(Manchester, Conn.WTIC)-Joined by state officials, Governor Ned Lamont announced today that every student of need from Kindergarten through Grade 12 has been provided means to learn remotely. He says Connecticut is th first state in the nation to do that.
The initiative called Everybody Learns began in the Spring to accomodate students during the Pandemic.
The organization, Partnerhip for Connecticut, provided $24-million for 60-thousand laptops. The Governor's initiative tapped into 43-million dollars from the federal Cares Act to purchase 82-thousand laptops and 44-thousand at-home internet connections to help close the digital divide.
"W got 160 plus wi-fi hotspots around the state, making sure people have access, and making sure our libraries have high-speed internet access. Working with parents, giving them training so their kids have internet access," Lamont said.
State Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona said the laptops are critical and "the connectivity piece was critically important as well. You can have a device but if you don't have connecticivity you can't access high quality content. The qualitycontent is the third piece. We worked hard at the agency to provide high-quality content so students could access it at home."
Lamont provided the update at Manchester High School.
