OAKLAND, Calif. — After schools went remote in 2020, Jessica Ramos spent hours that spring and summer sitting on a bench in front of her local Oakland Public Library branch in the vibrant and diverse Dimond District. Ramos would connect to the library’s Wi-Fi — sometimes on her cellphone, sometimes using her family’s only laptop — to complete assignments and submit essays or tests for her classes at Skyline High School.

After schools went remote in 2020, Jessica Ramos spent hours that spring and summer sitting on a bench in front of her local Oakland Public Library branch in the vibrant and diverse Dimond District. Ms. Ramos would connect to the library’s Wi-Fi – sometimes on her cellphone, sometimes using her family’s only laptop – to complete assignments and submit essays or tests for her classes at Skyline High School.

The latest report from The New Deal Forum Broadband Task Force, highlights policy proposals to increase broadband access for all. Learn more about our pilot program with our leadership partner Education SuperHighway (page 9), providing free WiFi to disconnected students and tenants in low-income apartment buildings.

The Oakland Unified School District is celebrating its progress in closing the digital divide and expanding its #OaklandUndivided plan. The district and its partners raised $12.5 million dollars, distributing more than 29,000 laptops and 10,000 hotspots this past school year. Today city, state, and national leaders took part in the celebration at Frick [United Academy of Language] to announce the expansion of its historic campaign and to congratulate the city.

The #OaklandUndivided initiative delivered 29,000 free laptops last school year to low-income students.

The city of Oakland is expanding efforts to get laptops into the hands of every student. As KCBS Radio's Matt Bigler reports that new funding will ensure low-income families can stay connected for at least another year.

Educators and city leaders in Oakland are continuing to work to bridge the digital divide, and they are trying to do it for good. Today Oakland Unified launched the #OaklandUndividedForever program, it is an extension of the #OaklandUndivided program launched at the beginning of the pandemic. So far it has helped more than 25,000 students in the district get access to computers and WiFi.

At a time when access to technology and tech support has never been more critical, PG&E is continuing its ongoing commitment to digital access in education. Today, PG&E announced two charitable contributions totaling $1 million: funding for #OaklandUndivided to purchase computers and internet hot spots and provide tech support for students; and funding for Closing the Digital Divide, a California Department of Education initiative including an innovation challenge and technology literacy programs.

OAKLAND (KPIX 5) — An Oakland man leading a technology nonprofit had a big part in helping close the digital divide among the city’s students during the pandemic switch to virtual learning.

[Oakland-based Tech Exchange] refurbishes used computers to give away at free to low cost to underserved folks who can’t afford desktops, laptops or tablets.

Oakland Unified is completing the first phase of a campaign to expand Internet access to low income students. KCBS Radio's Carrie Hodousek reports from Bridges Academy.

Oakland - On Tuesday, April 27, exactly one month before the final day of the 2020-21 school year, a recognizable gray Amazon truck will be making several special deliveries at an OUSD school. The delivery driver will be meeting Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf to drop off three of the final devices from the first phase of the #OaklandUndivided (#OU) campaign.

On the one-year anniversary of school closures, #OaklandUndivided reached a major milestone of providing 25,000 permanent Chromebooks to students since the launch of the campaign last spring.

Oakland school leaders have officially handed out 25,000 free laptops to students so they can connect from home while continuing to practice distance learning. KCBS Radio's Carrie Hodousek has the story from Garfield Elementary School.