50 Schools Join Verizon Innovative Learning

June 8, 2022 | Washington, D.C. – Digital Promise and Verizon today announced that 50 new Title 1 middle and high schools from 11 districts across the country will join the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program in the fall. The continued partnership between Digital Promise and Verizon for the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program equips students and teachers at select schools with free technology devices and internet access. In addition, all Verizon Innovative Learning Schools receive access to professional learning and opportunities to collaborate with a national network of innovative, technology-driven school leaders and educators.

The new cohort  brings the program’s reach to 561 schools in 94 school districts across 37 states and Washington D.C., with 100 percent of eligible middle schools in 35 districts participating in the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program.

Title I schools with a 65 percent or higher free and reduced-price lunch population are eligible for the program; however, schools in this cohort of Verizon Innovative Learning Schools are at an average of 88 percent.

“Access to technology and the internet continues to be vitally important for students and families as we work to close the digital divide,” said Jean-Claude Brizard, president and CEO of Digital Promise. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Verizon to support schools and provide devices and access to the students who need it the most.”

Of the 50 new schools joining the program, 34 will receive mobile devices (either an iPad or Chromebook) with up to a four-year 30GB 4G LTE Verizon data plan for every student and teacher. Teachers will have access to extensive professional development that supports powerful teaching and learning with technology in and out of the classroom. In addition, these schools will receive a subsidy toward a full-time technology coach to support teachers with effectively integrating technology into learning. Over the course of the program, students also will have the opportunity to learn about emerging technology such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and 3D design.

Sixteen schools with existing one-to-one device programs for students in place will receive hotspots with two-year 30GB 4G LTE Verizon data plans for students who lack reliable internet access at home. The program will provide these schools with on-demand professional learning opportunities, IT implementation support, and a stipend for an instructional liaison to support teachers.

“Even as schools return to in-person instruction, devices and connectivity remain essential to support student learning,” said Alex Servello, director of corporate social responsibility at Verizon. “Bringing technology into the classroom allows students to learn and collaborate in new ways, preparing them to be innovative leaders of the future. It also ensures students are connected outside of the school building and are able to learn anywhere, anytime.”

As part of Verizon’s commitment to digital inclusion under Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental, and social advancement, Verizon Innovative Learning is driving academic improvements. Eighty-eight percent of Verizon Innovative Learning Schools teachers reported that the program helped them explore new ways of teaching, and 81 percent said the program enhanced student engagement. Additionally, 88 percent of teachers reported that the program allowed for more individualized instruction in their classrooms.^[1]

The 50 new Verizon Innovative Learning Schools comprising the program’s ninth cohort are:

• Birmingham City Schools (Alabama): A.H. Parker High School^; Booker T. Washington K8^; Huffman Middle School^; L.M. Smith Middle School*; W.E. Putnam Middle School^; William J. Christian K-8 School*; Woodlawn High School^
• Broward County Public Schools (Florida): Annabel C. Perry PreK-8*; Apollo Middle School^; Bair Middle School*; Driftwood Middle School*; Forest Glen Middle School*; Lauderdale Lakes Middle School^; Millennium 6-12 Collegiate Academy*; Parkway Middle School*; Plantation Middle School^; Pompano Beach Middle School^; Silver Lakes Middle School^; William Dandy Middle School^
• Cleveland Metropolitan School District* (Ohio): Douglas MacArthur Girls’ Leadership Academy; Euclid Park School; Garfield School; George Washington Carver STEM School; Kenneth W. Clement Boys’ Leadership Academy
• Dallas Independent School District^ (Texas): H. Grady Spruce High School; J.L. Long Middle School
• Houston Independent School District* (Texas): Baylor College of Medicine Academy at James D. Ryan Middle School; Baylor College of Medicine Biotech Academy at Rusk; Billy Reagan K-8 Educational Center; Burbank Middle School; James S. Deady Middle School; Pilgrim Academy; Stevenson Middle School; Williams Middle School
• Jefferson County Public Schools* (Kentucky): Highland Middle School; Ramsey Middle School
• Miami-Dade County Public Schools* (Florida): Citrus Grove Middle School; Hialeah Middle School; Homestead Middle School; John F. Kennedy Middle School
• Milwaukee Public Schools* (Wisconsin): Academia de Lenguaje y Bellas Artes (ALBA); Hamlin Garland School; Lancaster School; Ralph H. Metcalfe School
• Trinidad School District 1^ (Colorado): Trinidad High School; Trinidad Middle School
• Roosevelt School District^ (Arizona): RSD Online Academy
• Tucson Unified School District* (Arizona): Alice Vail Middle School; Secrist Middle School; Utterback Middle School

*Schools will receive mobile devices with data plans for every student and teacher.

^Schools will receive hotspots with data plans for students who lack reliable home internet access.

For more information, visit verizon.digitalpromise.org.

Press Contact:
Jessica Schuler
Digital Promise
410-598-9848
jschuler@digitalpromise.org

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About Digital Promise

Digital Promise is a nonprofit organization that builds powerful networks and takes on grand challenges by working at the intersection of researchers, entrepreneurs, and educators. Our vision is that all people, at every stage of their lives, have access to learning experiences that help them acquire the knowledge and skills they need to thrive and continuously learn in an ever-changing world. For more information, visit the Digital Promise website and follow @digitalpromise for updates.

About Verizon Innovative Learning

Verizon Innovative Learning, Verizon’s award-winning education initiative, is celebrating 10 years of addressing barriers to digital inclusion for students and teachers. Since 2012, the program has committed $1 billion in market value to support digital equity, reaching over 1.5 million students. Verizon Innovative Learning provides free technology, internet access and emerging technology-infused learning programs to students in under-resourced communities – enabling students to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to build an innovative workforce of the future. In 2021, Verizon launched Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, a next-gen online education portal that provides free access to immersive XR educational experiences to all educators, including K-12 teachers, nationwide. A key program under Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental and social advancement, Verizon Innovative Learning is helping to drive the company’s commitment to provide 10 million youths with digital skills training by 2030. Learn more at CitizenVerizon.com.