The state has awarded Harford County Public Schools a grant to start an online learning program for kindergartners and first graders at three elementary schools.

The more than $20,000 grant from the Maryland State Department of Education will be used to promote early access to gifted and talented education programs, according to Raven Hill, a spokesperson with state government. The grant will focus on “students who have historically been overlooked, including those from diverse backgrounds and economically disadvantaged communities,” she said.

The funds can be used to acquire new technology tools, including a game-based learning software called Legends of Learning that has been developed for pre-kindergartners, kindergartners and first graders. The game is designed to develop analytical thinking skills, Hill said.

Jillian Lader, manager of communications for HCPS, said Wednesday that the Legends of Learning program will be piloted in three elementary schools; the schools have not yet been chosen. The new software will be used in kindergarten and first grade and will teach students advanced concepts through the use of analogies.

“Research indicates that learning through analogies can significantly aid in gifted identification, particularly for students from underserved backgrounds. This program offers assessments to track student growth, ready-to-use lesson plans, and interactive digital games,” Lader said.

HCPS will use the grant money to invest in teacher training and to pay for online support as the program gets underway. Each school will also select a teacher to serve as a coach for others and to oversee the program’s implementation.

A portion of the grant will also be used to purchase headphones for every participating student, Lader said, so the digital activities that require sound will be more accessible.

Lader said the school system anticipates a 2% increase in the identification rate of underserved gifted and talented students at the selected elementary schools. “We believe this is a fantastic opportunity to foster early talent development and create more equitable access to advanced learning for all our students,” she said.

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