First round of funding from Riverside County Board of Supervisors’ allocation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act will purchase additional devices for distance learning
RIVERSIDE – Nineteen school districts are set to receive $10 million of federal CARES Act funds allocated by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to Riverside County Office of Education Foundation’s “All For One” campaign to order additional laptops and mobile hotspot devices to support distance learning for all students in Riverside County.
First announced in August, the “All For One” campaign funds are aimed at serving students’ needs for laptops, tablets, or reliable internet access for distance learning during the 2020-2021 school year.
“The All For One Campaign was launched exactly for this reason—to provide funds directly to districts to address students’ needs related to distance learning,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Judy D. White. “As schools and districts prepare to offer hybrid and in-person learning over the coming months, elements of distance learning will remain a necessity in socially-distanced classrooms, for completing homework, and to ensure continuity of education if COVID-19 or other emergencies force school closures.”
“We have made it a priority to fight against the digital divide, which is a very real issue in our geographically immense county, particularly in our rural and remote communities,” said Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “This funding will make sure that students receive the laptops and Wi-Fi connectivity they need to do their school work, which will contribute to the success of our youth and enhance the quality of education.”
By The Numbers
Total Funds: $10,000,000
Districts Served: 19
Laptops/Tablets To Be Ordered: 22,865
Mobile Hotspots To Be Ordered: 13,315
Districts to be Funded Through “All For One” Allocation:
These numbers are estimates only based on $350 for a laptop/device and $150 for a hot spot.
Alvord USD – 2,000 laptops/tablets, 200 mobile hotspots
Banning USD – 700 mobile hotspots
Beaumont USD – 2,000 laptops/tablets, 2,500 mobile hotspots
Coachella Valley USD – 2,500 laptops/tablets, 2,500 mobile hotspots
Corona-Norco USD – 2,500 laptops/tablets, 1,000 mobile hotspots
Desert Center USD – 15 laptops/tablets, 15 mobile hotspots
Desert Sands USD – 100 mobile hotspots
Hemet USD – 500 laptops/tablets, 500 mobile hotspots
Jurupa USD – 2,500 laptops/tablets, 1,500 mobile hotspots
Lake Elsinore USD – 1,000 laptops/tablets, 2,500 mobile hotspots
Menifee Union SD – 500 laptops/tablets, 100 mobile hotspots
Moreno Valley USD – 2,200 laptops/tablets
Murrieta Valley USD – 2,500 laptops/tablets, 50 mobile hotspots
Palo Verde USD – 250 laptops/tablets, 250 mobile hotspots
Perris Elementary SD – 800 laptops/tablets
Perris Union HSD – 750 mobile hotspots
Riverside USD – 2,200 laptops/tablets
San Jacinto USD – 400 laptops/tablets, 400 mobile hotspots
Temecula Valley USD – 1,000 laptops/tablets, 250 mobile hotspots
“After connecting with each school district to identify outstanding needs above and beyond their initial investment in devices, the funding we receive from the Board of Supervisors will be available immediately for districts to order laptops, tablets, or hotspot devices,” said Riverside County Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “The allocation plan addresses needs within each supervisorial district in Riverside County, and we will continue working with district and charter school leaders to equitably address developing technological challenges faced by all students.”
When schools were first closed in March, 84,855 computer devices at an approximate cost of $29.6 million, and 44,730 mobile hotspots at a cost of approximately $6 million, were identified as necessary to effectively deliver full-time distance learning to students countywide.
Challenges preventing universal access to remote learning include:
- Families with multiple students sharing one computer to access online learning resources
- Geographic diversity of Riverside County where families live outside of areas with traditional internet services
Launched formally in May 2020, the Riverside County Office of Education Foundation (RCOEF) “All For One” campaign is aimed at bridging the digital divide by raising funds to provide computers, tablets, and/or mobile hotspot devices to students and families to ensure consistent access to distance learning. RCOEF is working with each school district to meet this need which exceeds current budget capacity. The “All for One” giving campaign is designed to leverage other public funding, private funding and support from the community at large to ensure that all students have the basic tools to learn at home.
More information on supporting the “All For One” campaign is available from the RCOE Foundation Web page. Tax-deductible donations can be made on the RCOEF “All For One” GoFundMe page or by sending a check to Riverside County Office of Education Foundation, Attention: Ed Lewis, Foundation Director, P.O. Box 868, Riverside, CA 92502-0868.