The EmpowerED™ Program
The application period for this program is now closed.
Program details.
The challenge.
Many families in the U.S. don’t have high-speed Internet at home. This problem is called the Digital Divide. But to succeed academically and compete in today’s digital world, every student needs equal access to online learning. Without this access, disconnected students can fall behind their wired peers, creating the Homework Gap.
The opportunity.
Mobile access has the power to close the Homework Gap.
Program offer.
EmpowerED Mobile Equipment includes:
- Free mobile Internet devices ranging in value from $80 to $200; or
- A subsidy of up to $200 per mobile Internet device, for devices over $200.
EmpowerED Mobile Data Plans include:
Two-year contracts for one of the following discounted education data plans:
- 2GB for $10: Up to 2GB of high-speed data, followed by data at reduced speeds up to 128kbps.
T-Mobile will waive the $10 service charge for the 2GB plan for the applicants that demonstrate the highest need.T-Mobile will award a limited number of waivers at its sole discretion.
- Unlimited LTE plan for $20 with unlimited on-device 4G LTE data.
Video typically streams on
EmpowerED Service & Support includes:
- Planning, implementation, and deployment support.
- Content filtering, which helps prevent access to adult content. EmpowerED participants may choose one of these options at no additional charge: (1) Web Guard, our consumer content filtering solution; (2) our standard enterprise content filter, which also blocks the heaviest used, unique, identifiable over-the-top or IPTV video-streaming sites (including affiliated sites) on our network; or (3) our standard enterprise content filter without an added category for video streaming sites. Schools that do not use a
T-Mobile -facilitated filter thereby acknowledge that they will provide their own CIPA-compliant filter on all EmpowerED devices for the duration of their use.
Students and their families will not be required to pay any money for devices and/or wireless service received through this program.
Eligibility criteria.
The criteria for participation in this program are:
Required:
✓ At least 40% of students receive free or reduced lunch at each school.
✓ Each school is located in an area where
Preferred criteria:
✓ At least 15% or more of students are dropping out of high school (aggregate for all high schools if a school district is applying).
✓ At least 15% of students are not grade-level proficient in math and reading by the 9th grade (aggregate for all high schools if a school district is applying).
T‑Mobile will select participants based on the criteria, application, and the interview described under “How to apply.”
How to apply.
The EmpowerED program is now closed for new applicants.
Your responsibilities.
- Commit to training relevant teachers and administrators on how best to utilize the devices and service.
- Provide annual aggregated data by grade level at each school, including ELA proficiency, math proficiency, and tardiness/attendance. Your school’s current data collection process and metrics are sufficient.
T-Mobile is not asking for new metrics that are not already part of your reporting process.
- Conduct two anonymous online surveys, created by
T-Mobile , about student technology usage with students and teachers. The first survey will be administered prior to the student receiving access and the second will be held at the end of the school year.
Got questions?
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School districts nationwide that meet the following criteria are eligible to participate in this program:
Required:
- At least 40% of students receive free or reduced lunch at each school.
- Each school is located in an area where
T-Mobile has 4G LTE coverage over at least 80% of the school's geographic enrollment zone.T-Mobile will validate eligibility for this requirement; to see coverage in your area please check our coverage map.
Preferred:
- At least 15% or more of students are dropping out of high school (aggregate for all high schools if a school district is applying).
- At least 15% of students are not grade-level proficient in math and reading by the 9th grade (aggregate for all high schools if a school district is applying).
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Yes, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
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No, the program is available for students in grades K-12 as long as all school sites meet all eligibility criteria.
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Free mobile Internet devices ranging in value from $80 to $200; or a subsidy of up to $200 per mobile Internet device, for devices over $200. Equipment will vary based on availability at the time of the program award. School districts will select equipment based on their technology needs.
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- The minimum number of students served from each school or district is 25. The maximum number of students will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
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All schools/districts will receive planning, implementation, and deployment support.
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Yes. EmpowerED 2.0 participants may choose any of these options at no additional charge: (1) Web Guard, our consumer content filtering solution; (2) our standard enterprise content filter, which also blocks the heaviest used, unique, identifiable over-the-top or IPTV video-streaming sites (including affiliated sites) on our network; or (3) our standard enterprise content filter without an added category for video streaming sites. Schools that do not use a
T-Mobile -facilitated filter thereby acknowledge that they will provide their own CIPA-compliant filter on all EmpowerED devices for the duration of their use. -
- Certain non-educational video streaming sites
- Inappropriate websites
- Restricting minors' access to materials deemed harmful to them
Note: Schools have the option to utilize the
T-Mobile filtering or secure their own filter that completes their needs. -
Yes, school districts or individual schools are required to participate in the program for 24 months.
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All participants in this program will be required to submit annual or biannual reports to
T-Mobile . Reports will contain quantitative and qualitative data to measure the effectiveness of increased access on student achievement. LEAs or individual schools shall provide data that it already collects through standardized testing or benchmark reports. All reports submitted toT-Mobile should not include any student names, and the LEA or school should incorporate anonymous identifiers where necessary. In addition, teachers, administrators, students, and parents will be required to participate in anonymous biannual surveys used to measure perception, adoption, and support/resistance levels to the program. -
Schools may select from one of two discounted education rate plans:
- 2GB for $10: Up to 2GB of high-speed data, followed by data at reduced speeds up to 128kbps.
T-Mobile will waive the $10 service charge for the 2GB plan for the applicants that demonstrate the highest need.T-Mobile will award a limited number of waivers at its sole discretion. - Unlimited LTE plan for $20 with unlimited on-device 4G LTE data.
During congestion, customers on this plan using >50GB/mo. may notice reduced speeds until next bill cycle due to data prioritization. Video typically streams on
T-Mobile device at DVD quality (480p). Tethering at max 3G speeds. Sales tax and regulatory fees included in monthly service price. - 2GB for $10: Up to 2GB of high-speed data, followed by data at reduced speeds up to 128kbps.
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No. The lines of service through this program are intended to support off-campus use and are not eligible for discounts from the
E-Rate program. For more information aboutE-Rate programs, including eligible services, see (http://www.universalservice.org/sl/applicants/beforeyoubegin/eligible-services-list.aspx). -
No. Schools that select
E-Rate withT-Mobile are not eligible for EmpowerED. Similarly,T-Mobile will not be able to serve as yourE-Rate provider if you are selected for EmpowerED. -
This is a multi-year program and applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis.
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T-Mobile will send the primary contact a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of the application. -
Applications will require at least 7-14 business days to review. If the application meets all eligibility criteria,
T-Mobile will contact the applicant directly via email to schedule a phone interview. -
Please contact us via email at EmpowerED@
t-mobile .com. -
Yes. Students must be permitted to take home the devices offered through EmpowerED.
Capable device required to achieve 4G LTE speeds. Limited-time offers; subject to change. Not eligible for other discounts. U.S. roaming and on-network data allotments differ: includes 200MB roaming. Partial megabytes rounded up. Not for extended international use; you must reside in the U.S. and primary usage must occur on our U.S. network. Service may be terminated or restricted for excessive roaming. Communications with premium-rate numbers not included. Video streaming at up to 1.5Mbps; may affect speed of video downloads. For best performance, leave video streaming applications at default automatic resolution setting. Tethering: at max 3G speeds. For the small fraction of customers using >50GB/mo., majority of data usage must be on tablet. Network Management: Service may be slowed, suspended, terminated, or restricted for misuse, abnormal use, interference with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users, or significant roaming. Tablet usage is prioritized over tethering usage, which may result in higher speeds for data used on tablet. See