Beyond federal funding, every state and province in which Ashaware operates has its own budget lines, grant programs, and curriculum mandate funding streams. This guide covers the specific funding landscape for Illinois, California, New York, Georgia, Ohio, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Ontario, and Nova Scotia.
State legislatures have independent authority to mandate curriculum content. These laws exist alongside — and independent of — federal education policy. This section also covers the legal framework supporting state STEM funding for culturally relevant mathematics and science programming.
Under the 10th Amendment, education is a power reserved to states. The US Department of Education is explicitly prohibited by Congress from mandating curriculum. When a state legislature passes a Black history or ethnic studies law, it is exercising independent constitutional authority that federal executive orders cannot override.
"According to the Education Department, education is primarily a local and state responsibility rather than a federal one. The department does not mandate curriculum and is prohibited by Congress from doing so."
— USAFacts / US Department of Education
The Trump administration's February 2025 OCR Dear Colleague Letter applies to race-based preferences in admissions, hiring, and program access. It explicitly permits "educational, cultural, and historical observances" that are not exclusionary.
"Whether a policy or program violates Title VI does not depend on the use of specific terminology such as 'diversity,' 'equity,' or 'inclusion.' Educational and historical observances are permitted so long as they are not exclusionary."
— US Department of Education FAQ, April 2025
Legal action led by the ACLU and national educator organizations has reaffirmed that the federal government cannot withhold education funding from schools simply because they implement programs that promote culturally responsive learning environments. Schools may continue initiatives that advance educational equity and student belonging.
State curriculum mandates (Black History Education Acts, Ethnic Studies laws) carry their own independent legal basis and are not contingent on federal approval.
In Canada, education is exclusively a provincial responsibility under Section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867. The federal government has no jurisdiction over K-12 curriculum. Ontario's Anti-Racism Strategic Plan and Nova Scotia's African Nova Scotian Affairs programs operate entirely within provincial authority.
Ontario's $6 million Black Student Graduation Coach program (2025–2026) and Nova Scotia's Black Learners Advisory Committee programs are protected provincial investments not subject to US federal policy.
Select your jurisdiction to see the specific funding programs, mandate status, current policy landscape, and recommended application language for Ashaware purchases.
Illinois has one of the strongest and most fully implemented Black history curriculum mandates in the United States. The Black History Education Act requires Black history instruction in all 852 Illinois school districts. The 2021 Education and Workforce Equity Act (HB 2170) expanded this mandate, established an Inclusive American History Commission, and increased funding specifically for Black male students in higher education. Illinois is Ashaware's strongest state mandate market.
Illinois uses an evidence-based funding formula that prioritizes districts furthest from full funding. The formula includes weights for low-income students, English learners, and students in under-resourced districts — the same populations Ashaware primarily serves.
All 852 Illinois school districts are required to teach Black history. Districts must allocate curriculum budget to meet this mandate. Ashaware is directly aligned to Illinois Black history curriculum requirements and is purchasable through Choice Partners without a competitive bid.
ISBE administers several competitive grant programs including the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Stronger Connections Grant and the Black and Gold Initiative, which specifically supports Black student achievement and engagement in Illinois schools.
California has one of the most active STEM equity funding ecosystems in the country, including the California STEM Network, NSF ITEST West Coast activity, and Silicon Valley corporate funders (F5, Akamai, Google.org) that actively fund STEM and AI programs for students of color.
California passed AB 101 in 2021 — the first state to require ethnic studies as a graduation requirement (class of 2029–30). All LEAs must offer ethnic studies courses from 2025–26. However, Gov. Newsom's 2025–26 state budget did not appropriate the ~$276M needed to trigger the full mandate. The offer requirement remains active even without full state funding — and many districts are proceeding with their own budget allocations. This creates a significant opportunity for Ashaware at the district level.
California's 2021 budget provided $50M one-time ($25.57 per student in grades 9–12) to develop ethnic studies curricula. The full annual mandate funding has not been appropriated. However, the requirement for LEAs to offer ethnic studies from 2025–26 is still operative.
California's Local Control Funding Formula provides supplemental grants for low-income students, English learners, and foster youth — with concentration grants for districts where these students exceed 55% of enrollment. Districts must document spending in their Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).
California's Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Incentive Act (SB 510) and annual instructional materials funding provide districts with purchasing authority for curriculum tools aligned to state standards. Districts with Board-approved ethnic studies courses can purchase Ashaware as supplementary instructional material.
New York City invested $81M+ in the CS4All initiative — computer science for all 1.1M NYC public school students. NSF has a strong NYC presence with multiple ITEST and AISL awards active in the five boroughs. The NY STEM Incentive Program supports STEM higher education pathways.
New York City has made the most significant municipal investment in Black studies curriculum in the United States. The NYC Council funded an $8.35M initiative through the Educational Equity Action Plan (EEAP) to develop a PK-12 Black Studies curriculum — piloted in 120 schools in 2023-24, now in full implementation. The curriculum is open-source and available to any interested party. NYC's $42.8B school budget (2025–26) provides substantial discretionary purchasing power at the district and school level.
NYC's Fair Student Funding model allocates dollars directly to schools based on enrollment and student need. Schools in high-need areas (high poverty, EL students, students with disabilities) receive weighted funding. Principals and curriculum directors have direct purchasing authority within their FSF allocation.
New York State provides Foundation Aid to all school districts, with additional weights for high-need and low-income districts. Foundation Aid is the primary state education funding mechanism and can be used for instructional materials, curriculum, and educational technology.
The NYC Council has a history of funding culturally responsive education programs — the $8.35M EEAP initiative is the most prominent example. The Council's Cultural Development Fund and discretionary educational programs are ongoing funding sources for culturally grounded curriculum tools.
Georgia Tech is one of the largest NSF award recipients in the Southeast, making Georgia a strong NSF regional hub. The Georgia STEM Initiative and Georgia Foundation for Public Education fund STEM innovation grants for teachers and districts. Perkins CTE funds flow through the Technical College System of Georgia and local school districts.
Georgia does not have a standalone Black history mandate, but its Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) include social studies, history, and English language arts standards that provide a clear hook for Afrocentric curriculum tools. Georgia has a large and concentrated Black student population — Atlanta, Fulton County, DeKalb, and Clayton County are among the largest majority-Black school districts in the Southeast. Critically, the 2027 AASA National Conference on Education is being held in Atlanta — a direct gateway to Georgia superintendents.
Georgia's Quality Basic Education formula provides per-pupil allocations across program categories including remedial education, gifted education, and special education. Supplemental programs serving high-need student populations — including culturally responsive curriculum tools — can be funded through QBE discretionary allocations.
The 2027 AASA National Conference on Education — the largest gathering of school superintendents in the United States — is being held in Atlanta, Georgia. This is a direct bridge to Georgia school systems and the $650B in aggregate district buying power represented at the conference.
Georgia is one of the highest Title I funding recipients in the Southeast. The Georgia Department of Education administers both federal Title I funds and state equity programs that support schools with high concentrations of underserved students.
Ohio State University is one of the largest NSF award recipients in the Midwest, anchoring a strong STEM grant ecosystem. The Ohio STEM Learning Network connects districts to STEM resources and funding. Ohio administers Perkins CTE grants through the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
Ohio has mapped its Ohio Learning Standards to Ashaware's curriculum content. Ohio's large urban districts — Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and Akron — have significant Black student populations and dedicated equity funding streams. Ohio moved to an evidence-based funding model in 2021, increasing flexibility for districts to direct funds toward culturally relevant instructional resources.
Ohio's evidence-based funding model provides per-pupil allocations that increase based on student need. Urban districts with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students — Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati — receive significantly higher per-pupil funding than suburban counterparts.
Ohio's Department of Education and Workforce administers equity-focused grant programs including programs for closing achievement gaps, supporting diverse learner populations, and improving school climate. Urban districts are prioritized recipients.
UNLV and University of Nevada Reno are active NSF recipients. Nevada's STEM Ecosystem initiative connects K-12 schools to STEM resources in the Las Vegas metro. The Victory Fund + NSF ITEST combination is Nevada's strongest Ashaware dual-funding pathway.
Nevada is home to Clark County School District — the fifth largest school district in the United States with over 300,000 students in the Las Vegas metro area. Clark County has one of the most diverse student populations in the country, with significant Black, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander communities. Nevada has mapped its Academic Standards to Ashaware's curriculum content and operates the Victory Fund — a state program specifically focused on African American student achievement.
Nevada's Victory Fund is a state-dedicated funding program focused specifically on improving academic outcomes for African American students. Programs that demonstrably improve engagement, reading achievement, and curriculum relevance for Black students are eligible for Victory Fund support.
Nevada transitioned to a pupil-centered funding model that weights allocations based on student characteristics — including low-income status, English learner status, and other need factors. Clark County's diverse, high-need student population generates significant weighted funding that can be directed to instructional materials and curriculum tools.
Pennsylvania has a dense NSF research infrastructure anchored by Penn State, Carnegie Mellon, Temple, Drexel, and the University of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania STEM Equity Initiative targets underrepresented students in STEM. Perkins CTE funds flow through the Pennsylvania Department of Education to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh districts.
Pennsylvania is home to Philadelphia — the sixth largest school district in the United States with over 200,000 students and a majority Black and Hispanic student population. Philadelphia has been the subject of major education equity litigation, resulting in significant state equity funding increases. Pittsburgh Public Schools also has a large Black student population and strong equity programming. Pennsylvania maps to Ashaware's curriculum standards across History, Social Studies, and English Language Arts.
Following the 2023 Commonwealth Court ruling that Pennsylvania's school funding system was unconstitutionally inequitable, the state has significantly increased Basic Education Funding for under-resourced districts — particularly Philadelphia and other urban districts with high Black student populations.
Pennsylvania's Level Up initiative provides targeted funding to the 100 most underfunded school districts, many of which serve majority Black and Hispanic student populations in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Harrisburg, and Allentown. Level Up funds can be used for instructional materials and curriculum tools.
Ontario has invested $60M+ in its STEM strategy with a specific focus on equity and diversity in STEM for underrepresented populations including Black students. The province is actively piloting AI in education tools. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funds education research grants that could include Ashaware as a culturally grounded intervention platform.
Ontario is Ashaware's home province and strongest Canadian market. The Ontario government has made significant investments in Black student achievement through the Anti-Racism Strategic Plan, the Black Youth Action Plan (BYAP), and the $6M Black Graduation Coach program (2025–26). The TDSB and TCDSB — Toronto's public and Catholic school boards — are primary targets. Ontario's Grants for Student Needs (GSN) formula provides the primary funding mechanism for school board purchases.
Ontario's Grants for Student Needs formula provides school boards with operating funding including per-pupil allocations, special education, and equity supplements. School boards have discretionary purchasing authority within their GSN allocation for instructional materials, educational technology, and curriculum tools.
Ontario's Black Youth Action Plan includes education-focused programs that support Black student achievement, culturally responsive learning environments, and belonging. The $6M Black Graduation Coach program (46 coaches, 26 school boards) is the flagship initiative. BYAP programs are funded independently of federal policy.
Ontario's Anti-Racism Directorate funds community organizations and educational initiatives that advance anti-racism objectives. Programs that provide culturally affirming educational content, counter mis-education, and support Black community belonging are eligible applicants.
Nova Scotia has one of Canada's oldest and most established African-descended communities — African Nova Scotians, whose roots predate Confederation. The province has a dedicated infrastructure for Black learner support through the African Nova Scotian Affairs (ANSA) division and the legacy of the Black Learners Advisory Committee (BLAC). Nova Scotia's education department provides specific scholarships, grants, and program funding for African Nova Scotian students. This is a unique and underserved market for Ashaware.
African Nova Scotian Affairs (ANSA) administers programs specifically for African Nova Scotian students and communities, including education support, cultural programming, and community grants. Programs that affirm African Nova Scotian identity and history — including curriculum tools — are eligible for ANSA support.
The Black Learners Advisory Committee (BLAC) legacy includes the Education Incentive Program for Black Students — providing scholarships to African Nova Scotian students with genealogical connections to historical African Nova Scotian communities. Schools and organizations serving BLAC-identified communities can seek program funding for culturally relevant curriculum tools.
Nova Scotia's Department of Education and Early Childhood Development funds school boards through a per-pupil formula with equity supplements. The department also administers competitive grants for programs that support equity, inclusion, and diverse learner needs.
Dalhousie University and St. Francis Xavier University are Nova Scotia's primary SSHRC and NSERC research hubs. Nova Scotia's Department of Education supports STEM programming through curriculum grants and innovation funds. The province has a specific interest in STEM for underrepresented populations including African Nova Scotian students.
Use these templates when documenting Ashaware purchases in state grant applications, LCAP plans, board presentations, and provincial funding requests.
"This purchase supports compliance with the Illinois Black History Education Act and the Education and Workforce Equity Act (HB 2170). Ashaware provides 400,000+ AI-generated, Illinois-standards-aligned lesson plans across 11 Afrocentric subject areas, adapted to 8 reading levels from Kindergarten through Higher Education. The platform directly addresses the Inclusive American History Commission's mandate to reduce Eurocentric perspectives in curriculum. Purchased through the Choice Partners National Purchasing Cooperative in compliance with 2 CFR Part 200."
"This platform supports the district's LCAP goal of improving academic achievement and school engagement for students from low-income families, English learners, and students experiencing the greatest obstacles to achievement. Ashaware delivers AI-adapted instructional content across 8 reading levels — from Kindergarten through Higher Education — directly addressing the differentiated learning needs of our most underserved students while supporting our district's ethnic studies course offering as required under AB 101 (Education Code §51225.3). Funding sourced from LCFF supplemental and concentration grants."
"Ashaware is purchased as a supplementary instructional platform to support implementation of the NYC EEAP Black Studies Curriculum (PK-12) and to provide AI-generated, standards-mapped lesson plans aligned to New York State Social Studies and Next Generation ELA Learning Standards. The platform provides 400,000+ lesson plans across 11 subject areas, adapted to 8 reading levels, and includes interactive mathematics programs rooted in African mathematical traditions. This purchase is made under the school's Fair Student Funding instructional materials discretionary allocation."
"Ashaware is purchased as an Afrocentric curriculum platform supporting the Ontario Ministry of Education's Anti-Racism Strategic Plan and the Black Youth Action Plan's education objectives. The platform provides AI-generated lesson plans aligned to Ontario K-12 curriculum expectations across 11 subject areas, adapted to 8 reading levels from Kindergarten through Higher Education. It directly supports improved academic achievement, cultural belonging, and curriculum relevance for Black students in alignment with the Ministry's $6M Black Graduation Coach program outcomes. Purchased as an instructional materials resource under the board's Grants for Student Needs (GSN) discretionary allocation."
"This project deploys Ashaware — an AI-powered Afrocentric STEM and humanities platform — as the primary culturally grounded intervention tool for increasing STEM identity and engagement among Black and African diaspora youth. The platform's four interactive mathematics games (Hyena Chase, Mancala/Oware, Ishango Counting, and African Fractal Geometry) demonstrate that mathematics originated in Africa 20,000+ years ago — building cultural affirmation and STEM identity in students who have historically not seen themselves in STEM fields. All games are curriculum-aligned to mathematics standards from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The platform's AI engine adapts every lesson across 8 reading levels, supporting differentiated instruction. This addresses a documented root cause of STEM underrepresentation among Black students: the absence of their cultural heritage from mathematics and science curriculum."
"Ashaware is deployed as an equity-focused AI learning platform supporting the Ontario STEM Strategy's goal of increasing STEM engagement and achievement for underrepresented students, including Black students. The platform's interactive mathematics games — rooted in African mathematical traditions — directly address the cultural disconnection that contributes to lower STEM engagement among Black Ontario students. By demonstrating that mathematics was invented in Africa, Ashaware builds STEM identity, confidence, and cultural pride in target student populations. The platform's AI-powered differentiated instruction across 8 reading levels supports inclusive learning for diverse classrooms. This purchase is made under the board's GSN discretionary allocation in alignment with both the Ontario STEM Strategy and the Black Youth Action Plan education objectives."
Contact Ashaware to receive a formal quote referencing the Choice Partners cooperative contract number, or to discuss provincial procurement options in Canada. We'll help you identify the right funding pathway for your district or organization.
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