Supplemental Equipment Grant

The Supplemental Equipment Grant is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as part of its Career and Technical Education initiatives. This program is designed to support school districts and career and technical centers by providing funding to enhance instructional environments and better prepare students for workforce entry. The grant is funded through the state budget and distributed using a formula-based allocation, ensuring that eligible institutions receive funding aligned with their enrollment and program characteristics. It is a non-matching grant, meaning recipients are not required to contribute local funds to access the award. The primary purpose of the program is to enable the purchase of instructional equipment and complete hand tool sets that meet current industry standards. These resources must directly support hands-on training within approved career and technical education programs. The grant emphasizes alignment with workforce demands, ensuring that students are trained using equipment reflective of real-world conditions. Funds must be used strictly for instructional purposes, and all equipment must be recommended by the Occupational Advisory Committee prior to application submission. The scope of the program includes approximately 20,000,000 dollars in available funding for the purchase of equipment. Eligible expenditures must meet strict criteria, including a minimum unit cost of 3,000 dollars for primary purchases, durability beyond a single fiscal year, and relevance to high-demand or high-growth career pathways. While remaining funds may be used for items below this threshold, all purchases must still meet eligibility requirements and support program objectives. Certain items, such as infrastructure, furniture, software, and general-purpose equipment, are explicitly excluded. Eligibility is limited to Pennsylvania secondary school districts and career and technical centers that operate Department of Education-approved programs and report a positive average daily membership. Applicants must demonstrate alignment with industry standards, provide documentation from advisory committees, and submit detailed descriptions of proposed equipment, including specifications, costs, and instructional use. The application must also include evidence of how the equipment will enhance student achievement and support curriculum development. Applications are submitted electronically through the eGrants system and must include a designated project contact, institutional website, and comprehensive budget and justification materials. The Pennsylvania Department of Education reviews submissions for completeness and alignment with program objectives. Approval notifications are issued via email and indicate that the application meets technical requirements, though they do not guarantee the requested funding amount. The application deadline for the current cycle is January 23, 2026 at 5 p.m., and all funds must be obligated and expended by June 30, 2026. The program does not require contracts, amendments, or final expenditure reports, but recipients must maintain detailed records for at least six years. The grant is expected to recur annually as part of the state budget process, continuing to support workforce development through investment in career and technical education infrastructure.

Ensure all equipment is recommended by the Occupational Advisory Committee prior to submission and clearly demonstrate alignment with industry standards and student outcomes