North Carolina Awarded Schools $1.2 Million for Digital Tech
Seventeen districts and charter schools received new state funding to support classroom technology and educator training.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The North Carolina State Board of Education has awarded $1.2 million in grants to 17 districts and charter schools for the 2026-27 school year. This funding aims to enhance instructional technology and provide professional development for educators.
Why it matters
The grants support the implementation of new digital learning strategies designed to address emerging instructional needs. By testing these approaches, schools hope to improve overall student learning across the state.
The state distributed $217,425 to five new innovation grant recipients and over $1 million to 12 systems through the Continuing Impact Grant program. This 17-school cohort will operate under a one-year funding cycle for the 2026-27 academic term.
The players
State Board of Education
The governing body responsible for overseeing the state's public school system and administering educational grants.
Johnston County Public Schools
One of the public school systems selected as a recipient for the 2026-27 innovation funding.
General Assembly
The state legislative body that authorized the Digital Learning Initiative Grant Program.
The details
Awarded projects must align with the state's official Digital Learning Plan and established digital standards. Schools use the funding to develop and test creative approaches to digital teaching. Successful models and instructional results identified during the year are expected to be shared with other districts across North Carolina to broaden educational impact.
Timeline
The Digital Learning Initiative Grant Program was authorized in 2016.
Funding and project cycles apply to the 2026-27 school year.
The Home Front
These grants underscore a long-term state commitment to embedding standardized digital tools within the public education framework. The funding cycle reinforces adherence to the North Carolina Digital Learning Plan as a baseline for classroom infrastructure.
Parents in recipient districts like Johnston County should look for information from their school system regarding new technology programs launching this school year. If your student is in a participating district, check school board newsletters for updates on how these digital tools are being integrated into daily curriculum.
The takeaway
This funding initiative enables local schools to pilot new technology that could eventually become standard across the state. Families can monitor the rollout of these programs through local school district communications to understand how digital learning shifts may affect their child's daily coursework.
Further reading
For more on how local districts are updating classroom tools, see Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by JoCo Report.
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