Crawfordsville Schools is set to receive $163,785 from a new emergency education fund to improve connectivity, purchase devices and develop resources related to remote learning.
As schools struggle to provide quality education for remote learning families during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, issues surrounding reliable internet and access to take-home devices have come into focus.
With this in mind, Governor Eric Holcomb announced Thursday a total of 184 districts in Indiana that will receive a portion of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief fund, or GEER.
“Students, parents and teachers have worked hard to adapt to the challenges COVID-19 has brought to education,” Holcomb said. “These emergency funds will enable Hoosier students to be more successful with remote learning.
“Some families will now worry less about internet connectivity, more students will have access to the technology needed at home and more educators will have the necessary devices to teach remotely.”
Devices such as Google Chromebooks and iPads will be purchased for students while new or upgraded laptops, MacBooks, Chromebooks or iPads will be purchased for teachers.
Furthermore, the grant can be used to purchase “mi-fi” devices, along with subscription plans, for families who lack reliable internet access.
A total of 674,500 students are enrolled in the districts receiving these grants, including those enrolled at Crawfordsville.
Other area schools receiving funds include: Attica Consolidated Schools, $43,695; Covington Community Schools, $94,000 (to be split with Wabash Valley Educational Center and Western Indiana Community Foundation); Danville Community Schools, $90,000; Lafayette Catholic School System, $185,500; Lebanon Community Schools, $88,400; and Western Boone County Community Schools, $84,412.
Nearby colleges receiving funds include Purdue University ($1,548,823) and Ivy Tech Community College ($759,864).
GEER was created by the federal CARES Act earlier this year when the virus began forcing schools, businesses and public events to close to promote social distancing.
