COVID-19 Education Working Group Digital Inclusion Updates

In March, House Speaker Tim Moore formed a select COVID-19 committee with four working groups focused on healthcare, education, economic support, and continuity of state operations. Last week these working groups voted on draft legislation that will be filed when the session opens on Tuesday, April 28. The COVID-19 Education Working Group made the following policy recommendations specific to digital inclusion. Appropriations were not included.

• Each public school unit shall provide remote instruction for the remainder of its scheduled 2019-2020 school year.
• While local boards of education may transfer funds from one allotment category to another for several allowable reasons, funds allotted for textbooks and digital resources may only be used to acquire textbooks and digital resources and related technology, including any hardware, software, or equipment or devices necessary for the use of the digital resources. These funds shall not be transferred out of the allotment for any other purpose.