Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey stunned Oakland schools and city leaders Friday with a $10 million donation to a campaign aimed at providing computers and internet access to all students in the city's school district.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Gives $10 Million to Oakland Schools Tech Access Campaign
Dorsey's donation came after Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell and other city officials held an online news conference Thursday announcing an effort to raise $12.5 million to equip all students with the appropriate digital learning tools. Schaaf posted a clip of the meeting on Twitter, prompting Dorsey's response.
When county shelter-in-place orders forced Oakland schools to switch to online learning two months ago, roughly half of students in OUSD lacked internet access, according to the district. OUSD has since loaned more than 18,000 Google Chromebooks to students across the city, but some 5,000 pupils still lack the adequate internet access and technology to fully participate in online learning.
"We're so pumped," David Silver, the mayor's director of education, said of the announcement. "Every single student that will be in summer school will have access to a computer and internet, and we want to start the school year with everyone having a computer and internet, and we believe we can make that happen."
He estimates the city will need to raise $4 million a year to provide technology to incoming students.
It’s unclear, however, how quickly Dorsey's donation will yield technology for students to use at home, the district said, noting current supply chain problems, which have significantly delayed some deliveries.
— Julia McEvoy
Sponsored