Colorado teachers: Want $600 for classroom supplies? State grants are available now.

Colorado teachers can get a quick $600 for classroom supplies or learning materials through a state grant program that opened Tuesday.

But applicants have to be quick, too.

Funded with $2.7 million in COVID relief funding, the program will end as soon as the money runs out. The grant program, similar to one offered last fall , is open to public school educators who teach preschool to 12th grade.

Gov. Jared Polis announced the grant program on Tuesday at a Commerce City elementary school. The state is awarding the grants in partnership with DonorsChoose, a nonprofit that helps teachers secure donations from the public. Teachers must write a short essay describing how they would use the money to help students “through pandemic-impacted learning.”

Teachers can use the grants to pay for things like literacy materials, science equipment, technology, or social-emotional learning products. The money can’t be used for food, clothing, hygiene items, or subscriptions.

Last year’s $11 million grant program provided awards of up to $1,000 to 7,368 teachers and 1,385 schools. This year, with only $2.7 million available, state officials will likely give fewer grants.

Teachers can apply by following the directions on this DonorsChoose page .

Ann Schimke is a senior reporter at Chalkbeat, covering early childhood issues and early literacy. Contact Ann at aschimke@chalkbeat.org .