Newburgh Schools Joins Verizon Innovative Learning to Bring Internet Access and Teacher Training to Local Schools

The Newburgh Enlarged City School District (NECSD) has been accepted into the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools  program. After a rigorous competitive process, NECSD was identified by nonprofit partner Digital Promise as meeting all criteria for participation.

NECSD joins Verizon Innovative Learning, Verizon’s education initiative addressing barriers to digital inclusion and a key program under Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental and social advancement. In partnership with Digital Promise, Verizon Innovative Learning provides mobile hotspots with monthly data plans to students without reliable home internet access at select middle and high schools across America. In addition, teachers at these schools have access to on-demand professional learning and opportunities to collaborate with a national network of innovative, technology-driven school leaders and educators.

Verizon will equip every secondary student (grades 6-12) without reliable home internet access at four district schools—Meadow Hill School, Temple Hill School, Newburgh Free Academy North Campus, and Newburgh Free Academy West Campus—with a mobile hotspot and up to a four-year data plan to empower 24/7 learning. Together, we will provide extensive training, support, and the opportunity to engage in powerful teaching and learning that leverages technology in and out of the classroom. The program, which launched in 2012, has reached more than 212,000 students and 14,000 teachers across 264 middle and high schools to date. The four NECSD schools are among the 148 new schools joining Verizon Innovative Learning this spring, bringing the program to more than 400 middle and high schools nationwide.

“We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to our scholars,” NECSD Superintendent, Dr. Roberto Padilla says. “Throughout this year, it has become abundantly apparent that quality technology is essential for a successful educational experience, for both scholars and their teachers. This program will give our scholars access to the latest technology offerings while giving our educators professional development opportunities and support to leverage the use of this technology.”
 
This program is part of Verizon’s commitment to addressing barriers to digital inclusion by transforming the learning experience and enabling students to develop the skills, knowledge, and capabilities needed to thrive in the digital world.

In addition to hotspots with 30GB 4G LTE data plans for two years, participating schools receive IT implementation support, as well as a stipend to support an instructional liaison who will support teachers in effectively integrating technology into their lessons.

"Verizon is proud to welcome Newburgh Enlarged City School District to the Verizon Innovative Learning program (VILS),” said Tony Lewis -  Region Vice President of State Government Affair at Verizon. “Through this transformative program, we are working to increase digital inclusion and enable students to acquire the skills they need to thrive in a digital world. In particular, STEM is key in education and the workforce, and VILS will be a great resource for the students of Newburgh’s public school system."

Verizon Innovative Learning is supporting the shift to distance learning. In fact, Verizon Innovative Learning teachers felt more prepared for distance learning thanks to the initiative, with 92 percent reporting that Verizon Innovative Learning helped prepare them to teach remotely.**

To date, Verizon has invested over $535 million in market value toward STEM education efforts in support of digital inclusion, impacting more than 450,000 students nationwide.

**Source: Westat (2020): Verizon Innovative Learning Teacher Survey June 2020

About Verizon Innovative Learning

Verizon Innovative Learning, Verizon's education initiative targeting Title 1 schools in partnership with Digital Promise, addresses barriers to digital inclusion. It’s a key program under Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental and social advancement. The program provides free 1:1 devices, free internet access and a technology-driven curriculum with the goal to transform the learning experience. Through exposure to cutting-edge technology, the program enables students to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to build an innovative workforce of the future. Since 2012, Verizon Innovative Learning has committed a total of $535 million in STEM education efforts in support of digital inclusion. In 2019, Verizon launched its first 5G-enabled Verizon Innovative Learning classroom, with the goal of 100 in the coming years. The company is committed to providing 10 million youths with digital skills training by 2030. Learn more at CitizenVerizon.com.    

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!