The Oklahoma Public School Resource Center (OPSRC) is excited to announce the awarding of over $850,000 to five rural Oklahoma school districts. These funds are part of the Rural U.S. Distance Learning & Telemedicine (RUS DLT) Program.
This competitive program helps rural communities use advanced telecommunications technology to connect to each other - and the world - overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density.
The RUS DLT grant is funded through the USDA Rural Development and U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide telecommunication technology to rural school districts. The OPSRC technology staff works with member schools that are in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.
Funding helps provide: audio, visual, interactive video equipment, broadband facilities used for distance learning, computer hardware, network components, software and/or instructional programming.
The following Oklahoma public school districts were funded through OPSRC:
Calera Public Schools awarded $281,086
Felt Public Schools awarded $120,147
Pioneer Public Schools awarded $302,856
Wayne Public Schools awarded $91,513
Yarborough Public Schools awarded $63,347
"Providing grants to rural school districts is crucial to ensure they can keep up with the ever-evolving technology needs of students. These funds help bridge the digital divide, giving students access to the tools and resources they need to succeed, no matter where they live," says OPSRC Executive Director Dr. April Grace. “OPSRC is committed to assisting public schools become the best learning environments for their students.”