Many school districts, early childhood organizations, and recipients of federal or state funding have deadlines throughout the year by which they must either spend their funds or lose them and risk getting lower funding allocations for the next funding period. Three major funding deadlines that many organizations have are June 30th, September 30th, and December 31st. 

In the lead-up to these deadlines, you may realize that your organization has some unspent funds. This can be exciting because it gives you a unique opportunity to reinvest in your classrooms and set your program up for future success. However, spending any sum of money in a short period of time does bring challenges. How can you make smart, strategic purchases with your unspent funds by the deadline? What are the best items to purchase with unused child-care dollars before this deadline? What if I need to have everything shipped to me by the funding deadline?   

If you have remaining funds to spend and don’t know how to get the most out of them, we’re here to help. Read this article to explore our favorite products to buy with extra funds and learn how to navigate the challenges of making and receiving purchases on short notice so that you can make wise spending decisions that will benefit your center for many years to come.   

How can I use leftover child-care funds before my spending deadline? 

As you think about how to spend the remaining funds in your budget, we encourage you to go beyond typical classroom consumables such as paper and paint. Instead, think about products or resources that are on your “nice to have” wish list. What is something you would have purchased if you had the budget for it? Every year, we help thousands of customers get the most out of their remaining – and sometimes unexpected – budgetary dollars. To help you spend wisely and effectively, here is a list of the best funding spend-down purchases that will deliver long-term value for students and staff.  

Classroom furnishings 

Upgrading classroom furniture is a high-impact way to use remaining funds before spending deadlines because these items tend to carry higher price tags due to their classroom-tested durability. This might be the perfect time to replace worn-out tables and chairs or furnish a brand-new classroom due to expanded enrollment. You could also use your leftover funds to update the carpets in your center’s classrooms and create cozy, relaxing spaces for circle time and other group activities. 

Innovative technology 

Technology is a smart way to use remaining funds as these products can boost classroom engagement and streamline daily routines. It can also be easy for technological products—especially more high-dollar ones—to fall into the “nice to have” category if your program has a tight budget. For example, you may normally consider innovative products that utilize augmented reality to be outside your financial reach. Unused funds may give you the money you need to incorporate that high-level technology into your program. 

If a spend-down enables you to invest in an augmented reality product, we highly recommend it. 

Augmented reality will elevate the classroom experiences of young children. Games and activities that change with children’s movements in real time provide captivating visual and kinetic experiences that will reinforce early learning concepts and facilitate movement and exercise. Here are three augmented-reality products that we think young children will love.  

The Beam Mobile uses laser projection and high-definition images to project engaging games onto tables and floors that encourage movement and support important academic domains such as math and literacy.  

In addition to projecting games onto flat surfaces, the Illumination Station integrates a sand table into its augmented reality capabilities. The projection adapts to the sand’s movement in real time, enabling activities where children build volcanoes, design islands, and influence the (virtual) environment in many other ways. 

Finally, the Interactive Zoo Panel includes a whole host of literacy and math activities that enable teachers and children to make words, create basic math problems, and more. The panel’s projection adds live animals to the on-screen display to increase fascination and engagement. This software will enhance typical classroom routines such as circle time and give children enchanting companions that will help them learn. 

For innovative technology that does not use augmented reality, try the Picoo, a screen-free, interactive gaming console that is great for indoor and outdoor use. Each child gets a small controller that fits nicely into their hands; children will use the controllers to play a variety of games that facilitate exercise and promote important domains such as math and literacy. 

Playground equipment 

Don’t just think about the indoors—think about the outdoors too! Playground additions such as bouncers, climbers, and musical accessories foster movement, exercise, and exploration while also introducing children to musical concepts in creative ways. 

SnugPlay Kits are also good options for playgrounds and outdoor spaces. These kits use large-scale loose parts to develop gross motor skills, creative thinking skills, and problem-solving skills.  

Professional learning 

Engaging professional development will help your staff gain the skills and confidence they need to set children on a path to success. It can also serve as valuable training for any staff you bring in mid-year.  We offer both virtual and in-person training that covers relevant topics such as challenging behaviors and instructional best practices. 

Curriculum and assessment

You can use remaining funds to purchase a new curriculum if your program has recently updated or refined its educational goals and determined that a new curriculum is necessary to meet them. Also, if you recently went through the process of getting a curriculum approved but were unable to purchase it, a funding spend-down would be the perfect time to go ahead and buy it! 

Additionally, you can use spend-down money to purchase an assessment that will help your program better understand children’s developmental progress and plan lessons and activities that meet children where they are and take them where they need to go. If you already use an assessment that you like, renew any digital subscriptions tied to the assessment that will expire around the time of the funding deadline. 

What should I do if I find out I have unused funds just days before the spending deadline? 

If you discover excess funds right before a major spending deadline, don’t panic! To browse furniture that is in-stock and ready to ship, click here. If you want to purchase playground equipment that ships quickly, check out our collection of quick ship items.  

Our sales representatives can also help you select items that provide lasting value while meeting your program’s goals and budget. They have guided people through this process and helped them successfully place orders in as little as 48 hours, and they can do the same for you. 

Partner with Kaplan for all your funding needs! 

This article has equipped you to make wise purchases with unspent funds that will benefit your center for many years. If you are ready to move forward and place an order—or if you still have a few lingering questions—reach out to your local sales representative. They will be happy to help you finalize your list and make your purchase.