Last week, the Washington state legislature appropriated $900,000 to further leverage funding from the federal E-rate program, which will bring greater connectivity to schools across the state and make available K-12 digital learning access grants.
The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will manage the funds through a state match grant program in school year 2018-19. The goal of the Washington Digital Learning Access Grant Program is to support school districts, without adequate broadband connectivity, looking to upgrade to:
- scalable, fiber infrastructure, and
- enhanced internal network (Wi-Fi) connections, particularly those with the highest poverty and in rural areas.
Through the dedication of state leaders, notably Senator Lisa Wellman, Washington joins 21 other states with a matching fund to improve broadband connectivity statewide.
In May 2017, EducationSuperHighway formally launched a partnership with OSPI and the Washington Department of Commerce resulting in the Washington K-12 Broadband Initiative, which assists school districts in bringing robust and affordable high-speed Internet to Washington students.
For more on the Washington Digital Learning Access Grant Program, visit OSPI’s Ed Tech website.
