PITTSBORO — Chatham County Schools (CCS) has been awarded a $265,000 Digital Learning Impact Grant by the State Board of Education as part of North Carolina's Digital Learning Initiative. CCS is one of only seven districts statewide to receive this competitive grant, which will be distributed over three years.
The grant will support the development and dissemination of new digital learning models in K-12 public schools. CCS said in a press release that it will focus the funds on professional development and events showcasing artificial intelligence and how it can enhance learning and content mastery.
State Superintendent Catherine Truitt emphasized the importance of these grants in preparing students for high-wage, high-demand careers and supporting districts in adopting new technologies and teaching methods. "These grants are a fundamental way to ensure that we are providing supports and resources for digital teaching and learning in North Carolina's schools," Truitt said in a press release.
"This funding will significantly enhance our ability to train our teaching staff on the best and most innovative AI instruction practices, ensuring that our students are equipped with the necessary skills for high-demand careers," said Kira C. Berggren, director of digital learning and media programs with Chatham Schools.
"The funds allocated by the Digital Learning Impact Grant represent a commitment on the part of NCDPI and Chatham County Schools to prepare our students to successfully navigate their increasingly computer-, internet-, and AI-integrated society," added Michael Charles, instructional program facilitator for digital learning and library media.
The grant initiative, authorized in 2016 by the General Assembly, is a collaboration between the State Board of Education and the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at N.C. State University to advance the state's Digital Learning Plan.
