Carpino Applauds State IT Education Grant for Portland

PORTLAND- State Christie Carpino (R-32) along with Governor Dannel P. Malloy and State Department of Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor announced a $256,713 state grant for Portland to bring more computers into classrooms and increase Internet bandwidth. This investment provides vital support to students, teachers, and school districts as local efforts accelerate to complete the transition to the Common Core State Standards and the accompanying computer-based Smarter Balanced assessments. 

“If we are going to provide our children with the best education possible, we must continue to invest in technology.  My goal is to help Portland to continue to present wonderful educational opportunities for our children and this grant offers essential support for Portland’s teachers, administrators and students,” said Rep. Carpino, who is a member of the legislature’s Education committee.

Michael Pelton, member of the Portland Board of Education said, “This grant exemplifies the commitment of the state to education our kids and the great relationship we’ve had the last few years between state and local government.”

The technology upgrades which will be covered under this grant will allow for the transition which accompanies the new Smarter Balanced Assessment System. In 2014-15, every public school district will administer the Smarter Balanced Assessment System and the state will sunset the administration of the math and English language arts CMT and CAPT tests. Districts will, however, continue to administer the science CMT and CAPT assessments.