Applications for laptops start Thursday, GDOE working next on internet access

Outreach is underway by Guam Department of Education social workers to update the listing of student enrollment, and identify households' internet access.


As we reported, the department has 8,000 laptops they plan to distribute. To receive a laptop,  GDOE Superintendent Jon Fernandez said to contact your schools directly. The application process is expected to launch by tomorrow, Sept. 24.

"It's not a first come first serve," he said. "It's really based on need, and ensuring you have the appropriate internet access at this point. As we expand with the distribution of laptops, we think we can move a significant amount of students from that hard copy to that online version and hopefully for those who don't have internet access in a month or two, be able to provide that solution as well."

As for additional internet support, Fernandez said Adelup is waiting on the funding approval from US DOE.

"About $8.9 million of their funds is being dedicated to home internet access, and their intention is to subgrant that to GDOE and for us to procure internet access for the households," he said. And we just started that process because it's not yet approved, but we intend to go through a procurement process to try and bridge the gap for those who need internet access in order for them to move online."