This project will provide high-capacity portable chargers and charging cables to ensure all students in a 1:1 iPad classroom have consistent access to their learning tools throughout the day. Many students at our Title 1 campus face challenges charging devices at home, which can limit participation in reading, writing, and digital literacy activities. By keeping chargers available in class, I can reduce tech-related disruptions, support academic equity, and maximize instructional time. This simple addition will empower students to stay engaged, prepared, and connected to learning at all times.

One of the ongoing challenges I face in my 6th grade reading and language arts classroom is that students repeatedly arrive with low or dead iPads. Despite my consistent efforts to teach accountability and responsibility when it comes to their devices, I understand that emergencies, busy home environments, and shared technology access can make it difficult for students to come to school with a fully charged device. Even when students begin the day charged, by the time they reach my 5th period class, it’s often inevitable that their iPads are drained after a full day of academic use across multiple subjects. When a student's device dies, their only option right now is to get up, move across the room to find an outlet, and try to complete their work while sitting away from their assigned group or desk. This movement causes frequent disruptions—not only for the student but also for the entire classroom. It cuts into their learning time, adds to classroom noise and transitions, and often results in students falling behind. It also becomes increasingly difficult to manage when multiple students are in need of a charge at the same time. With access to portable chargers, I can eliminate these interruptions and allow students to remain in their seats, stay focused, and continue working without delay. This project will directly benefit all 140 of my 6th grade students by creating a smoother, more equitable classroom environment. As a Title 1 teacher, I know many of my students already face additional barriers to academic success, and this simple solution gives them the support they need to stay connected and engaged in learning. Having portable chargers available also teaches an important life skill: being prepared with a backup plan when things don’t go as expected. Instead of letting a dead device derail their progress, my students will learn how to adapt quickly and responsibly—something that will benefit them not only in school, but throughout life.

To address the ongoing issue of students’ iPads dying during the school day, I plan to implement a reliable, classroom-based charging solution by purchasing portable chargers and charging cables. My goal is to reduce device-related disruptions by at least 80% by the end of the first semester after implementation. I believe this is a specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART) objective that will directly improve learning time and student engagement in my classroom. By giving students access to in-seat charging options, I can help them stay focused and participating in lessons—even when they forget to charge their iPads or experience tech issues beyond their control. With the grant funds, I will purchase 5 high-capacity portable battery packs, durable charging cables, and a small charging and storage station for easy organization and use. These chargers will be available in my classroom daily, where they’ll serve approximately 140 6th grade students throughout the school year. This solution will allow students to continue working without having to get up, walk across the room to find an outlet, or miss out on group and independent work due to a dead device. It will also help reduce distractions and allow me to maintain smoother classroom management. I’ve worked hard to instill responsibility and accountability in my students when it comes to their devices, but I’ve also seen how real-life challenges—like sharing chargers with siblings, limited outlets at home, or just a long school day—can make it difficult for them to always come prepared. Rather than letting these moments stop their learning, I want to provide a realistic and supportive backup plan that keeps them engaged and on track. This project strongly supports our district’s mission to personalize learning by ensuring each student can access the technology they need when they need it. It also ties into our campus improvement plan, which focuses on minimizing barriers and creating equitable opportunities for all learners, especially those at risk of falling behind. Research supports this approach. The U.S. Department of Education emphasizes that reliable access to digital tools enhances motivation and academic success, and studies from Digital Promise show that inconsistent access to technology leads to lost instructional time and widened achievement gaps. By offering this small but powerful resource, I will be removing a recurring barrier and helping my students stay focused, included, and successful. 
Ultimately, I want to create a classroom where every student has what they need to learn—no matter the situation. This project is about being prepared, building equity, and ensuring no student has to sit out of learning because their battery died.