Apple Pledges More Than $100 Million In Technology For The ConnectED Initiative
by Brent Dirks
February 4, 2014
As part of President Obama’s ConnectED initiative, the White House has announced that Apple and a number of other tech companies have pledged more than $750 million in products and services.
For its part, Apple is donating $100 million in technology products. According to a White House release:
In an unprecedented commitment for the company, Apple has pledged $100 million in iPads, MacBooks, and other products along with content and professional development to enrich learning in disadvantaged schools, including interactive learning tools and ongoing support that can have a profound impact for students and teachers in the communities that need it most.Originally announced last June, the program is designed to enrich K-12 education for U.S. students. The major goal is to connect 99 percent of students to next-generation connectivity within five years. Currently, only 30 percent of schools have broadband access needed to teach using today’s technology. Along with Apple, a number of other companies pledged to the program including AT&T, Autodesk, Microsoft, O’Reilly Media, Sprint, and Verizon. And the White House says the program was about much more than providing the infrastructure:
ConnectED is about more than wires and wireless; it’s about getting tablets and laptops into students’ hands, loading them with high-quality educational software and content, training educators on how to use technology to enrich the classroom experience, and ensuring students can continue this learning at home through wireless connectivity.For other news today, see: Insider Nadella Replaces Ballmer As Microsoft CEO, While Gates Exits As Chairman, Season 2 Of Netflix’s ‘House of Cards’ Arrives Feb. 14, and AppAdvice International: Tim Cook, Dame Ahrendts And Free 4G For Britain.
