Parlier High School students in Fresno County are getting iPads as part of a program to connect rural-area, low-income students to broadband at home, a national first according to the announcement. Each student will have access to an iPad Air and Verizon Hot Spots.
Launched on Thursday, the “iPanther Initiative” is a project of the Parlier Unified School District, Youth Centers of America and the Fresno State University Office of Community and Economic Development to improve academic performance.
"As Internet usage and technology become further integrated in to our daily lives, it is critical that San Joaquin Valley residents are not left behind," said Mike Dozier, executive director of the Fresno State Office of Community and Economic Development in a statement. “This strategic effort to increase broadband adoption will help our region remain economically competitive and will help promote increased educational opportunities, e-commerce, business development, and improve overall quality of life in our region."
The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) provided $600,000 to fund the project.
"Our experience shows that connected families are more engaged in their children’s education, and the result is often improved academic achievement," said CETF President and CEO Sunne Wright McPeak in a statement. "The Parlier project is just the beginning. By awarding a $600,000 grant to Get Connected! San Joaquin Valley, a one-of-its-kind collaboration among San Joaquin Valley education institutions and non-profit groups focused on youth and job training, together we will work to connect nearly 5,000 low-income Valley residents in seven counties to broadband at home."
