At-home Internet access helps students achieve more
Background:
Ashley Park School in Charlotte, North Carolina serves families in neighborhoods with some of the lowest levels of home Internet use in the state. The community contains the highest percentage of adults without a high school degree, and has the highest percentage of households with an annual income less than $40,000.
Implementation:
Ashley Park students received laptops from One Laptop Per Child (OCLC), but many were unable to take full advantage of the new devices because they lacked Internet access at home. Mobile Beacon worked with Ashley Park School and Digi-Bridge to launch a pilot program that provided digital access and support for parents and students. Mobile Beacon donated 100 modems with free access for at-home Internet access for the remainder of their school year.
Results:
- During the pilot program, the students used their newfound access to research homework, complete assignments, and stay in touch with their teachers, administrators, and classmates.
- After the pilot program, families were able to continue Internet service by enrolling in EveryoneOn’s platform for ongoing Mobile Beacon service for $10/month.
- Digi-Bridge is using EveryoneOn’s free crowdfunding platform to fund 50 additional connections for their students. You can help out by contributing online to bring more connections to students.
