Cornerstone Schools’ three middle schools—Adams-Young, Jefferson-Douglass Academy and Washington-Parks Academy—were selected for Verizon’s Innovative Learning Schools program. Cornerstone says the network is the first in Detroit and the second in Michigan to join the initiative. The network valued the package at nearly $7 million, covering more than 1,000 internet-connected devices for students and teachers, along with training and technology coaches—not the Adams-Young lab alone. Cornerstone Schools said students from all three schools helped with the application.
Adams-Young hosted a ribbon-cutting Wednesday. In its report on the event, WXYZ described the lab’s augmented-reality, 3D-printing and robotics equipment and reported that Jefferson-Douglass and Washington-Parks were also selected to receive labs.
The school-level details here come from WXYZ’s reporting: Principal Artina Tyus described the previous technology space as a small room with ordinary computers and limited integrated technology. WXYZ also reported that the school’s technology team had grown to more than 30 students and that students were learning coding and wiring with the new equipment.
The initiative combines devices and internet access with STEM learning, and participating schools receive technology-coach and teacher-development support, according to Digital Promise.
