IBM Announces Grant of Pre-Kindergarten Computers to Providence Schools, Children’s Friend

Mayor Angel Taveras and his Senior Adviser on Education Angela Romans met with representatives from IBM last week to tour Children's Friend and Service's Head Start classrooms and to celebrate IBM's grant of 66 Young Explorer computers to Providence Schools and Children's Friend & Service.

The computers will be used in pre-Kindergarten classrooms across Providence, including 30 for Children's Friend classrooms, 12 for Children's Friend Head Start/Child Care Partners, and 24 for the Providence School Department. The value of this award is $171,600, or $2,600 per computer.

"I know firsthand the value of early education and IBM's contribution will help many Providence children get the same opportunities I did as a former Head Start student," said Mayor Taveras. "This is an invaluable gift and I am grateful to IBM for giving our kids better access to technology."

Each Young Explorer unit comes with the computer, desk, teacher's manual and preloaded educational software to help children ages three to seven learn and explore concepts of math, science and language.

IBM's objective is to increase resources in lower income communities by providing technology and other assistance to early childhood educators to help them raise student achievement. The program ensures children who might not have access to technology at home become confident technology users before they reach school age.