She said the national reseller often appears before PTA meetings, school boards and technology committees to help educators present plans for school laptop programs to decision-makers. We're helping at the beginning, the middle and the end. Finding the Funds Payment methods for schools participating in NFS programs range from outright purchases by parents to creative leasing arrangements. And resellers may become involved in helping schools develop funding sources, according to both Healy and Edmundson. Perhaps the most successful funding option involves creating a non-profit foundation to raise money to lease the computers, Healy said.
Parents then sublease the machines and make monthly payments.
It's a win for everybody. Under these foundation arrangements, schools offer assistance to parents who cannot afford the entire monthly lease fee, typically using a sliding payment scale based on income guidelines for the federal free and reduced-cost lunch program, said Healy. CompUSA's NFS installations have involved numerous financing mechanisms including community foundations and state funding, Edmundson said. It depends on the type of educational institution, whether it's public or private, small or large. Steady Demand Edmundson foresees continuing demand for notebook computers, as schools seek solutions for turning out technically-savvy students.