Another one of the students, Yasmin Abu, received her first laptop on her 17th birthday, PIX11 reported.

“You can do anything you want to and you are worthy of every opportunity in this world to become a productive adult,” Grant said.

Wayne Lewis, a former Kentucky Education commissioner and currently a dean and professor of education at Belmont University said it's an absolute necessity for students to have technology at home.

"We're at the place at this point in the 21st century where there shouldn't be any debate. Broadband access and access to digital tools and digital resources is not a luxury," Lewis told PBS. "It's an absolute necessity. And when we think about kids not having access to those things, we should think about it very similar to the way we would think if kids didn't have access to electricity."

The educator said it's the responsibility of schools and school districts, as well as the federal government, to make sure that all kids have access to the items they need.

"It's going to take partnership on the part of federal and state governments to make sure that families have that type of access," he said.

Noting the disparity in America, Lewis said kids coming from low-income families are in danger of falling behind in academics.

"Parents and families who have resources, who have time, are ensuring that their kids are not only not falling behind, but they're using those resources to make sure that their kids move ahead while at the same time families and kids who have traditionally been underserved and don't have resources are falling further behind," he said.

Tanesha Grant

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