Students in need to receive technology services

  • 2020-05-27
The Tacoma Public Schools and the Foundation for Tacoma Students are working together with Rainier Connect to provide technology for low-income students at this time.

Executive Director of the Foundation for Tacoma Students, Tafona Ervin, said that lack of access to Wi-Fi and technology has always been a problem for these students but it is now critical that these students have the same access to technology. The goal, therefore, is to provide Internet services to these families for one year. There will be no cost for the service to these families, which will be covered by monetary donations, the donation of quality technology, and volunteers who have the knowledge on how to refresh donated laptops.

The request for such donations and the availability of such services can be made known throughout the community with banner printing.

Initially there will be 50 homes equipped with Internet access. The plan is to add this service to another 4,750 homes. Students in need will also be provided with laptops by the Foundation for Tacoma Students.

Those who apply for such services will be prioritized according to the following criteria—seniors who are graduating; students in advanced placement programs; families who have few computers, very old ones, or no computers; and families without Internet access. An equity framework will be used in the decision-making process.