Student Computers and Gaming Grants

I have had the pleasure of attending PAC meetings in different schools recently and a common thread of discussions has been PAC support for tablets, computers and related equipment. As a topic of common concern, I asked the Ministry about the use of PAC Gaming Funds to purchase iPads and similar computing devices for use by students in the school.  

According to the Ministry website, Gaming Grants can be used by PACs for “Student computers: software, hardware, accessories;” so I asked the Ministry what the term "student computers" means. Can it be used to purchase iPads etc.

The Ministry response was that... "The key is that use of Gaming Grant PAC funding is for extra-curricular purposes. In general iPads and related equipment have been considered enhanced educational items and have not been generally approved.

Gaming Grant PAC funding is intended to benefit students by enhancing their extra-curricular opportunities. Gaming funds may be used to pay for goods and services used by students for, or primarily for, extra‑curricular activities. Gaming funds may not be used to pay for goods or services used primarily by teachers to deliver curriculum or by students to complete curriculum requirements.

 Materials that are not required in the teaching or completion of curriculum, but which assist in doing so, such as smart boards and other ‘enhanced educational’ items, are not eligible for PAC funding. A list of eligible uses of PAC grant funds can be found in section 3.3 of the Guidelines: Applying for a Community Gaming Grant, http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/grants/forms-guidelines.htm#two, and a list of ineligible uses can be found in the Conditions for a PAC/DPAC Grant, http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/grants/docs/cond-pac-dpac.pdf. Both these documents may be downloaded from our website as shown."

I asked if computing devices can be funded if PACs can show their use outside school curriculum for instance how the tablets or other computing devices are being used for extra-curricular activities such as supporting drama clubs, digital media clubs, computer-programming clubs or science clubs or sports training.

The ministry responded that... "The key is extracurricular and the theme related to extracurricular activities such as the drama clubs, is one example and it must not be for curricular based or related to support work related for curricular. That is important for PAC’s to ensure as Government funding is provided through the Ministry of Education related to curricular based. Gaming funds cannot be used for those purposes."

From this discussion I conclude that PACs need to be very specific and provide strong evidence that any technology purchase using Gaming funds will be used to support extracurricular activities and should not assume general purchases or usage outside school or direct purchases for students will be supported.

PACs considering the purchase of tablets etc for extracurricular purposes should contact the gaming branch well ahead of time to find out if your particular application would be supported by gaming funds.