On November 13, 2024, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) announced a consolidation grant was awarded to Shiawassee Regional Education Service District in the amount of $49,853,722 to connect schools to the Michigan Statewide Educational Network (MiSEN).

Funding is for connecting to the Michigan State Education Network (SEN) traditional public school districts and charter schools that do not already have high-speed internet access, to meet the goal of having 100% of public schools in the state connected. The network provides capacity needed to deliver modern digital learning of content to classrooms, to ensure that every student can access educational resources, engage in interactive learning experiences, and develop digital literacy skills. Currently 20% of school districts are unconnected to high-speed internet or under-connected at lower speeds or with limited bandwidth. This condition hinders the ability of districts, educators, and students to maximize the use of technology for teaching, learning, and security measures.

“Shiawassee RESD is excited to work with the Michigan State Educational Network (MiSEN) to connect underserved and unconnected schools, districts and ISDs,” said Superintendent Mr. David Schulte. “We appreciate and value the support of Dr. Rice and the MDE team. This project will leverage past investments and federal matching funds to ensure students' ability to access educational resources, to engage in interactive learning experiences, and to develop the vital digital literacy skills needed to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world, guaranteeing equitable access.”

Department of Education Press Release:

School Districts Statewide to Better Serve Students, Save Money with $101M in Grants