Forty incoming seniors at KIPP Troy Prep High School, including many from underserved neighborhoods, received new laptops ahead of the school year.

“The world is so built on technology, you need it for, like, job applications, you need it for college applications, emails, like everything,” student Nia Jones said.

“There are number of students who for the very first time are walking away with their own device to call their own,” said Que Mckay, assistant principal of culture at KIPP Troy Prep High School.

“Particularly seniors, who need to have something that they can apply to college with," added Cat Schwartzbeck, executive director of the Sylvan Learning Center. "Look at financial aid research colleges to apply to. So, computers and access to technology is so important.”

According to a state Education Department survey, 22% of New York households don't have a laptop or computer, and 27% don't have broadband service at home.

Through its effort, KIPP also hopes to raise the bar for teaching and learning institutions. It believes equal access to educational resources is necessary for the overall growth of a student inside and outside of the classroom.

“This access, and to have it be personalized for them and to them, it creates a sense of ownership and buy-in," said Brooke Paradise, director of college and careers at KIPP. "And also, it does celebrate them a little bit because getting to your senior year of high school is incredibly huge as a milestone.”