Lightspeed & the NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant

Lightspeed is dedicated to advancing safety, security, and equity for every student. Our mission aligns seamlessly with the goals of the Digital Equity Act and the requirements of the NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant. This funding opportunity is a vital step towards ensuring that all students have equal access to educational resources and a safe online environment.

Who Can Apply?

School districts, Local Education Agencies (LEAs), and various organizations are eligible to apply for this competitive grant. This is an incredible chance to secure funding that can make a real difference in your community.

Funding Details

• Expected Award Amounts: Between $5,000,000 – $12,000,000 (with a total fund of $750,000,000 available)
• Grant Period: 4 years
• Award Timeline: Rolling awards will be given from December 2024 to May 2025
• Application Due Date: September 23, 2024

Why Include Lightspeed Solutions in Your Application?

As you prepare your applications, consider incorporating Lightspeed solutions to enhance your proposal. Here’s how our tools contribute to promoting digital equity:

1. Lightspeed Filter
   Lightspeed Filter is a cornerstone for ensuring that all students have safe and secure access to online educational resources. This solution is essential in protecting underserved populations by blocking harmful content and cyber threats that disproportionately affect vulnerable students. By providing a secure online environment, Lightspeed Filter helps meet the grant’s requirement to promote digital equity and inclusion.
2. Lightspeed Alert
   Lightspeed Alert takes a proactive approach to improving digital equity by identifying and addressing safety concerns that could hinder the learning experiences of underserved students. This real-time alert system monitors online activity for signs of cyberbullying, self-harm, and other threats, allowing for timely interventions. With features like Spanish-language monitoring, Lightspeed Alert creates a safer digital environment where all students can thrive.
3. Lightspeed Digital Insight
   Lightspeed Digital Insight empowers school districts with comprehensive analytics that shed light on student engagement with digital tools and resources. For underserved populations, this data is crucial for identifying gaps in access and engagement, enabling schools to tailor interventions that address specific needs. By supporting data-driven decision-making, Digital Insight ensures that digital equity initiatives effectively target and benefit those who need them most.
4. Lightspeed Digital Equity
   Designed specifically to tackle the challenges faced by underserved populations, Lightspeed Digital Equity identifies gaps in connectivity to ensure every student can fully participate in learning. By providing visibility into digital access disparities, this tool supports targeted efforts to close the digital divide, aligning perfectly with the grant’s objectives to promote equitable access to technology.
5. Lightspeed Classroom Management
   Lightspeed Classroom Management helps create inclusive and engaging digital learning environments for all students, regardless of their socio-economic background. This tool allows educators to monitor and guide student activity in real time, ensuring that every student stays on task and has equal opportunities to participate in classroom activities. By fostering an organized and supportive learning atmosphere, Lightspeed Classroom Management helps mitigate the impact of inequities that can hinder academic success in underserved communities.

Important Reminder:

Don’t miss out! Make sure to submit your applications by September 23, 2024. Together, we can work towards a future where every student has equitable access to the resources and support they need to succeed.