$13M In ​COVID-19 Federal Relief Funds​ Goes To HCPSS For Laptops

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — More than $13 million in COVID-19 Federal Relief Funds will be funneled to the Howard County Public School System, which will help financially support the district's 2020-2021 reopening plan, particularly the purchase of laptops for students.

The largest grant award is the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Technology Grant, which is valued at $6.56 million. Together with the $4.2 million in Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief (ESSER) Fund grant, $359,512 from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) and $490,000 from the HCPSS General Fund, the school system is able to purchase "sufficient student devices" in order to eventually achieve a 1:1 ratio for students in all grades pre-kindergarten through 12th and retain a 1 percent reserve of computers for replacement when needed.

“Achieving 1:1 device deployment with this additional funding provides me with great relief as we can now be sure that every student will have the technology they need to be successful in this new instructional environment,” said HCPSS Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano in a statement. “It will take time to order, receive, prepare and distribute each device, and we will provide additional information to the community on how students may receive their devices this school year.”

HCPSS also received $2,265,001 from the CARES Tutoring Grant. Support from the GEER Innovative Program Grant and Broadband for Underserved Populations may be coming. The school system also continues to use the Bright Minds Access to Learning Fund to support more specific student needs.

“These funds will be critical as we look to implement a more robust virtual instruction program for the 2020-2021 school year,” said Mavis Ellis, chair of the Howard County Board of Education.

On July 16, the board of education approved a virtual start to the school year through the end of the second marking period. On Aug. 6, the board will review the draft reopening plan and provide feedback. This plan will then be submitted to MSDE for final review by Aug. 14. The final grant awards will be presented to the Howard County Board of Education for official acceptance at an upcoming meeting.