Perquimans, Chowan schools get $145K in digital learning grants

The public school districts in Chowan and Perquimans counties will receive a total of $145,000 in state grant funding to support digital learning practices.

The grants are among the 11 approved by the State Board of Education earlier this month through the state’s Digital Learning Initiative that, according to a press release, “supports the development and dissemination of local innovative digital learning models.”

The Edenton-Chowan Schools is one of seven public school districts and charter schools slated to receive a $95,000 Impact Grant through the Digital Learning Initiative. The Impact Grants, which are for up to $95,000 for three years, “facilitate the development of innovative practices and new digital teaching initiatives.”

In addition to the seven new districts receiving Impact Grants, six other school districts received continued funding through the program.

The Perquimans County Schools was one of four districts to receive a $50,000 Emergency Technology Grant. According to the release, the grants are for one year and allow districts “to use technology and develop more innovative practices within their schools.”

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt said the grants are designed to help “students be better prepared to compete for high-wage, high-demand careers” while also helping districts “adopt new technologies and methods for teaching.”

“These grants are a fundamental way to ensure that we are providing supports and resources for digital teaching and learning in North Carolina’s schools,” Truitt said. “If we want our state’s students to have ample opportunity for success after graduation, we must properly equip both students and educators with the tools to succeed and teach in our rapidly evolving, technology-forward world. These grants play a critical role in that effort.”

The grant initiative was authorized in 2016 by the General Assembly as part of collaboration between the State Board of Education and the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at N.C. State University to advance the state’s Digital Learning Plan.