhode Island Department of Education’s 21st Century Technology and Equipment Fund is available for local education agencies (LEAs) totaling $3 million. The second round of the initiative will continue to support the transformation of learning spaces with particular focus on strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and career and technical education (CTE) coursework, in alignment with Governor McKee and RIDE’s Math Matters RI campaign which seeks to prioritize math instruction in schools.
“Expanding access to 21st century tools and learning environments is critical in equipping students with the skills they need to compete today and well into the future,” said Governor Dan McKee. “By bolstering STEM and CTE education programs with RIDE’s 21st Century Technology and Equipment Fund, we are demonstrating our commitment to promoting math skills and understanding. I look forward to seeing how this investment will enhace learning experiences across the Ocean State.”
“To develop 21st century skills that will help them thrive, students need access to state-of-the-art learning facilities that promote excellence in learning,” said Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “Through our latest round of grants, students will have the opportunity to use cutting-edge tools that will supplement real-world, hands-on learning in both CTE and STEM. I strongly encourage all schools and districts to apply for this grant.”
The 21st Century Technology and Equipment Fund, originally launched in 2022, leverages funds from RIDE’s School Building Authority (SBA) Capital Fund in addition to Housing Aid and Statewide School Construction Bond commitments. This latest round will enable local education agencies (LEAs) to provide high-quality educational CTE and STEM opportunities for all public school students, regardless of zip code. The funding focuses on project-based learning to further engage students in their own education.
“When students are able to access learning environments that inspire and help them innovate, they are more likely to be engaged and succeed,” said Board of Education Chair Michael Grey. “This additional funding going towards CTE and STEM education will support students' gain of invaluable skills to have successful futures post-graduation. I cannot wait to see how students will benefit from the upgraded facilities made possible with these grants.”
“Innovative, high-quality instruction is critically important for successful CTE and STEM programs,” said Chair of the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Patti DiCenso. “The 21st Century Technology and Equipment Fund will help classrooms and other school facilities evolve just as much as the workplace continues to do so. With the continuation of this program, we are taking solid steps towards transforming learning to meet the growing demands of the future.”
In alignment with Governor McKee and RIDE’s recently launched Math Matters RI campaign, this round of funding will help to bolster math education through STEM and CTE – curricula that applies math to real-world scenarios in a variety of ways. The Math Matters RI campaign initially awarded 36 Rhode Island communities with $2.85 million in Learn365RI grants aimed at improving math skills and supporting interventions.
Earlier this month, RIDE awarded over $2 million in competitive grants to expand high-quality CTE programming aligned with high-skill, high-growth industries of the future. The grants, part of RIDE’s CTE for All initiative, will expand access to exciting workforce training programs in emerging and high-demand fields where no active CTE programs currently exist.
Eligible project examples for the 21st Century Technology and Equipment Fund include:
- Converting a classroom into a STEM room
- Upgrading existing CTE classrooms
- Creating a new CTE classroom
- Creating Project-Based Learning Maker Spaces
- Modernizing science labs
All LEAs are eligible to apply and are asked to submit all of their projects on one application with a maximum value of $300,000. Proposals submitted should identify the targeted buildings for projects as well as the amount of funding requested. Applications are due by May 19, 2025, and should be submitted to SBACapitalFund@ride.ri.gov. For more information, view the full application.
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