Page 12 - The Indian EYE 091925

COMMUNITY OP-ED SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 | The Indian Eye 12

Bridging the Digital Divide:

Providing 350,000 Students with

FREE Chromebooks

This is a monumental investment in our young people’s potential and working-class families of our city, and we are using
data to ensure that the Chromebooks are distributed in areas where the need is greatest. These devices come preloaded with
5G internet access and educational programs so students can continue to learn, take advantage of remote opportunities

ERIC ADAMS

n today’s digital world, access to re-
liable technology and high-speed
Iinternet is a necessity. Unfortu-
nately, far too many New York City
students don’t have this access, which,
in turn, creates barriers to learning
and taking advantage of opportunities.
To bridge the digital divide and
provide all our students with the
technology they need to succeed —
no matter their zip code or income
— this school year, we are providing
350,000 brand new Chromebooks to
New York City public school students
with LTE or 5G access. These free de- This initiative builds on all the other initiatives our administration has launched to build a better future for our children, including increased
vices will be distributed to students at
more than 1,700 schools to help bring reading and math scores for public school children (File photo)
them on a level playing field for aca-
demic success. That’s 350,000 oppor- Our Chromebook initiative also re- and ensured we could pay for these 2025 school year through Future-
tunities to support future James Bald- places outdated equipment that no Chromebooks and that students ReadyNYC, dramatically increasing
wins, Shirley Chisholms, or mayors of longer meets current instructional have high-speed internet regard- early childhood education enrollment
New York City in the making because and security standards and ensures less of where they live or how much to 150,000 children across the city’s
350,000 students will soon possess the that the nation’s largest school district their parents earn — because access system, and investing $180 million to
essential tools necessary to succeed in remains ahead of the curve. should not be determined by zip code implement a comprehensive class size
today’s digital learning environment. And because we know that too or by your income. reduction plan that provides more in-
This is a monumental investment many families are still struggling with This initiative builds on all the dividualized care to students, among
in our young people’s potential and the cost of living and cannot always other initiatives our administration other initiatives.
working-class families of our city, and afford new, internet-enabled devices, has launched to build a better future At the end of the day, we want our
we are using data to ensure that the we are providing these devices to stu- for our children, including increased young people to have all the tools they
Chromebooks are distributed in areas dents for FREE. reading and math scores for public deserve and the technology they need
where the need is greatest. These de- Earlier this year, New York City school children, nation-leading dys- to go as far as their dreams will take
vices come preloaded with 5G inter- announced an agreement with T-Mo- lexia screenings for all students, add- them. Investing in our students is criti-
net access and educational programs bile to become a major wireless car- ing 57 Gifted and Talented programs cal as we continue to strive for a stron-
so students can continue to learn, rier to support city operations. This to our public schools, helping nearly ger, fairer, and more affordable city.
take advantage of remote opportuni- agreement saved taxpayers millions of 14,000 students complete work-based Eric Adams is the Mayor of
ties, and apply for jobs and colleges. dollars on city-issued mobile devices, learning experiences for the 2024- New York City, NY

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