$23M to provide laptops for Detroit students amid COVID-19 pandemic

About 51,000 K-12 public school students in Detroit will receive computer tablets and high-speed internet to help transition from classroom to virtual learning during coronavirus pandemic in one of nation’s poorest big cities.

Schools across Michigan closed in March as part of state’s stay home order to slow spre of virus. And while many suburban districts quickly moved teaching online, Detroit lagged because nine out of 10 students don’t have access to tablets, computers or internet.

“When our executive team began prioritizing COVID-19 relief efforts, issue of digital inequity for Detroit students rose to top,” said Jerry rcia, president and chief executive of DTE Energy.

Detroit-based utility’s foundation is one of groups contributing a total of $23 million to initiative. Each student in Detroit Public Schools Community District is expected to receive a laptop by end of acemic year in June.

“We recognized that we needed to take action urgently to close digital divide for se students and provide m with tools necessary to thrive in 21st century,” rcia said.

first six months of internet connectivity will be fully subsidized. Students n will be transitioned to a low-cost, hard-wired connection.

Nationwide, nearly 3 million students make do without home internet because of high costs of service and gaps in its availability. disvantd students are more likely to be students of color, from low-income families or in households with lower parental education levels.

nation’s largest school districts, including Los Angeles and New York, are spending millions of dollars to provide devices and internet connections for students. Smaller districts are finding ways to boost wireless internet in school parking lots and distribute hot spots. Still, ors are sticking with paper assignments and books because digital equity issues are too much to overcome.

In April, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an order closing K-12 school buildings for rest of acemic year and that state’s 1.5 million-plus students would learn remotely.

Districts were given flexibility on how to create distance learning programs with phone lessons, online classes and mailing materials to homes as options.

Detroit district printed lesson packets. Online learning tools also were me available to students with internet access.

“ ability for our students to access educational platforms that y use during school day from home will elevate ir learning year-round, t just during this crisis,” Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said. “We kw that our children perform exponentially better during school year, but when y return in September, y’ve lost much of ir progress from prior school year.”

About a third of Detroit’s 640,000 residents are believed to be living in poverty. In 2018, median household income in city was about $29,500, according to U.S. Census. Michigan’s poverty rate is about 15% and state’s median household income in 2018 was about $54,900.

“When we look back to this time in 10 years, we will see that this moment changed trajectory of education in our city,” Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said of effort to bring laptops and internet to Detroit students. “We have risen to challenge of this pandemic and found a way to forge something positive for our children.”

Or partners in Connected Futures program include Kellogg Foundation, Quicken Loans, General Motors and Skillman Foundation.

(Im source: Representative/Unsplash)