Montclair Schools On Target To Narrow The 'Digital Divide': Officials

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair is on target to narrow the "digital divide," administrators say.

The Montclair Public School District recently announced that it has secured funding to provide all families and students with devices and connectivity for all-year-round learning – even during the summer months.

According to administrators, the funding is made possible through the district’s application for monetary support from the Emergency Connectivity Fund, a $7.17 billion program funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which aims to help schools and libraries support remote learning.

Montclair will receive up to $2,028,644 to purchase Chromebooks, hot spots and broadband internet, and is also eligible to be reimbursed for any expenses related to hotspots and broadband Internet from July 2021 to the present.

The program also provides funding to schools and libraries for the reasonable costs of eligible equipment and services that can be provided to students, teachers, and library patrons who lack connected devices, such as laptop or tablet computers, and/or lack broadband access during the pandemic.

Montclair district officials added:

“In late December/early January, surveys were sent out to our staff and families inquiring about their access to a device/internet service in order to assess how we could better meet their technology needs. To date the district has received approximately 1,708 requests for staff and student devices. These devices will remain in their possession for facilitating and receiving remote instruction should the need arise throughout the summer and during the school year.”

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