AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – The State of Texas announced plans on Friday to allocate $200 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding to the Texas Education Agency for the purchase of eLearning devices and home internet solutions to enable remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic for Texas students that lack connectivity.
The move comes after the TEA expanded local control of decisions of when in-person instruction can begin. Schools can now hold classes online only for the first eight weeks of the school year.
According to Governor Greg Abbott, with the funding, the TEA will purchase and distribute devices, hotspots, routers, and more based on specific needs identified by local education agencies. The funding would also be used to establish a reimbursement program with a matching fund component tied to locally controlled Coronavirus Relief Funds or LEA local funding.
“As school districts delay the start of in-person instruction for the 2020-2021 school year due to COVID-19, it is essential that we work to provide Texas students with the devices they need to connect and communicate online for classroom instruction,” said Governor Abbott. “As we continue to combat COVID-19 in Texas, we are committed to providing reliable and effective solutions that will help students academically succeed while protecting public health.”
The funding will also establish a reimbursement program for devices and home internet costs incurred by LEAs from May 21st through September 1st.
“While getting our students back to school is our top priority, many local districts are also developing a variety of virtual learning plans to ensure that students do not lose valuable learning time as we continue to fight COVID-19. This funding is an essential step in closing the digital gap for students by making access to technology available to every child who needs it,” said Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.
The funding is in addition to a previously announced distribution of up to $400 million of CRF to reimburse districts for COVID-19 expenses incurred during the 2019-2020 school year.
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