HAMPTON — New Horizons Regional Education Centers (NHREC) and Verizon Innovative Learning is helping to provide internet access and teacher training to Center for Autism and Newport Academy.
In partnership with the Digital Promise, Verizon Learning provides mobile hotspots with monthly data plans to students without reliable home internet access at select middle and high schools across America.
NHREC are among 246 new schools joining Verizon Innovative Learning for the 2021-22 school year. The program is providing 183,000 new students with technology resources.
Both York County School Division (YCSD) and Williamsburg-James City County schools (WJCC) are involved in New Horizons programs. YCSD and The Center for Autism provide a campus for middle school students that is housed at Yorktown Middle School in York County. The Newport Academy also provides WJCC and YCSD with specialized educational opportunities.
“Access to digital learning tools that enhance reach and capacity with students with disabilities while providing various professional development opportunities to educators are key components that align with our mission at NHREC,” said Casey M. Roberts, NHREC Executive Director. “Our participation represents the power of public-private partnerships that addresses the digital learning divide and provide the tools and educator training necessary for ALL students to learn effectively to be college, career, and community ready.”
The participating schools receive hotspots with 30GB 4G LTE data plans for two years and IT implementation support. Schools also receive a stipend to support an instructional liaison who will support teachers in effectively integrating technology into their lessons.
Over 500 schools across the country are now a part of the program.
More information about NHREC can be found on the organization’s website.