Approximately 416,000 households in LA County lack broadband Internet service. Having a computer and reliable internet services are essential to accessing education, employment opportunities, healthcare services, financial resources, and commerce.
LACOE is committed to Delete the Divide and working collaboratively with the County of Los Angeles Internal Services Department in consultation with the County Chief Executive Office to support students and their families.
DELETE THE DIVIDE UPDATES
- Assembly Bill 1588 - Proposed California state bill that would require ISPs in the state to offer affordable and quality Internet subscriptions.
- Digital Equity Bill of Rights - Signed into California law in 2023, this bill ensures that "broadband is sufficient, equitable, affordable, reliable and ubiquitous for all Californians." Learn more here.
- National Educational Technology Plan - The U.S. Department of Education's plan to address the digital inequities across the country.
Ed Buzz LA County: Bridging the Digital Divide
Compton Unified School District Device Distribution
ACP
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is taking steps to wind down the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which allowed eligible households to save on their monthly internet bills. Without additional funding from Congress, the allotted funds are projected to run out mid-April 2024.
Important ACP Wind-Down Dates
- ACP applications and enrollments will not be processed after February 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET.
- Households who have applied, been approved, and are receiving the monthly internet discount before February 8, 2024 will continue to receive their ACP benefit until ACP funds run out, as long as the household remains enrolled in the program.
- After the ACP funds run out (projected in April 2024), households participating in the ACP will no longer receive the ACP discounts.
For additional resources on ACP Wind-Down please visit:
If you have further questions about the ACP wind-down process, please call the ACP Support Center at 877-384-2575.
Low-Cost Internet Plans
In the event that you are informed that your ACP benefit is ending, enter your zip code on the Internet For All Now plans page to find low-cost plans in your area.
Teen Tech Centers Planned for LA County Students - Ideas to Innovation
The Greater LA Education Foundation (GLA), the philanthropic arm of LACOE, is part of a growing coalition of businesses and philanthropic partners that will open 12 new afterschool Teen Tech Centers across Los Angeles County over the next five years. The project is sponsored by a $10 million commitment from Best Buy and the Best Buy Foundation and investments from the Annenberg Foundation and Why Not? Foundation.
Best Buy Teen Tech Centers are places where teens can develop critical skills through hands-on activities exploring their interests through project-based learning. Each location works to bridge the digital divide by giving young people access to tech education and mentor guidance while building the confidence to be successful in school and in their future careers.
GLA is leading the community analysis and local partnership cultivation that will inform where tech centers are located, as well as providing grants to supplemental programs run by non-profit partners to support career pathways in STEAM, social-emotional learning, college access, and more. Learn more about the Community Impact Hub here.
For more information on the effort to Delete the Divide for LA County students and families log on:
Digital Citizenship
Federal E-rate funding includes the CIPA (Children's Internet Protection Act) requirement to educate students on appropriate online behavior.
Digital Citizenship curriculum includes six (6) main themes for teaching and learning:
- Media Balance and Well-Being
- Privacy & Security
- Digital Footprint and Identity
- Relationship and Communication
- Cyberbullying, Digital Drama & Hate Speech
- News & Media Literacy
