WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/21/19]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Education Innovation Partners Cooperative Center a $500,000 grant to connect students living in rural settings with telecommunication and internet capabilities that could help them learn.
Long distance learning services help students overcome challenges they might face due to their remote location and low population density. This project will provide services to 28 sites across six counties. It’s estimated to benefit 21,000 students and 1,500 teachers per year.
“Investments in education and health care are essential to improving communities across our state,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “This funding will allow the Education Innovation Partners Cooperative Center to help thousands of Minnesota’s students and teachers by establishing distance learning services in six counties.”
“Every student should have access to a quality education, no matter where they live,” said Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Education Committee. “But sometimes Minnesotans in rural areas don’t have the online resources they need to succeed in school. I’m glad that the USDA is helping take on this challenge by supporting long distance learning services in Northeastern Minnesota. This is one of many things we must do to support student learning.”
“All of Minnesota’s students should be afforded the opportunity to succeed. By investing in technology that will better connect our rural students to learning services, the USDA is taking a critical step to ensure their success. I applaud the USDA for their effort and will continue to work with this agency to help increase opportunities for our rural residents,” said Congressman Stauber.
Learn more here about the project here.
English