Detroit foundations and businesses announced a joint effort last week to provide computer tablets and high-speed internet access to all 51,000 students in the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD).

The group, known as Connected Futures, consists of DTE Energy, Quicken Loans, The Skillman Foundation, DPSCD and the city of Detroit, with additional support from General Motors, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Detroit Branch NAACP. Funds will provide all DPSCD students with a tablet and free internet access for six months, transitioning to low-cost options for families in the future.

“When our executive team began prioritizing COVID-19 relief efforts, the issue of digital inequity for Detroit students rose to the top,” Jerry Norcia, president and CEO, DTE Energy and board member, The Skillman Foundation said in a press release. “We recognized that we needed to take action urgently to close the digital divide for these students and provide them with the tools necessary to thrive in the 21st century.”

DPSCD estimates that 90% of its students lack access to a device and/or the internet, which hinders remote learning. With school closures due to COVID-19, bridging the digital divide is crucial to ensure all children can learn during this time and beyond.

“This is not just a short-term response to keep kids engaged in learning for the next few months. It is the first step to fast-tracking the integration of technology into our education system, for every student,” Tonya Allen, president and CEO, The Skillman Foundation said. “We’re also thinking about how it can be used to expand opportunities for young people beyond school, such as connection to extended learning and afterschool programming, tutoring, social-emotional therapy, and career preparation. It provides a platform for the future.”

Dr. Nikolai Vitti, superintendent, DPSCD, echoed Allen’s sentiments, adding that access to technology can curb learning loss when students are out of school.

“The ability for our students to access the educational platforms that they use during the school day from home will elevate their learning year-round, not just during this crisis,” Vitti said. “We know that our children perform exponentially better during the school year, but when they return in September, they’ve lost much of their progress from the prior school year.”

Due to the urgency of the situation and quick action by the partners involved in the initiative the entire program, from conception to funding, came together in less than three weeks.

“This is the power of our community when we’re faced with a big challenge. I believe this is a program that will be a catalyst for generations,” Bill Emerson, vice chairman, Quicken Loans and Rock Holdings, Inc. and board chair, The Skillman Foundation said.

Funders will provide additional support for the effort. DPSCD and DTE have committed to providing a project manager and DPSCD, the city of Detroit, DTE, Quicken Loans and The Skillman Foundation have created an oversight committee to ensure program success.

DPSCD hopes to open schools in the fall; this program could provide supplemental learning opportunities for students outside of school hours.

“When we look back to this time in 10 years, we will see that this moment changed the trajectory of education in our city,” Mayor Mike Duggan, city of Detroit said. “We have risen to the challenge of this pandemic and found a way to forge something positive for our children. This will be a defining moment of pride in Detroit for many, many years.”

Efforts are underway to provide technology to non-DPSCD students in Detroit.

“We’re already planning an expansion of this program to reach more than 36,000 children who attend other K-12 schools in the city,” Allen said. “Digital access has evolved from a nicety to a necessity – and we cannot afford to let our children down.”

Connected Futures hopes that this effort will inspire other cities to come together to support their students’ continued learning.

“We’re using a muscle Detroit has built up,” Allen said. “Our determination, resilience, and Detroit love enable us to pull us together and solve problems. We’re creating a model for other cities to marvel at and mimic.”

This Friday, May 1, join CMF's P-20 Education Affinity Group and education leaders for a discussion as we explore the COVID-19 response, needs around Michigan education and how CMF members are supporting Michigan students.

Want more?

Register for Friday’s event, “Exploring Michigan Education’s COVID-19 Response and Needs” hosted by CMF’s P-20 Education Affinity Group.

Visit the Connected Futures webpage.

Watch the Connected Futures press conference.