Governor Larry Hogan and State Superintendent Karen Salmon announced $210 million in additional funding to ensure that more students are able to access remote learning and expand targeted tutoring initiatives for at-risk students.
$100 million will be made available to local school systems to ensure students have access to devices and connectivity. $100 million will be allocated to implement tutoring and learning programs targeted to help students at-risk. $10 million will be used for the Governor’s Office of Rural Broadband to construct a wireless education network in Western Maryland, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore- in areas that currently lack broadband service.
“For six straight years, we have provided historically high state funding for our schools, while fighting for more accountability for Maryland parents, teachers, and taxpayers, and working to achieve better results for our children,” said Governor Hogan. “Education has been, and will continue to be, our administration’s highest priority. While many states have already seen significant cuts and layoffs, in Maryland, we are going to do everything we possibly can to level-fund K-12 education.”
“Long-standing gaps in educational opportunity and access have been further exposed and widened by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Superintendent Salmon. “Our goal with these resources is to give local school systems the support and flexibility to help ensure that students most impacted during the crisis receive intense focus and priority in our recovery efforts. I want to thank the governor for recognizing the importance of these initiatives as we work to support our students, educators, parents, and community partners.”
