Camden public charter school powerhouse LEAP Academy University Charter School recently announced that it has officially joined the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program. The award-winning corporate initiative is designed to bridge the digital divide by equipping student bodies and teaching staff with the physical tools and connectivity required to excel in modern classrooms.
In a direct partnership with education nonprofit Digital Promise, the program will simultaneously roll out across both LEAP STEAM High School and LEAP STEM Intermediate School starting in the fall of 2026.
The two Camden facilities are part of a select group of 33 new campuses nationwide chosen to join the program’s 13th consecutive operational cohort, expanding the corporate initiative’s national footprint to 693 schools across 126 public districts.
Under the structure of the multi-year partnership, every single student and educator at the designated intermediate and high schools will receive a free, personal mobile learning device—either a dedicated laptop or a tablet.
To ensure learning can seamlessly continue outside of school walls, each device comes fully equipped with an accompanying, zero-cost Verizon high-speed wireless data plan.
Beyond pure hardware distribution, the grant provides full financing for a dedicated, full-time technology coach stationed inside each building. This tech specialist will work hand-in-hand with educators, providing continuous professional development and training to help teachers seamlessly integrate advanced STEM tools, immersive lesson plans, and hybrid technology directly into their daily curricula.
“LEAP Academy is proud to be a part of the Verizon Innovative Learning family,” Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, founder of LEAP Academy said. “This partnership unlocks even more opportunities for our students to build the skills, knowledge, and capabilities to pursue careers in STEM fields.”
The technology infusion is aimed at amplifying an already highly successful academic model. LEAP Academy operates as a public, tuition-free charter school serving roughly 1,560 students annually from kindergarten through 12th grade. For more than two decades, the college-preparatory institution has maintained a historic, unbroken 100% high school graduation and college acceptance rate for its senior classes.
Mario Acosta-Velez, Region Senior Director of Verizon Local Engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility, emphasized that equitable access to hardware and digital training is critical for cultivating the next generation of regional workforce leaders.
According to nationwide survey data compiled by Verizon, the program’s classroom interventions yield immediate benefits:
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85% of participating educators reported that the technology significantly enhanced their ability to effectively differentiate daily instruction for diverse student learning styles.
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84% of teachers stated that the integration of mobile devices made the learning material notably more engaging and fun for their students.
The initiative represents a central pillar of Verizon’s broader responsible business plan, which has committed over $1 billion in market value since 2012 to address digital equity barriers, with an ultimate corporate milestone of delivering digital skills training to 10 million youth by 2030.
