Most of our children in San Bernardino County are taking part in distance learning, meaning they critically need access to a computer so they can fully participate in class sessions and assignments.
This has been challenging to some students with limited access to technology, or the computers they are using are outdated or shared with other members of their household.
The Board of Supervisors recognized this need and allocated $1.4 million of CARES Act funding to purchase nearly 2,000 laptops for students. The laptops are being delivered to the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools this week.
“While we would all rather have our children in school, right now our students need these computers for their remote learning,” said Curt Hagman, chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “We think it is important that all students have the same opportunities to learn and we are excited that many more will now have access to the latest technology to help them through this pandemic.”
According to San Bernardino County Schools Superintendent Ted Alejandre, too many of the over 400,000 students in the County are struggling with connectivity or dysfunctional devices. These students either have to share their devices with others in the home, or they simply don’t have access to one that is capable of connecting to the internet for distance learning.
“We need to get laptops directly to our students because otherwise they simply can’t receive the lessons and direction from their teachers that they desperately need,” said Alejandre. “We are extremely grateful for the partnership with the Board of Supervisors.”
Districts that are receiving laptops were selected based on their response to a California Department of Education survey that gauged the need for student devices. The laptops are being delivered to the following school districts, ROP program and charter schools: Barstow Unified, Etiwanda, Chaffey Joint Union High, Helendale, Morongo, Mt. Baldy, Oro Grande, Trona Joint Unified, Upland, Victor Valley Union High, and Yucaipa Calimesa, Baldy View ROP, Academy of Academic Excellence in Apple Valley and Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino.
Click here for a video segment on the laptop distribution.