The Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools is accepting SPARK Award applications from Billings Public Schools educators and staff for innovative classroom projects, special activities, technology improvements, education innovation, attendance, parent involvement, school climate, and other student-focused learning needs that are not normally accommodated by the school budget.
Funding: The Foundation states that it will primarily award requests between $500 and $5,000. Applicants may apply individually or collaboratively, and more than one proposal may be submitted from a school.
Current timing: Applications are accepted year-round. The Foundation states that submissions received by September 15, 2026 will be considered for the October 2026 funding round. The controlling public materials do not publish a September 15 closing clock time or time zone, and applications may still be submitted later for a future round.
Eligibility: Teachers, principals, and other school personnel of Billings Public Schools are eligible. Applicants must use the online application, complete every required section, obtain the appropriate authorization, and designate a project administrator responsible for implementation at the school.
Project priorities: Awards are intended to enhance and supplement the adopted district curriculum. Priority is given to direct student involvement and to projects that can be adapted or used in other classes or schools.
Ineligible costs and restrictions: Salaries and stipends are not eligible. Replacement technology is not eligible. Extracurricular requests are not eligible, and projects already completed cannot be funded.
Budget and purchasing: Applicants should provide a clear, realistic budget with item names, exact costs including shipping, and links or screenshots. Awarded purchases are managed through ClassWallet and approved vendors; the Foundation states that if a needed vendor is not available in ClassWallet, it will work with the awardee to order directly. Purchased materials become School District 2 property, and award funds must be spent within one year.
Atlas Opportunity Score: 76/100. This is a legitimate, recurring, school-specific funding pathway with flexible classroom use and a simple award range, but funding is limited to Billings Public Schools personnel and the maximum award is modest.
N9+ Fit Score: 15/100 conditional. The program permits technology improvements but expressly excludes replacement technology, and the typical award ceiling is $5,000. Do not infer that a clinical device is allowable or appropriate. Any technology role would require a clearly student-centered educational purpose, a non-replacement use, sufficient budget, and Foundation approval.
Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: 0/100. Dr. Miltie is not an eligible applicant; eligible applications must come from Billings Public Schools personnel.
Outreach control: No new applicant outreach should be initiated for the October 2026 consideration cutoff because the official page does not publish an exact September 15 closing time or time zone and the 48-hour send floor cannot be established. Preserve the opportunity for later SPARK rounds and organization-specific evaluation.