Texas K–12 District Utilizes Federal Grant Money for VR Equipment

  • By Matt Jones
  • 12/05/23

The San Isidro Independent School District in south Texas recently announced that it used a federal grant program to purchase virtual reality (VR) headsets for its middle- and high-school students, according to a news release. The district was one of 13 in the Texas Region One Educational Services Center service area to take advantage of the “GEAR UP Pathways to the Future” grant to purchase ClassVR from Avantis Education.

ClassVR is an all-in-one VR/AR headset that features thousands of pieces of educational content across a variety of K–12 subject areas. The package features all hardware and software, tools, training, and support and implementation services needed for school administrators to deploy the technology. Content ranges from the inside of an atom to an Arctic encounter with polar bears to a WWI trench.

“The GEAR UP program has been great for bringing technology and training to our district,” said San Isidro ISD’s GEAR UP facilitator, Cristobal Vela. “ClassVR provides an excellent opportunity to have students experience places that they otherwise would never be able to visit.”

The news release reports that Avantis recently aligned more than 400 of its ClassVR lessons to meet U.S. state standards in science, English/language arts, and social studies. ClassVR equipment qualifies for both the GEAR UP grant and ESSER funds through its ability to help teachers address learning loss.

“Utilizing grant funding for ClassVR is really a great way to support equity in schools because it gives students access to cutting-edge technology and allows those who might not have had opportunities to travel, to experience different places through the power of virtual reality,” said Huw Williams, CEO of Avantis Education. “GEAR UP grants offer a great opportunity to bring technologies like ClassVR into schools to help enhance lessons and support academic success in secondary school and beyond.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • dormitory with green roofs, solar panels, balconies, and labeled architectural annotations

    2025 Residence Hall Design Trends Focus on Sustainability, Flexibility, Community, Technology, and Well-Being

    With the most technically advanced Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) at the helm, residence hall design trends for 2025 look to focus on flexible spaces, health and wellness, sustainability, community, and digital technology.

  • ClassVR Wins Tech & Learning Best of Show at ISTELive 25

    Avantis Education recently announced that its flagship product, ClassVR, won the Tech & Learning Best of Show Award at ISTELive 25 in San Antonio, Texas, according to a news release. The program is designed to celebrate products that are “transforming education in schools around the world and that show the greatest promise for the industry,” and this is the fourth consecutive year that Avantis has claimed the award.

  • Beeville ISD Starts Construction on New Elementary School

    The Beeville Independent School District near Corpus Christi, Texas, recently began a construction project that will consolidate two existing, aging schools into a new elementary school, according to a news release. The district is partnering with Pfluger Architects and Spawglass General Contractors for the design and construction, respectively, of the new facility.

  • ECM Technologies Wins ‘Most Innovative Business of the Year’ Award

    HVAC preventative maintenance and efficiency solutions provider ECM Technologies was recently named the “Most Innovative Business of the Year” at the 2025 Champions of Change Awards, according to a news release. The program recognizes Arizona business leaders and organizations taking steps to make a positive impact on the state through innovative thinking and philanthropy.

Digital Edition