Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) and Alameda Education Foundation (AEF) are renewing their commitment to support technology opportunities in our local schools through their partnership in the Power Up For Learning [1] program.
[2]The Power Up for Learning program provides an ongoing funding source for technology needs for Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) students and teachers. AMP customers may sign up online [3] to have a small amount added to their monthly power bill, then those funds are sent to AEF on an annual basis. The funds are used to address technology inequities and provide learning opportunities by:
- Providing internet access for students who are unhoused or in unstable housing, via internet hotspots and data. All students deserve equal access to learning. Students need the ability to complete school assignments, stay connected with their teacher and classmates, and access communications from the school district about essential school information. The hotspots are rotated according to need.
- Funding Teacher Mini Grants [4] related to technology focused tools and educational opportunities at low-income schools or for special, underfunded, programs such as special education. Power Up for Learning grants may be used for tools such as 3-D printers, educational opportunities such as Career Technical Education, or field trips.
- Offering scholarships to low-income students in our After School Enrichment [5] STEM classes. AEF is making an effort to provide more STEM-related classes at our lower-income schools as well as scholarships, so these students have the same opportunity for hands-on learning as their more affluent peers. AEF enrichment programs feature small class sizes and are taught by experts in their fields.
AEF also encourages all low-income families to apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program [6] (ACP) from the State of California.