Verizon and Digital Promise expand US school program to 693 sites with free devices for Title 1 students

The 13th cohort of the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program spans 13 districts across 10 states, with 87 percent of students in the new schools qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch.

The Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program provides free internet-connected devices and professional development to Title 1 schools across the United States.

Verizon and Digital Promise have added 33 Title 1 middle and high schools to the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program, bringing the total number of participating schools to 693 across 126 districts nationwide.

The new cohort, which joins in the fall, spans 13 districts across 10 states and represents the program's 13th intake since it began in 2012.

Each school in the new cohort receives free mobile devices, either tablets or laptops, with a four-year Verizon data plan for every student and teacher. Schools also receive access to professional development for teachers and a subsidy toward a full-time technology coach. Eighty-seven percent of students in the incoming schools qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, reflecting the program's focus on closing the digital divide in high-need communities.

Alex Servello, AVP of Responsible Business at Verizon, took to LinkedIn to mark the expansion, writing: "I am so proud of the impact we have made in these schools and our commitment to ensuring students and educators have equitable access to technology."

A model built around instruction, not just devices

Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer at Verizon, says: "As technology continues to evolve, it is more important than ever that we equip students and teachers with digital competencies through meaningful instruction using technology. We are thankful to continue our partnership with Digital Promise to welcome the 33 additional schools to the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program, and enable new ways of learning."

Jean-Claude Brizard, president and CEO of Digital Promise, says: "The Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program has always been about more than devices; it is built on the understanding that technology is only as effective as the instructional model it supports. By focusing on the interaction between teachers, students, and the instructional core, we are applying what we've learned through our partnership to fuel powerful learning in every classroom and prepare students for the future."

Program data shows 85 percent of teachers said the program enhanced their ability to differentiate instruction, and 84 percent said it makes learning more engaging for students.

AI skills now part of the program's scope

Verizon Policy also took to LinkedIn to signal that the program is evolving beyond device access and connectivity. The company wrote that it is "evolving our support to bring digital skills and training related to emerging technologies, like AI, to teachers and students," framing the expansion as part of a broader commitment to preparing students for the demands of the future economy.

The 33 new schools are drawn from districts in Pennsylvania, Texas, Montana, Illinois, Mississippi, New Jersey, California, New York, and Michigan, among others. With the program now reaching 693 schools and having served more than three million students over its 13-year history, the Verizon and Digital Promise partnership is one of the largest privately funded digital equity initiatives in American education. Whether the addition of AI skills training represents a substantive shift in curriculum or a broadening of professional development remains to be seen as the 13th cohort gets underway in the fall.