Today, MBAE sent a letter to legislators in support of amendments #68, #73, and #95 to House Bill 4708. H.4708 is a more than $1 billion information technology bond bill that the House will consider during its session tomorrow, May 20. Read our letter.

We applaud the effort of the House to address some of the impacts and challenges that come with the delivery of remote learning to students through this bill. We believe that the three amendments, offered by House Education Chair Alice Peisch, will enhance and expand existing public school district efforts to invest in equitable access to broadband and remote learning.

Here’s a bit more detail on the relevant portions of H.4708 and the proposed amendments:

·       H.4708, Section 2A will allocate $25 million for a matching grant program to assist public school districts to procure the equipment and training needed to expand and enhance remote learning, and to reimburse school districts for expenses already incurred in this effort. Amendment #73 increases this amount to $50 million, which aligns with the cost of addressing technology-related barriers to remote learning quantified by the Commissioner of Education last week. Amendment #95 changes the manner in which funding will be distributed from a competitive process to one targeted to providing equitable access to funds based on the needs of vulnerable student populations.

·       H.4708, Section 2B will allocate $20 million to assist municipalities with the construction of broadband infrastructure. Amendment #68 increases this amount to $30 million and allows funds allocated under this item to be used to target communities where insufficient internet access inhibits remote learning.

The closure of school buildings due to COVID-19 is one of the most detrimental results of this public health crisis. School closures threaten the progress and success of students across the state.  State leaders must act quickly and leverage every resource and opportunity to limit learning loss and prevent the widening of socio-economic and racial achievement gaps that could leave a generation of students behind.