Funding page

Securing Funds for MARIO for Me

To help make personalized learning accessible, we’ve outlined how the MARIO Framework’s courses and soon-to-be-released software qualify for US funding sources.

The MARIO Framework helps districts, schools, and educators create unique special education programs that are highly personalized, empowering, and centered around meeting the needs of all learners.

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Types of Funding

If you are looking to develop self-directed learners, the MARIO Framework provides you solutions that are eligible for funding under ESSA Title 1, 2, & 4, IDEA B, and ESSER I, II, and ARP.

ESSA Title I

Funds are designed to provide all children with the opportunity to receive an equitable, high-quality education and to close educational achievement gaps. These funds can be used for all MARIO courses as professional development.

ESSA Title II

Funds are designed to improve the quality and effectiveness of teaching in schools to improve student achievement. These funds can also be used for all MARIO courses as professional development.

ESSA Title IV

Funds are used to improve student academic achievement by increasing the capacity of schools to provide access to programs that meet comprehensive needs, provide effective use of technology, and improve conditions for student learning. These funds can also be used for programs or MARIO courses as professional development.

IDEA B Section 611

Funds go to support special education and related services for children ages 3 through 21. This funding can be used for software that supports and improves educational services for students with disabilities.

ESSER

Funds are responsive to COVID-19 and the effects on students in pre-K-12 education.

Unlock the Potential of Special Education

ESSA Title I
ESSA Title II
ESSA Title IV
IDEA B Section 611
ESSER

ESSA Title I

To provide funding to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and schools with the aim of supporting teachers, principals and paraprofessionals in the development of personalized approaches to learning and assessment, so that all children have the opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education that allows them to meet challenging State academic standards.

How the MARIO Framework supports ESSA Title I:

The MARIO Framework is a research-driven, evidence-based approach to teaching and learning for students with special educational needs. It is designed to support, challenge and empower children with disabilities through one-to-one instruction that targets measured and ambitious learning outcomes; Sec. 1001

Personalized learning is at the heart of the MARIO Framework. Teachers, teaching assistants and paraprofessionals who undertake the MARIO Framework teacher training course develop their ability to connect with all students, including children with disabilities, and empower them to steward their own learning by identifying learning goals that are personally meaningful to them, as well as provide targeted support in the skills that will allow the students to achieve those goals. The individualized nature of the MARIO Approach ensures that the learning is challenging, authentic and self-directed for all students; Sec. 1003A(D)

The MARIO Framework rigorously measures individual student progress through customized one-to-one sessions that are designed to endow all students with the tools to self-assess their own learning. MARIO teachers guide their students in creating their own personalized learning plans and corresponding rubrics for measuring growth. The MARIO for Me software allows teachers, students and parents to collect multi-disciplinary learning data in real time; Sec. 1111(vi)(vii)

Teachers, teaching assistants and paraprofessionals undertaking the MARIO Framework teacher training course gain the skills necessary to provide for the needs of all students, including children with disabilities, through targeted professional development that is directly transferable to their specific school context. Maintaining high expectations and consistently ambitious goal-setting are central tenets of the MARIO Framework; Sec. 1009(b)(2D)

ESSA Title II

To provide grants and subgrants to improve the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders across schools in order to improve student academic achievement consistent with State academic standards. This will increase access to high-quality effective teachers and school leaders for low-income and minority students.

How the MARIO Framework supports ESSA Title II:

Innovative MARIO Framework teacher training courses are research-informed, evidence-based and designed to improve the quality and effectiveness of special educators, EAL teachers, support staff, and content teachers to better teach all students, including students with disabilities and English Learners; SEC2103(E);SEC103(B)(1)(2)

The MARIO Framework provides teachers with the tools to build personalized learning programs to empower all students, including students with disabilities and English Learners, to become confident, self-directed learners. Moreover, all teacher training courses are designed for educators to apply what they are learning to their own specific school context; SEC2103(E)(F)

The MARIO for ME software allows teachers to collate all aspects of the MARIO Framework on one platform for students, classroom teachers, guidance counselors, school leadership, and families. Collecting data via the MARIO for ME software will offer a pathway for teachers and students alike to effectively, and continuously, review evidence-based student progress. The MARIO for ME software is FERPA compliant to ensure the protection of individual student privacy; SEC2103(E)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)

ESSA Title IV

Funds can be used to increase the capacity of schools to provide students with access to a well-rounded, comprehensive education, improve school conditions for student learning and the effective use of technology to improve students’ academic achievement and digital literacy.

How the MARIO Framework supports Title I:

The MARIO Framework is specifically designed to increase access to a well-rounded education for all students, including students with disabilities and English Learners; SEC4104(A)

The MARIO Framework is an innovative evidence-based program centered around one-to-one learning to improve student engagement. The MARIO Framework provides a well-rounded education through research-informed, high-impact learning strategies designed to improve student performance and self-efficacy skills. Through one-to-one learning sessions and conferences, students are empowered to take ownership of their individual personalized learning journey to improve academic achievement and social and emotional learning skills (self-awareness, self-advocacy, self-management, and self-esteem); SEC4104(A)(i)(VII)

The MARIO for ME software offers an interactive platform for students to engage in academic content and personalize their learning journey. It increases access to personalized, rigorous learning experiences supported by technology and allows students and teachers to review evidence-based progress to reflect and improve student outcomes. The MARIO for Me software is consistent with Universal Design for Learning to support the learning needs of all students, including children with disabilities and English Learners; SEC4101(C)(i)(II)(III); SEC4109(a)(1)(A)

IDEA B Section 611

To grant funds to States, outlying areas, freely associated States and the Secretary of the Interior, with the aim of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.

How the MARIO Framework supports IDEA B Section 611:

The MARIO Framework develops teachers’ professional capacity to meet the needs of children with disabilities through structured training in an innovative, research-driven and evidence-based approach to teaching and learning that is centered around one-to-one instruction. Training is intensive, rigorous and designed to be transferable to any school context; Sec. 1411(e.2.C)

The MARIO Approach is closely aligned with the principles of Universal Design for Learning. Teachers connect with each individual student and guide them in taking ownership over their own learning by self-identifying goal areas and self-assessing their progress. Students focus on the skill-sets that are most meaningful to them in realizing their potential as learners, and work with teachers to determine the learning experiences necessary in achieving them; Sec. 1412(a.14.A)(a.14.D)(a.15)(a.16)

A crucial aspect of the MARIO Approach is the development of the personalized learning plan, a document that records students’ personal strengths, challenges and interests as well as their individualized learning goals, specific strategies and accommodations; Sec 1414(d)

ESSER

Funds can be used in response to COVID-19 and the effects on pre-K-12 students.

Important dates:

Sep 30, 2024

An SEA or LEA has until September 30, 2024, to obligate the ARP ESSER funds it receives (E-3)

Sep 30, 2023

A Governor, SEA, or LEA, as applicable, has until September 30, 2022, to obligate the ESSER I and GEER I funds it receives (E-1)

Sep 30, 2022

A Governor, SEA, or LEA, as applicable, has until September 30, 2022, to obligate the ESSER I and GEER I funds it receives (E-1)

How the MARIO Framework supports ESSER I (CARES Act), ESSER II (CRRSA Act), and ARP ESSER (ARP Act): (A-3):

The MARIO Framework develops teachers’ professional capacity to meet the needs of children with disabilities through structured training in an innovative, research-driven and evidence-based approach to teaching and learning that is centered around one-to-one instruction. Training is intensive, rigorous and designed to be transferable to any school context. Teachers, teaching assistants and paraprofessionals who undertake the MARIO Framework teacher training course develop their ability to connect with all students, including children with disabilities, and empower them to steward their own learning by identifying learning goals that are personally meaningful to them, as well as provide targeted support in the skills that will allow the students to achieve those goals. The individualized nature of the MARIO Approach ensures that the learning is challenging, authentic and self-directed for all students (C-5).

The MARIO Framework provides teachers with the tools to build personalized learning programs to empower all students, including students with disabilities and English Learners, to become confident, self-directed learners. Moreover, all teacher training courses are designed for educators to apply what they are learning to their own specific school context (C-5).

The MARIO Framework helps all educators and leaders better understand, connect, and streamline Response to Intervention Models (RTI), behavioral needs through Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), as well as Social & Emotional Learning and Family Engagement. As a result, a more comprehensive MTSS model is developed (C-5).

The MARIO for ME software offers an interactive platform for students to engage in academic content and personalize their learning journey. It increases access to personalized, rigorous learning experiences supported by technology and allows students and teachers to review evidence-based progress to reflect and improve student outcomes. The MARIO for Me software is consistent with Universal Design for Learning to support the learning needs of all students, including children with disabilities and English Learners (C-5).

The MARIO for ME software allows teachers to collate all aspects of the MARIO Framework on one platform for students, classroom teachers, guidance counselors, school leadership, and families. Collecting data via the MARIO for ME software will offer a pathway for teachers and students alike to effectively, and continuously, review evidence-based student progress. The MARIO for ME software is FERPA compliant to ensure the protection of individual student privacy (C-5).

Take Your First Step

Your district and fellow educators can create a unique special education program that is highly personalized and empowering—meeting all learners’ needs.