After over a year of empty classrooms, dusty bookshelves, and quiet playgrounds, many students across the U.S. are finally returning to school. For teachers, that means working to gather vital school supplies to cover classroom work and fun.

Unfortunately, teachers are often forced to juggle tight budgets to cover all the essentials. Thankfully, DonorsChoose.org has become a fantastic platform for filling any gaps-and T-Mobile is stepping in to help with a $1,000,000 donation.

DonorsChoose lets educators ask the public for the classroom materials they need to ensure students' success. For example, in Minnesota, Mrs. Wamsley is asking for an SD card and camera bag for her yearbook class. In New Jersey, Mrs. Trasferini is wishing for a Book Nook for her second-grade class. And Mrs. Robertson would like support in buying an easel pad and headphones for her first graders.

With T-Mobile's $1 million donation, DonorsChoose will be able to fulfill these and other requests and help jumpstart the transition back to an in-person learning environment. DonorsChoose makes the process easy, purchasing and shipping items directly to the school and sending a thank you note to the donor.

"This coming school year might be the most important of our generation, and teachers will need all the encouragement we can give them as so many return to classrooms," says DonorsChoose Founder and CEO, Charles Best. "T-Mobile's gift to teachers will help students start the year strong and support them during a time of readjustment."

But getting essential school supplies is just half the battle. The stay-at-home orders implemented in many states forced families to work and learn from home for months, relying on high-speed internet and wireless connectivity. Over the last year, lack of home internet has substantially widened the digital divide for many students. T-Mobile has been stepping up to help mitigate this technological burden.

This year, T-Mobile is continuing their work with Project 10Million-their $10.7 billion initiative to provide 10 million underserved households with free internet and mobile hotspots over the next 10 years.

"Back-to-school is special this year," acknowledges Jon Freier, EVP of T-Mobile's Consumer Group. "It represents getting back to so much more that we've missed, after a really trying year for families, teachers, and students. That's why T-Mobile is going big here to help everyone stay connected with America's largest, fastest and most reliable 5G network."

For families, teachers, and students gearing up for a new school year and looking for a new phone, T- Mobile is now offering iPhone 12 on Us when you switch and activate on the Magenta MAX rate plan-no trade required. But if you want to trade in your old device, you can score an iPhone 12 Pro on Us when you switch, trade in a device, and activate on Magenta MAX.