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Senate Education Committee reviews resource allocation report; Bureau flags technology funding shortfalls and pandemic broadband gaps
Summary
Bureau presenter Julie Holt told the committee that foundation funding covered under the matrix did not fully meet technology needs from foundation dollars alone and that district surveys during the COVID period revealed significant device and community‑broadband gaps; members asked for maps, vendor detail and breakdowns of extra‑duty spending.
Julie Holt of the Bureau of Legislative Research presented the school‑level resource allocation report and the results of an April–May superintendent survey on pandemic technology needs. Holt said the technology line in the matrix provided $2.50 per student (about $119 million for 2018–19), but districts spent roughly $49 million of that out of foundation funds—about 45¢ of each foundation dollar provided for technology. When other sources (federal funds and ESA dollars) are included, per‑pupil spending reaches or slightly exceeds the matrix level.
Holt highlighted widening equity concerns that the pandemic exposed: only 17% of…
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