All In WA Digital Equity Initiative
School districts across Washington are managing a variety of challenges related to the pivot to online education and remote learning necessitated by COVID-19.
Lack of digital access continues to disproportionately impact families with low income, especially Black, Indigenous and communities of color across our state.
Under the All In WA campaign, the Digital Equity Initiative aims to overcome the digital divide and support academic achievement by quickly providing students with access to devices and hardware, hot spots, and tech support.
The Digital Equity Initiative is providing critical resources to close the digital divide and support remote learning across Washington state.
ABOUT THE DIGITAL EQUITY INITIATIVE
Our initiative is working closely with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and other government partners. Using federal CARES ACT funds, OSPI is making available almost $9 million to provide access to broadband to low-income students across Washington.
Our goal is to supplement those dollars and fill gaps, focusing on:
- Hardware and devices
- Access to hot spots (where broadband isn’t available)
- Tech support
- Support for community based organizations who work closely with students & families to get
them connected
In this initial phase, our lead partner is InvestED who has the infrastructure and networks needed to quickly distribute the following resources to students and families most in need. Funds distributed through the Digital Equity Initiative will complement the work of public agencies and expand local capacity to address the many needs created by the pandemic. InvestED will act as a statewide intermediary, providing critical funding to school districts and local school-based foundations. foundations.
The Digital Equity Initiative is a partnership with the private sector, state government (including Native communities) and philanthropy. All In WA is also partnering with internet and tech providers, many of whom are providing discounted or free services and devices.
Other Ways to Donate:
By text: Text ‘ALLINWA’ to 243725
By mail: Send a check made out to “All In Washington” to the following address:
LB#1069
Seattle Foundation
PO Box 35146
Seattle, WA 98124-5146
To make a donation by other assets, or to direct an IRA Qualified Charitable Deduction (QCD) to All In Washington, contact Seattle Foundation’s Philanthropic Services team at ps@seattlefoundation.org or 206.515.2111.