More than 130 local school systems and charter schools will be awarded more than $25.3 million in grants from the second round of the Connections for Classrooms program, including Atlanta, Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Clayton, Forsyth and Cherokee counties, and Buford, Marietta and Decatur city schools.
The program is paid for by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA), the Georgia Department of Education and the One Georgia Authority to help ensure classrooms across the state get high-speed broadband access. These funds will enable the local systems, which include two state charter schools, to receive as much as $90.9 million in federal E-Rate funds, making the total investment of $116.2 million in school and classroom network infrastructure.
“In order to succeed in the 21st century job market, our students must master 21st century skills,” said Gov. Nathan Deal. “With these funds in place, our schools are closer than ever to attaining the necessary technology infrastructure and to better preparing Georgia’s students for life outside the classroom.”
In the first round of grants, local systems were required to detail technology expansion plans and explain how grant awards would enable them to implement digital and blended learning and improve student achievement. In October 2014, Deal announced the first round of awards, totaling $37 million.
GOSA will open applications for a third round in July 2015, which will enable locals systems to apply that either did not apply for a 2014 grant or that have remaining E-Rate eligible needs after Round 2.
