GLENDALE, AZ — Students in the Glendale Elementary School District received new iPads ahead of their first day of online learning Monday.
Students in 4th through 8th grades at Desert Spirit Elementary School and Sunset Vista Elementary school picked them up on Thursday and Friday.
The schools were selected as part of Verizon's Innovative Learning initiative, a program that provides free technology and internet access to districts in need.
ABC15 spoke with one parent, Valerie Carr, who said the technology will make things easier for her 6th grader.
"It's actually very convenient, it's really easy," she said. "With my work schedule it makes it easier for me to be able to help her with school and physically see what she's doing."
The district's Assistant Superintendent for Educational Service Dr. Gerry Petersen-Incorvaia says 20-30% of their students don't have internet access at home.
Like other districts across the valley, he says they will be reviewing the benchmarks brought forward by health officials and using them to determine when it will be safe for students to return to in person learning.
