San Antonio ISD and the 1Million Project Foundation announced last week that more than 5,200 high school students who don’t have reliable access to the internet at home will receive wireless devices and 10GB of high-speed wireless data access per month. This represents about 40 percent of SAISD’s high school students.
The 1Million Project Foundation launched in August 2017 with a mission to help one million high school students achieve their full potential by ensuring they have the digital tools and connectivity they need to succeed in school.
“In SAISD, we know how devastating the digital divide can be for our students' educational outcomes, and are tackling it through partnerships like the one with Sprint and the 1Million Project Foundation,” said Pedro Martinez, superintendent of SAISD. “We appreciate our partners’ understanding that many of the communities served by SAISD represent neighborhoods that may not have access to internet services, and providing the digital tools and connectivity they need for learning everywhere.”
Each participating student with the required parent permission will receive either a free hotspot device or a smartphone and 10GB of high-speed LTE data per month for up to four years while they are in high school. Every device has a free Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) compliant content filter to block adult content and malware.
Hector Martinez, a junior at Lanier High School, says the teachers of most of his core classes are trying to get more involved with online platforms.
“I think this is a great opportunity so that everyone can do assignments that teachers assign to us through the internet to really help develop our 21st-century learning skills,” he said.
Some of the products were distributed to Lanier High School students during a kickoff event on Dec. 6, and the rest of the devices are being distributed to eligible students at all SAISD high schools before the holiday break.
“As an educator, I am elated that we are partnering with business to bridge that digital divide,” said Dr. Moises Ortiz, Lanier principal. “Our students have the intellect, they have the innovation but they don’t necessarily have the resources to make them the 21st-century learners they need to be. This opportunity bridges that gap and really makes our kids much more competitive and provides them with learning experiences outside of the classroom and reconnects them with the world.”
Jasmine Vasquez, a senior at Lanier, said she doesn’t have reliable internet access at home and is excited to advance her knowledge through her new device and plan.
“I was in my room at home doing my homework on Google Classroom, and the internet went out so I had to stop working on my assignment and wait to finish it the next day at school,” she said. “This hotspot is going to help me when my computer doesn’t work anymore at home; I won’t have to worry about getting disconnected.”
The District’s Information Technology department has several initiatives underway to provide the technology resources and infrastructure needed for future-ready learning environments.
SAISD is in the process of installing a dedicated high-speed fiber network for all schools and offices within San Antonio ISD through a $7 million grant and additional state funding. Students will benefit from fast and reliable connectivity, enabling even more innovative digital learning opportunities. The new network will be ready for service in the summer of 2020.