GADSDEN COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) — Rural counties across the state of Florida are getting the chance to better equip students for online learning.
The Department of Education handed out 32,000 laptops, and at least 1,000 of those landed here in the Big Bend.
Now, that schools and libraries aren't an option, many students in Gadsden County don't have a way to get online to do schoolwork, but by next week, that won't be the case. Gadsden County was one of about a dozen Big Bend counties to get laptops from the DOE.
Superintendent Roger Milton says he's already working to find the students who need the Chromebooks the most.
The laptops will go to students in 2nd grade and up, Milton saying the priority is to equip seniors with laptops.
For now, they're handing out one computer per household, but if there are extra they'll try cycle through again to help bigger families in addition to companies making internet access free.
"We're asking everybody to jump on board as early as possible because this is the reality," said Milton. "Distant learning is something that we've been talking about and having some level of success with. But now, we're trying to make sure that every student in every household has access to it, and whatever we need to do to provide the training and help them with their comfort level."
Gadsden County started phase two of distance learning this week, with students starting to see new schoolwork instead of reviews.
The plan is to start handing out those laptops out by Monday, just in time for students to get extra help with phase two. Parents interested in trying to get a laptop are encouraged to contact their child's school.
