Norwalk middle schools to get new Chromebooks from Verizon
NORWALK — Three Norwalk middle schools will be receiving new Chromebooks equipped with four-year data plans, thanks to a learning initiative from Verizon.
Nathan Hale, Ponus Ridge and West Rocks middle schools were among over 100 schools selected nationwide to participate in Verizon Innovative Learning, an education initiative from Verizon dedicated to addressing barriers in digital inclusion.
The program, launched in 2012, is part of Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental and social advancement. Nathan Hale, Ponus and West Rocks are among the 148 new schools joining the initiative in the 2021-22 school year and are the only schools from Connecticut.
In addition to students and teachers receiving a device with a four-year data plan which allows internet access from anywhere, the grant also provides teacher training and support on how to integrate this technology into learning. Schools will be assigned a full-time coach to train teachers on this.
“This is another step for Norwalk to continue to move the district forward in not just having the actual devices, but the professional development necessary to continue to propel this work forward,” said Superintendent Alexandra Estrella. “We kind of got rushed into a lot of these things at the beginning of COVID. Now that we have more time to process, we want to make sure we’re taking advantage of opportunities to continue the work moving forward.”
Estrella added the program will not only help with professional development and provide teachers with instructional coaches, but will help bridge the digital divide between students, especially those without internet access. Norwalk schools already partnered with the
Dalio Foundation to bring free internet to 1,000 Norwalk families, but this will help further close that divide, according to Chief of Digital Learning and Development Ralph Valenzisi.
“There’s a need we’ve been trying to address this throughout the year to make sure we’re filling those gaps,” he said. “We really need these devices. We have hundreds of families in need of internet access.”
In addition, the program will help students build the digital skills they need and help expand STEM instruction in the classroom.
“One of the key elements is about skill sets students need when they leave our schools,” Valenzisi said. “They need to have certain skills to use devices. We think our kids are digital natives, but in reality we have to teach them the right way to use these tools.”
“The support from Verizon will help us be able to build capacity faster around STEM and instructional technology in schools,” added Norwalk Public Schools Director of STEM Tina Henckel. “With the support of Verizon and their professional development staff, we’ll be able to increase capacity and look at digital literacy components as well.”
Valenzisi said the new devices will replace the Chromebooks currently used by students. Devices used by students prior to the arrival of the new devices will be distributed to those who need a replacement device across the district.
Each school participating will receive about $1.8 million in programs and services for the first two years of the program, according to Norwalk schools spokesperson Brenda Wilcox Williams. The grant will amount to $5.4 million in value overall for the first two years, including the cost of the data plans, devices and professional development.
Wilcox Williams said this grant was factored in when planning the 2021-22 budget.
“It’s very important to note that this is figure does not represent a monetary grant to be used in lieu of local funding,” Wilcox Williams said. “This grant also doesn’t replace the funding requested for technology in the 2021-22 capital budget request. This is a dedicated grant with specific parameters outside of the needed funding in the capital budget. The district is committed to finding outside funding sources such as this wherever feasible and we’re very pleased to have Verizon’s support. “
According to data from the program, which has reached more than 212,000 students and 14,000 teachers across 264 middle and high schools to date, 59 percent of student participants believe assignments are easier when using a device, and 54 percent believe having the device improved their confidence in the things they can do. Teachers participating prior to the pandemic said they felt more prepared for distance learning thanks to the initiative, with 92 percent reporting that Verizon Innovative Learning helped prepare them to teach remotely.