Thousands of New York City public school students will be receiving free Google Chromebooks this school year.
The program, announced on Monday by Mayor Eric Adams, is in partnership with T-Mobile, Dell Technologies and the New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. It is designed to ensure working-class families do not have to shoulder the cost of keeping their children connected in today’s digital classrooms. About 350,000 students across the city’s public schools will receive free Chromebooks equipped with LTE and 5G internet access.
“Access to reliable technology and high-speed internet is a modern-day necessity, and, right now, too many New York City students don’t have it," Adams said in a statement. "That doesn’t just prevent progress inside the classroom, it limits opportunities outside of it — but our administration is changing that and providing our young people with free devices to stay connected in the 21st century."
The agreement with T-Mobile, which recently became one of the city’s major wireless carriers, makes the large-scale distribution possible. Each Chromebook will be preloaded with educational apps like Google Workspace, TeachHub and iLearnNYC, providing seamless access to lessons, assignments and collaboration tools. Devices will also be managed under citywide security standards to protect students and schools.
For many families, particularly in under-connected communities such as the Bronx, where nearly a third of households lack a computer, this initiative will mean reliable internet access for the first time. Students in temporary housing or without home Wi-Fi will also benefit from the built-in LTE and 5G service, ensuring learning can continue anywhere.
“Every student deserves a fair shot at success — and in today’s world, that starts with having reliable connectivity and the right tools to learn,” said Mo Katibeh, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile Business Group.
