Program to help provide 100 laptops to Idaho students

Students in Idaho will benefit from a philanthropic partnership through STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and a corporate communication company.

AT&T will be making a donation of 100 refurbished laptops and other digital literacy resources to Human-I-T, which will in turn give those computers to participants of the Idaho STEM Ecosystem (EcosySTEM) program.

The donation is part of AT&T’s commitment to help bridge what’s known as the digital divide, putting technology into the hands of those who might not otherwise be able to afford or have access to such items.

According to a release issued by AT&T, it’s estimated that more than 15% of K-12 students in Idaho don’t have “digital basics” at home, which includes internet access, computers or the skills necessary to benefit from online access and technology.

The program is known as the AT&T Connected Learning initiative, which was created to address the gap in learning caused by inaccessibility to digital products.

EcosySTEM will distribute the laptops to students and families throughout the state, including those in the four tribal communities of Coeur d’Alene, Nez Perce, Shoshone-Bannock and Shoshone-Paiute.

“Access to connectivity is vital in helping to bridge the digital divide, and we are glad we can provide these resources to those families and students for this school year,” said Tara Thue, president of AT&T Mountain and Desert States.

EcosySTEM, which is a network of collaborators in Idaho working to share resources and promote STEM education in local communities, said it requires such partnerships to help achieve the organization’s goals.

“Our goal is to create problem solvers and leaders in technology across Idaho, and removing barriers to ensure digital equity is an important step in reaching this goal,” said Erica Compton, the director of EcosySTEM. “It will take technology partners and communities working together to improve access to the services and digital tools necessary for success.”

Compton added that the organization is thrilled for the help from AT&T and Human-I-T to be able to get the laptops into the hands of the participants that can benefit from them.