BOISE — The State Board of Education is recommending that the extra federal coronavirus relief dollars go toward remote learning.
Idaho has almost $16 million to spend on K-12 and higher education as part of Governor Brad Little’s emergency education relief fund.
There are three major areas the State Board of Education is suggesting the money be used.
First, to support the partnership between Idaho Public Television and Idaho Digital Learning Academy. The money would help expand the K-6th grade curriculum.
Second, to improve and update Idaho’s public colleges and universities' technology infrastructure.
It also would help virtual curriculum for career technical education.
"What I think the State Board is trying to do is plan for any eventuality, whether that's resumption of education as we knew it before March or if it's a modified version of education in the classroom or if it is a hybrid with some classroom instruction and some remote learning thrown in,” said Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News. “We just don't know what it is going to look like.”
With the Federal Cares Act for education Spending, Idaho is set to receive about $100 million.
Governor Little will make the final decision as to how the almost $16 million is divided.
