Teach NYS Applauds DOE’s Plan to Issue Chromebooks and Non-Internet Phones to School Students

Teach NYS on Wednesday commended the New York City Department of Education (DOE) for its decision to issue 6,400 Chromebook computers and 20,000 non-internet “flip phones” – with service for the next three months – to students in the city, including nonpublic school students, who currently do not have devices necessary for participation in remote learning.

Working in conjunction with the Jewish Education Program, Sephardic Community Federation, UJO of Williamsburg, Agudath Israel and the Alliance for Yeshiva Education, Teach Coalition advocated to secure these devices so all students will have access to their schools’ learning platforms, many of which include real-time voice calls, online assignments and electronic correspondence.

“We are incredibly pleased that the city is taking into account the needs of nonpublic school students without access to the devices and connectivity they need,” said Yosef Kanofsky, director of government programs for Teach NYS. “Without devices such as Chromebooks and non-internet phones, these students, many of whom attend yeshivos, would be unable to keep up with their formal learning programs through the end of this schoolyear and possibly beyond. All students are entitled to the opportunity to continue with their learning as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic do not discriminate between religious and secular communities.”

Schools interested in participating in this program are required to complete a survey that is now live in the Nonpublic School Information System (NPSIS).