NYC working with Apple to supply 300,000 iPads to our Students for Distance Learning
Update on April 28, 2020
We posted a new article concerning the Mayor’s request that those kids in need of iPads for tele-learning should call 311 or visit online to make the request. The Mayor pleading with those in need to come forward. Learn more at this page here…
Update on April 12, 2020
Please visit this newly added page concerning what was discussed during this day’s COVID-19 Mayor Press Conference – pertaining to the iPads to be loaned to students.
Update on March 19, 2020
For Remote Learning Device Request – VISIT THIS PAGE…
To help students stay connected during emergencies, the DOE is lending internet-enabled iPads to support remote learning for students. If you would like to request a device for a NYC student in your family, please fill out the form. The DOE will use the contact information you provide to get in touch with you to discuss when and where you can pick up a device. Priority will be given to students most in need, and all devices are granted on a temporary basis and will later need to be returned. There is a limit of one device per student.
Update on March 16, 2020
As a follow-up to this story, Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza stated the following during the March 16 Covid-19 Emergency Response Press Conference:
Chancellor Carranza: “Yeah. So, they also are one of the groups of students that are referred to as our high-priority students – so, students with disabilities, students in temporary housing. So, we’re prioritizing them in everything that we’re doing. So, they’re at the top of the list for devices. If they’re homeless, chances are they probably don’t have a device, chances are that they probably don’t have internet connection or connectivity. So, as we’re working with Spectrum and other providers, we’re prioritizing internet and Wi-Fi connectivity for those students. In particular, we have 30,000 iPads that we have in our possession right now that are Wi-Fi equipped. The prioritization is for students that are in these kinds of most fragile – we call them our fragile students – most fragile circumstances. We are going to be receiving shipments every single week until we ramp up to 300,000 iPads that we will be distributing. Part of the work that’ll happen in this week in our schools is actually getting an accounting of who are our students, because teachers and principals know who are the students that either don’t have Wi-Fi or don’t have devices, etcetera. So, we’re trying to be very strategic, very, very specific about who those kids are and then prioritize them.”
Original Story:
During the March 15, 2020 Covid-19 Emergency Preparedness Press Conference at City Hall, it was revealed that the city of New York is working closely with Apple for the sake of supplying many of our students who may not have access to computers with Ipads…all for the sake of Distance Learning. That is, while the school system is closed down temporarily in light of the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Question: This is for the Chancellor. One of kind of – be more specific about what we’re doing to get hardware into the hands of kids who don’t have the hardware to do distance learning. And then also the other question was since public schools are sometimes the first line of defense against child abuse, what does the child protection agency – like do you have any plans for ramping up resources for kids?
Chancellor Carranza: Yeah, so I’ll do the top lines and I’m going to ask our Chief Operating Officer to give some specifics. So we’ve surveyed and part of the next four days is also to get more concrete data as to who has connectivity, who does not have connectivity. We’re working on a figure of about 300,000 of our students currently may not have those devices. So we need to verify that as well. We are working with some really large companies. Apple has really stepped up to the plate. I’ll let Ursulina talk a little bit specifically about the numbers. T-Mobile has also stepped up. Verizon has also stepped up, Google has stepped up. So our big partners are really stepping up to help us make this a reality. In regards to the second question – absolutely, I’m working very closely with my fellow commissioners. We’re in a whole different environment now. So we’re working very closely about how do we continue to monitor, how do we continue to have a pulse, what are the escalation protocols? We’ll have more details as we solidify those as well. But I’m going to ask our Chief Operating Officer to give a little more specificity on the device and connectivity question.
Chief Operating Officer Ramirez: Thank you so much, sir. So, we are working diligently with our private partners around devices. As the Chancellor mentioned, we’ve surveyed our principals to ask about what kind of devices our students have and what kind of connectivity that they think that they have. So as the Chancellor mentioned, we’re working with Apple to supply 300,000 iPads to our students and we will be working on a distribution method over the next week. We are also working, as he mentioned, with T-Mobile to make sure that those devices are activated and students can use internet on those. In addition, we’re working with other partners, as he mentioned, Verizon, Spectrum, and a host of people who have really stepped up to want to support our students. So, I thank them for that. So, you’ll be hearing more from us over the next week around how we’re going to be distributing those devices and what our expectations are for the devices.
Question: [Inaudible]
Chief Ramirez: We are purchasing the devices, the Apple devices. But obviously they’re working with us on reasonable costs for the system.
Chancellor Carranza: So, I also want to just – yeah, just want to add to what Ms. Ramirez just said. So obviously we’re purchasing them. We’re not giving them away. So, they’re being assigned to students to use. Obviously, they belong to the Department of Education, but we want students to have the devices that they need and serv – you know, mind because you’ve said we all wear the same uniform during this particular situation. I want to thank and give a shout out to our controller, Scott Stringer, who moved heaven and earth to allow us to be able purchase these in record time. And it’s that kind of cooperation that makes a real time response possible.