Read on Twitter
"At $350 each, which is roughly what Lawrence Township Schools paid for a recent order of Chromebooks, it would cost the state around $80 million to close the device gap" in Indiana -- to buy enough devices to get all districts to be 1-1.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2020/04/13/coronavirus-indiana-schools-donors-rush-fill-digital-divide/5134559002/ via @indystar
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2020/04/13/coronavirus-indiana-schools-donors-rush-fill-digital-divide/5134559002/ via @indystar
So, roughly $80 million.
Expensive, yes. But the state has $2B in surplus and the state will be getting federal CARES money, too.
Expensive, yes. But the state has $2B in surplus and the state will be getting federal CARES money, too.
Of course, devices are just one piece of the puzzle and are not the only issue.
Schools/teachers/students need more training on how to make eLearning work best, how to use the learning mgmt systems, etc.
Schools/teachers/students need more training on how to make eLearning work best, how to use the learning mgmt systems, etc.
Internet access is another big issue, of course.
Some families can't afford it and are being blocked from 'free internet' offers because of old debt https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2020/04/17/coronavirus-indiana-some-families-cant-get-free-internet-because-of-old-debt/5154868002/ via @indystar
Some families can't afford it and are being blocked from 'free internet' offers because of old debt https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2020/04/17/coronavirus-indiana-some-families-cant-get-free-internet-because-of-old-debt/5154868002/ via @indystar
And others in rural places just can't get high-speed at their home.
@suptdrmccormick says the state needs to address the internet access issue more broadly.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2020/03/26/e-learning-creates-challenges-rural-indiana-schools/2901236001/ via @indystar
@suptdrmccormick says the state needs to address the internet access issue more broadly.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2020/03/26/e-learning-creates-challenges-rural-indiana-schools/2901236001/ via @indystar
Summer school could also end up online, @suptdrmccormick
says. State has allotted $18.3 million for summer school. Last year, they had $22.7M in requests.
"We're going to blow through that fast," she said.
Says they'll have more requests than $$ again, maybe up to $10M gap.
says. State has allotted $18.3 million for summer school. Last year, they had $22.7M in requests.
"We're going to blow through that fast," she said.
Says they'll have more requests than $$ again, maybe up to $10M gap.
What will re-entry look like?
@suptdrmccormick said completely back to normal is "pie in the sky."
Will it be totally online or some sort of hybrid?
@suptdrmccormick said completely back to normal is "pie in the sky."
Will it be totally online or some sort of hybrid?
McCormick acknowledges there will be learning gaps when kids get back to school, no matter how much eLearning has happened.
McCormick warns there may be more RIFing (reduction in force) than usual as schools face uncertainty about re-entry/ADM (and we all know that # of students=money in Indiana's education funding formula)
McCormick says "every little bit helps" but CARES funding won't go very far.
@GovHolcomb has $60M to spend and another $215M will go directly to K-12 schools -- but spread among lot districts/schools.
Compared to K-12 budget of roughly $8 billion...
@GovHolcomb has $60M to spend and another $215M will go directly to K-12 schools -- but spread among lot districts/schools.
Compared to K-12 budget of roughly $8 billion...
