About the Center for Technology in Education — August's #EveryCaseCounts Charity Partner

Casely wants every child to have a chance at the best education.

Each month provides us with the opportunity to partner with a new charity through our #EveryCaseCounts initiative. We send a portion of our profits to a charity that fits our values as a company. So every purchase you make shows your support too!

This August, in honor of back-to-school, we’ve partnered with the Center for Technology in Education.

Because we have so many exciting partner charities, we want to give you the chance to learn about them through our blog.

Read on for more info about our incredible new partner and how you can get involved.

What Is the Center for Technology in Education?

Founded at Johns Hopkins University, the Center for Technology in Education (CTE) started in 1986 to combat inequities for students with disabilities.

The educators at JHU noticed a need for high-tech educational tools to aid students with disabilities in the classroom. By providing everything from better wheelchairs to top-of-the-line computer software, their goal was to attain equitable instruction and opportunities for these students through the power of science and innovation.

Over several decades, CTE’s mission transitioned into providing educational technology for all underserved students, teachers, parents, and school administrators. Early education, special education, and professional learning — they do it all!

In collaboration with the Maryland State Department of Education, they remain focused on developing assistive technology and classroom tools. Alongside policy-makers, they work to promote evidence-based instruction within their community and beyond.

Student and teacher empowerment is their aim. Technology in the classroom is CTE’s game.

Quick Facts

It’s easy to assume nowadays that basic technology access is universal. These statistics from 2020 prove otherwise.

• While 73% of US households with children had internet access, only 17% had stable access all the time.
• 4 million US households with children don’t have consistent or reliable access to computers.
• As much as 60% of US households with children receive their learning devices from schools and school districts.

How You Can Help

There’s no doubt that technology is transforming classroom experiences for the better. Teachers report huge increases in engagement when students have creative learning options.

Yet, there are still many barriers to getting these tools into students’ and teachers’ hands.

Here are some small things you can do to make it happen:

• Donate Your Used Tech. Technology is expensive, which means low-income students and communities lack the same access as wealthier ones. Donating some of those used devices could help your local school district acquire the tools students need but can’t afford.
• Volunteer at a Local School. Educational tools are only helpful if caring instructors are around to teach students to use them. There are loads of after-school programs and tutoring opportunities to put CTE’s mission of student empowerment into practice yourself.
• Stay Informed. Subscribe to CTE’s mailing list, or follow them on social media, to hear the latest on their events, programs, and technology developments.

The world of education needs change, but the Center for Technology in Education is doing fantastic work to make it happen. We hope you'll support them.

Remember, stay positive in the face of these challenges with one of our positivity sticker packs. As the saying goes, here comes the sun.