NJ To Pump Millions To Boost Schools' Virtual Learning Amid COVID

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy said he's pumping tens of millions of dollars into boosting virtual learning New Jersey, saying there is a "digital divide" among school districts where "not every student has a laptop." He was speaking as he revealed 254 new coronavirus cases and 32 more deaths (you can watch it here, below).

Murphy said New Jersey has roughly 230,000 students who are at a disadvantage because of a lack of Internet connectivity and technology in their homes.

Murphy said the initiative has nothing to do with "whether we're going back to school or what it looks like. We need this no matter what schooling looks like."

"It's our strong intention to back in some form or fashion into the classrooms," he said.

The governor, speaking in Irvington, said New Jersey needs at least $115 million to make up this digital gap and provide students with the right tools to undergo virtual learning.

"This is a cost we cannot ignore in light of the current fiscal reality by pushing it off for another year," Murphy said.

Indeed, New Jersey teachers have expressed concern about returning in the fall, and they've developed what may be considered a strict set of possible ground rules for getting kids back to school. Read more: NJ Teachers Develop Possible Coronavirus Back-To-School Rules

Murphy, meanwhile, has issued a list of rules and guidelines for reopening schools this fall amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ School Reopening Rules Amid Coronavirus

Murphy outlined ways New Jersey can pay to bridge the digital divide:

• Nearly half of the $115 million funding gap can be closed by each district through CARES Act funding, which is money from the federal government to provide relief to schools and the economy amid the coronavirus outbreak.
• Murphy, however, said "we will not stop with nearly half" of the schools in providing relief and "we will not leave districts to figure out on their own" how to make up the excess costs.
• Murphy said the state will use $10 million from the CARES Act's one-time digital-divide "elementary and secondary school relief" funds for grants that will be provided to school districts.
• Another $44 million will come from the Coronavirus Relief Fund, and $6 million of that fund will assist non-public schools
• The Murphy administration will also solicit help from the philanthropic community.

The update also comes as the number of coronavirus cases has risen to 176,501, and 13,691 confirmed deaths have been reported. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Murphy said the state's positivity rate and rate of transmission has ticked up a bit, saying he "knew it would go up when we started opening up" the economy.

We want to know what you think: Should New Jersey schools reopen for in-person learning this fall amid the coronavirus outbreak? Take our survey. Read more: Should New Jersey Schools Reopen This Fall? Take Our Survey

Watch Murphy here:

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