Efficacy of the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Grant on Decreasing the Consequences of the Digital Divide for Students Enrolled in Two Title I Middle Schools: A Program Evaluation

Our country has a digital equity crisis, with many socioeconomically disadvantaged students disproportionately experiencing significant negative consequences from the digital divide. This program evaluation sought to investigate whether the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools (VILS) grant program decreases the consequences of the digital divide for students at two Title I middle schools within the Orange Unified School District. The digital divide consequences that the VILS program aimed to influence include student access to technology and increasing student technology skills by directly training existing staff on technology integration within the classroom. The VILS grant responds to these consequences through four strategic components: (1) providing every student with a high-quality laptop with built-in internet connectivity; (2) providing staff development focused on blended learning for every teacher; (3) assigning an education technology coach to provide professional development in blended learning; and, (4) having the coach complete regular walk-throughs of classrooms to ensure that technology integration is evident within daily lessons. Data collected from two focus group discussions, participant surveys, and student records (enrollment and data usage) indicated that the VILS program implementation had many positive effects, including an increase in technology integration and blended learning lesson implementation within the classroom, technology access for the students at the two middle schools, and positive attitudes of students with regards to technology use. The program evaluation conclusions indicated a reduction in the consequences of the digital divide for the socioeconomically disadvantaged students at the two Title I schools. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]