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Indiana Schools Will Soon Get Federally-Funded Technology Grants

Lauren Chapman
/
IPB News

Indiana will soon send a total of $61 million to Hoosier schools to help them with their technology needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The awards announced Wednesday will go to 1,366 schools, the vast majority of which are traditional public schools.

The grants from the previously-announced program are funded by the federal CARES Act. They will pay for, among other things, more than 68,000 student devices and nearly 2,900 devices for teachers.

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The governor’s Senior Education Advisor Katie Jenner said the money will also pay for improved internet access.

“Cellular Mi-Fi devices, expanding Wi-Fi access to key community locations and more,” Jenner said.

Indiana Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box also announced Wednesday the state will create a public dashboard that shows positive COVID-19 cases in schools. But that won’t be ready until mid- to late-September.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.