Pittsburgh, PA − April 22, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr., Representative Ed Gainey and Representative Austin Davis today announced the award of more than $140,000 in state grants for school districts in the 43rd senatorial district to bridge technological gaps with students learning remotely this academic year.
“The outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted Pennsylvanians of all ages, but I’ve been particularly concerned about our school-aged children who have to complete their academic year outside of the classroom,” said Senator Costa. “Online education is a great option, but not all of our students have the same access to the resources they need to make use of virtual learning. The Continuing of Education Equity grants will help districts identify those gaps and correct them.”
Schools in the 43rd senatorial district receiving grants today are:
- Steel Valley School District – $75,900.00
- Wilkinsburg Borough School District- $29,950.00
- The New Academy CS – $11,500.00
- Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh CS – $24,700.00
“In light of COVID-19 its essential that all children have the resources they need to learn, it’s a pleasure to announce some good news for the children of Steel Valley School District. The grant awarded today will guarantee that students who once lacked sufficient access to resources will now have the equipment and support they need. I look forward to the positive outcomes these grants will have for them and their families.” Representative Davis said.
“We’ve asked a lot of our hardworking teachers, educators, students and parents in the face of the coronavirus,” Rep. Gainey, who represents Wilkinsburg and the Urban Academy said. “Trying to keep teaching and learning during a pandemic isn’t easy, and it’s all but impossible if teachers and students don’t have the necessary tools to do so. We know that we need to continue to work to equitably fund our schools, and these grants are a small step in that direction. I want to thank the Wolf administration for working quickly to get this money to schools where it is so desperately needed.”
CEEG grants are designed to help provide access and inclusion for all learners by bridging the gap for students who are currently limited in their ability to participate in continuity of education.
These grants may be used to purchase computer equipment, such as laptops, tablets, and internet hot spots, or used towards providing instructional materials, such as paper lessons and coursework. Schools with the highest percentages of students lacking access to resources were given priority in receiving these grants.
In addition, the state Department of Education has partnered with Pennsylvania’s public television stations to provide instructional programming to students through the seven individual Public Broadcasting System (PBS) member stations in the state. Public television reaches over 12.4 million Pennsylvanians serving large diverse, rural and underserved audiences. These free “Learning at Home” resources are available to families and educators via www.learningathomepa.org
###