Five projects that help students and their families develop technology literacy skills will share a total of $45,000 in grants from the Verizon Foundation and the National Center for Family Literacy.
Boston Digital Bridge Foundation's Technology Goes Home @ School Program, based at Lilla G. Frederick Middle School, was chosen as the national winner of the Second Annual Verizon Tech Savvy Awards. Through the Technology Goes Home program, Boston public school teachers provide computer and technology training to students and their parents after school or on weekends.  "We have found that Tech Goes Home not only provides families with the opportunity to obtain 21st century skills, but also increases family engagement," said Deb Socia, principal of Frederick Middle School. "We find that increased parental involvement leads to increased academic success for the children."  As the National Verizon Tech Savvy Award winner, the Technology Goes Home program will receive a $25,000 award to continue and expand its program. In addition to the national winner, four other programs were recognized as regional winners, and each will receive a $5,000 grant. The grants recognize nonprofit programs for their innovative efforts to help parents understand the technology used by their children.