225 school districts in Wisconsin to share $1.3 million in federal technology funding
Adding technology to the classroom is a focal point of the Obama administration, as the federal government continues to dole out cash to help schools upgrade their technological equipment.
Eleven school districts in Rock, Walworth and Green County, Wisconsin were recently awarded grants to invest in new technology upgrades. In total, $1.3 million was allocated to 225 school districts in the state, the Gazette Extra reports.
The grants, part of the Enhancing Education through Technology program, are designed to create parity in schools across the country. Districts with a high percentages of low-income families are the main targets, as the government hopes to increase technological literacy and provide updated teaching tools to struggling institutions.
By issuing federal grants, these schools now have the opportunity to invest in new technology, such as a smartboard, HDTV or
classroom projector. Many schools, especially those in more affluent communities in Wisconsin, have begun introducing these tools to boost student achievement.
The government funding comes at time when higher education institutions in the state are calling for financial assistance. Education leaders have recently called the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant program “woefully underfunded,” urging state officials to issue a $23.4 million increase to the state’s two-year budget, Bloomberg BusinessWeek relays.
