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#OaklandUndivided Reaches Major Milestone in Effort to Provide 25,000 Oakland Students with Free Computers and Internet Access; Media is Invited to Laptop Distribution Event on Thursday
The press release sent from The Oakland Unified School District to Zennie62Media is below:
Oakland, CA — Eric Yanez (below), a 4th-grader at Hoover Elementary School, had problems with distance learning. But many of those challenges have evaporated as Eric now has a computer and internet access through the #OaklandUndivided campaign. “My son got a Chromebook from #OaklandandUndivided and it has helped tremendously,” said Guadalupe Canchola, Eric’s mother. “We both are so grateful as it has helped to ease the new way of school with distance learning. Initially, he would use my phone for the zoom class and a borrowed tablet for the actual school work and it was just so different and a little frustrating a lot of the time.”
Eric Yanez
Those challenges are exactly what the #OaklandUndivided campaign is designed to address for all Oakland public school students in need. The campaign, which is a joint venture of Tech Exchange, Oakland Promise, Oakland Public Education Fund, the City of Oakland and Mayor Libby Schaaf, and OUSD, began about five months ago with one goal: to ensure every public school student in need has access to a computer, internet, and tech support. While the work is far from over, this is an important update for the community on some key milestones coming out of last week’s National Digital Inclusion Week, during which the campaign handed out devices at 25 schools across Oakland and highlighted the impact these devices and resources have had on families and teachers.
Oakland OUSD Student
Most importantly, this week, the campaign expects to reach the halfway mark and hand out the 12,500th computer of the original 25,000 units. These devices are for students to keep at home and to provide consistent access for families.
On Thursday, October 15 the campaign will host a computer distribution event with Mayor Schaaf and OUSD School Board District 7 Director, James Harris at Castlemont High School.
The focus for the #OaklandUndivided team after that will be to get the rest of the 25,000 computers into the hands of Oakland students in need.
“Everyday we get closer to closing the digital divide in Oakland,” Mayor Libby Schaaf said. “This week marks a critical milestone, but it is only progress achieved — not mission accomplished. We’ll continue to work with our amazing community partners until the digital divide is closed for good, and every child and family in Oakland has a device and the consistent internet access they need to reach their full educational potential.”
Until they receive the #OaklandUndivided computers, Oakland students in district-run and charter schools who have needs for technology at home, still have one of the more than 23,000 computers and 7,000 hotspots that were loaned out by schools since the shelter in place took effect last March. “We are pleased that the #OaklandUndivided campaign has made such important progress,” said OUSD Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell. “It’s obvious that in this time of distance learning, we have prepared our students for success by ensuring that they have the tools they need at home to fully access their education. I thank the #OaklandUndivided team for all their hard work. It has indeed paid off!”
Oakland OUSD Students Get Computers
Almost all students have either a loaner or an #OaklandUndivided device. But the campaign knows there are some students who remain disconnected. If you are a family in Oakland public schools, make sure to fill out the Tech Check survey to receive your device(s) to ensure your student has access to a computer and the internet. If you know of a student or family in need who does not currently have access to technology resources, including a computer to participate in remote learning, please complete the OUSD Technology Intake Form. OUSD will ensure that the students identified there receive a computer within 48 hours.
One of the most important aspects of this effort has been the tech support supplied by the campaign. OUSD students can be confident that any issues they encounter with their device or internet access will be addressed quickly. So far, there have been a few problems, which the team quickly resolved. If families are having any issues with #OaklandUndivided devices such as mic issues, error messages, etc., they can contact Tech Exchange for support by texting or calling 510-866-2260.
Parents are clearly pleased with the results. “His interaction in class has been awesome and his weekly grades have been 100%,” said Guadalupe Canchola, mother of Hoover Elementary student, Eric Yanez. “Thank you all again for providing and donating such an important tool for our kids to continue learning despite anything new being thrown their way.”
WHAT: #OaklandUndivided High School Device Distribution Event
WHEN: 2:30 p.m., Thursday, October 15
WHERE: Castlemont High School, 8601 MacArthur Blvd
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
Oakland Walks 4 Schools Virtual Walkathon, Aims to Take 30 Million Steps to Raise Funds for OUSD Schools This October
The Oakland Public Education Fund (https://www.oaklandedfund.org/) is launching its inaugural Oakland Walks 4 Schools Walkathon this October. #OaklandWalks will inspire students, parents, school staff, and community members to get safe and healthy exercise during the pandemic while raising money for some of Oakland’s most underserved public schools.
Oakland Walks 4 Schools is expecting:
● 3,000 students, parents, and community members to participate
● A total of 30 million steps to be taken
● Thousands of dollars to be raised for Oakland public schools
Participants will track as many safe and socially-distant steps as possible during the month of October; this includes laps around the block, weekend hikes, and even steps inside the home. And for every step a donation will be made to an Oakland school to purchase art supplies, books, technology, and other educationally engaging materials.
“Despite the fact that we are in distance learning, our students and schools still need supplies,” says OUSD Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell. “We are grateful that the Ed Fund is engaging our community with this fundraiser that’s fun for the whole family and fosters physical fitness. Especially given the challenges that the pandemic is presenting all of us, it’s critical that children and adults exercise regularly to stay healthy and better manage our stress. I thank in advance everyone who takes some of the 30 million steps on behalf of the students of Oakland.”
Alexandria Medina, Executive Director of the Oakland Public Education Fund adds, “The Oakland Public Education Fund is committed to creating safe and healthy environments where all students can thrive. Physical fitness and mental health go hand in hand and the Oakland Walks 4 Schools fundraiser is a chance to help raise money for underserved schools while encouraging wellness for all. We see this as a win-win for all Oakland public school kids, their families, and the greater Oakland community.”
Community members, businesses, and philanthropic organizations are encouraged to learn more and get involved at: www.oaklandwalks4schools.com
About the Oakland Public Education Fund:
The Oakland Public Education Fund (“the Ed Fund”) leads the development and management of community resources in Oakland public schools so that all students can learn, grow, and thrive. Learn more at www.oaklandedfund.org
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success. www.ousd.org
This post based on a press release from the Oakland Public Education Fund to Zennie62Media, Inc.
Oakland – Just one week after handing out a major round of new #OaklandUndivided Chromebooks that students get to keep, Oakland Unified School District is updating the entire community on the overall effort to get 25,000 computers into the hands of Oakland’s public school students.
We have enough computers in our schools to ensure students have them for immediate use to engage in distance learning. To address the need for devices after schools went into distance learning in the spring, OUSD distributed nearly 23,000 Chromebooks and 7,000 wireless hotspot devices to students on loan from the schools. Most of our students have these loaners, if they haven’t already received their own computer. If your student has yet to receive even a loaner, please contact your school principal. Also, if you have yet to do so, please fill out the Tech Check Survey. Once the #OaklandUndivided campaign began, it became clear that the loaners were only a temporary fix that would soon no longer be needed.
OUSD Devices Delivered
The #OaklandUndivided partnership has purchased 25,000 computers that will replace the loaner devices, and 15,000 hotspots, to ensure every student in need in District-run and charter schools has the computer, internet, and tech support they need and deserve to be successful. In total, the #OaklandUndivided team has already given to students almost 6,000 of the permanent laptops that they can keep, including roughly 4,000 over the past week, plus 2,800 hotspots. These devices have gone out to students weeks earlier than expected, because the supply lines were not quite as backed up as expected.
OUSD Devices Delivered
As more of these new devices arrive, they are first being sent to school sites with high completion rates of the Tech Check Survey to be distributed to students. By the end of September, our goal is that all students in need of a computer and internet – who have completed the survey – will receive their own Chromebooks and hotspots (that they get to keep).
As devices come in for students, the individual school communities will determine when it is safest and least disruptive for their community to distribute the #OaklandUndivided Chromebooks out to students and families. While we await the arrival of touchscreen devices – which are expected to be delivered in the fall – students in TK to first grade and identified students receiving Special Education services will continue to have computers and internet access through their OUSD loaner device.
If you or a student you know needs a device now for remote learning, help spread the word to get everyone connected:
To get a loaner device immediately, contact your school site and let them know your needs.
To receive your permanent laptop and internet device, complete the Tech Check Survey online or with support from school site staff in order to receive a computer and internet access. As of August 24, the families of more than 24,800 students have completed the survey.
OUSD Devices Delivered
Even if you have a device on loan, you should still complete the Tech Check Survey to determine eligibility so you can receive your own, permanent computer and consistent internet access. Families can visit undivided.techexchange.org directly to register online, or connect with their school site for details about receiving their device.
OUSD students with their #OaklandUndivided devices
We thank members of the community who told us they were interested in an update on the progress we have made with the #OaklandUndivided campaign. We could not have gotten this far without the support from our community, and all the amazing people and organizations who have provided financial assistance to this effort. Provided your student qualifies for a device to keep, the school will contact you via email or text with details of how and when to pick it up.
We reached our first goal shortly after we started the campaign, but there are still goals that lie ahead, as we plan to provide computers and internet access to all Oakland students who need them every year moving forward. If you’re interested in joining our #OaklandUndivided movement – here is how you can get involved:
To learn more about #OaklandUndivided, please visit www.oaklandedfund.org/digitaldivide.
To make a donation or discuss a potential financial contribution, contact:
● David Silver, Mayor’s Office of Education at [email protected]
● Jonathan Osler, Oakland Public Education Fund at [email protected]
● Curtiss Sarikey, Oakland Unified School District at [email protected]
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
Post based on press release from OUSD to Zennie62Media, Inc.
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