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SAISD and the 1Million Project Foundation initiative to connect 5,200+ high school students this school year
12/06/2019

December 6, 2019

 

News Release

San Antonio ISD (SAISD) and the 1Million Project Foundation announced today that more than 5,200 high schools students who don’t already have reliable access to the internet at home will receive wireless devices and 10GB of high-speed wireless data access per month – about 49 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. Products are being distributed to eligible students at all SAISD high schools. 

“The prevalence of technology in our society today means that more and more schools have turned to digital curricula to arm students with the skills they need to succeed after they leave high school,” said Doug Michelman, president of the 1Million Project Foundation. “That connection extends well beyond the classroom, but only for those that have internet access at home. Students whose families cannot afford internet connectivity are at a severe disadvantage. With the support of Sprint, we are working hard to make a meaningful impact in eligible students’ lives by providing both a device and connectivity to help level the playing field.”

The District’s Information Technology department has a number of 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.

About The 1Million Project Foundation: 
The 1Million Project Foundation will help 1 million high school students who do not have reliable Internet access at home reach their full potential by giving them mobile devices and free high-speed Internet access. Today’s learning environment requires 24/7 internet access in order to study, learn, explore and complete school work from home. Students that cannot connect when they leave school are at disadvantage, and their chances of staying on track in school are greatly limited. By working with school districts across America, the 1Million Project seeks to remove a significant hurdle in these students’ lives by ensuring they have the same access to the internet as any other student so that they too have a fair shot at achieving their full potential. For more information, visit www.1MillionProject.org

About Sprint: 
Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served 54.3 million connections as of June 30, 2019 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Today, Sprint's legacy of innovation and service continues with an increased investment to dramatically improve coverage, reliability, and speed across its nationwide network and commitment to launching a 5G mobile network in the U.S. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

 

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