“We cannot stop until we know we have leveled the playing field for every student in California by connecting them to the technology they need to succeed now, and in the years ahead,” Thurmond said. “At a time when there is a worldwide shortage of devices, I want to thank these companies for prioritizing California students, and I am proud that we have been able to work together to give school districts a unique chance to equip every student in need with a computing device.”
Thurmond announced during a news conference Wednesday that CDE worked directly with manufacturers and technology resellers to find and acquire devices for California students. The department said the companies involved in the initiative include ASUS, CDW, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Staples and Office Depot.
“These devices are on top of the hundreds of thousands of internet-enabled iPads prioritized for California students under a collaboration announced [in August] between the CDE, Apple and T-Mobile to connect up to 1 million students in need,” CDE said in a news release. “Schools can find regular updates on available devices on the CDE Securing Devices and Connectivity for Students Web page. Updates are sent to school districts weekly. Many devices are available for delivery now, and more will be coming in the weeks and months ahead.”
Although school districts received $5.3 billion in one-time funding in the state budget for schools to strengthen distance learning, acquiring the necessary devices was a problem due to “worldwide disruptions to the technology supply chain,” CDE said. The department said that as a result of these companies’ efforts, thousands of devices will be made available within weeks.
Thurmond and his Closing the Digital Divide Task Force continue to seek ways to expand Internet access to low-income students and households in underserved rural communities. Since April, the task force has worked with Internet service providers to secure commitments to expand discounted service to households in need, and with the California Emerging Technology Fund to address low-income service programs.
The task force also has worked with the Department of Technology, the Department of Transportation, and emerging connectivity companies to address infrastructure barriers. The CDE worked closely with the Governor’s Office and California Public Utilities Commission to secure $25 million in funds through the California Teleconnect Fund to subsidize service plans for hot spots loaned to students by school districts and $5 million in California Advanced Services Fund grants to school districts for devices and hot spots.
