Dozens Of Ga. School Districts Will Receive Funds To Help Bridge The ‘Digital Divide’
When Gov. Brian Kemp ordered campuses to close last month, most districts switched to online learning. That became a hardship for families who didn’t have Internet access or technology devices.
This week, the Georgia Board of Education approved using $21,578,236 in federal grant money to help public schools bridge the “digital divide.”
School districts plan to use the funds to purchase devices, like laptops, Chromebooks, and tablets. The money will also pay for training for teachers, software, and installing mobile hotspots on buses that will drive to neighborhoods that lack Internet access.
The grants are provided through federal school improvement funds. The Georgia Department of Education says 55 school districts will benefit.
The Coronavirus pandemic has exposed some deep economic inequalities in Georgia’s public schools. When Gov. Brian Kemp ordered campuses to close last month, most districts switched to online learning. That became a hardship for families who didn’t have Internet access or technology devices.
Atlanta Public Schools tracked students who logged on to complete assignments during the first two weeks of school closures. District data show more than 10% of students didn’t log on during that time period. APS is slated to receive more than $2 million in grants to pay for digital devices.
Clayton County Public Schools also expects to receive more than $2 million. The district says it plans to combine the money with other funds to try to provide every K-12 student with a digital device.
“We are excited to be awarded these funds to assist with our Extending Learning Beyond the Classroom one-to-one initiative,” Clayton Superintendent Morcease Beasley said in a statement. “During these uncertain times, public education needs to be resourceful and innovative in its work to provide consistent instructional support for all of the families we serve.”
State data show 47% of students in CCPS are considered “economically disadvantaged.”
In a news release, State Schools Superintendent Richard Woods said the inequities exposed by the pandemic aren’t new, but switching to online learning has made them more obvious.
“School districts have done incredible work during the COVID-19 school closures and have been hard-working, creative, and thoughtful with the resources they have,” Woods said. “But there is still a need for better digital learning infrastructure within our state, particularly in rural and underserved communities. These funds will help districts strengthen their digital learning capacity, extend summer learning opportunities, and ensure no student is left unconnected.”
School districts will also receive substantial allocations of funds through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. GaDOE will specifically recommend that districts use a portion of their CARES Act funding to ensure they have a plan in place for any future distance learning needs.
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