September 17, 2021 – FWD DFW – David Buice
Family Gateway in Dallas strives to provide a safe, stable and supportive place for children and families to learn and grow. While the organization has kept its homeless shelter open during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has also faced another challenge — many children have been affected by sudden changes in their school settings.
“We know the negative effects of homelessness on children and their development, particularly from an educational and social-emotional perspective,” says Ellen Magnis, president and CEO of Family Gateway. “The pandemic ushered in unprecedented challenges, changing the nature of education and instruction in ways that continue to affect children.”
In a new community collaboration, AT&T is providing internet and Wi-Fi access to the children and families in Family Gateway’s care, helping to improve their quality of education. As technology is essential for school and day-to-day life, having internet access can help individuals and families stay connected and regain stability.
“My three kids and I have been staying at Family Gateway for a few weeks and are thankful for the new computers coordinated by AT&T,” a mother and current resident at Family Gateway’s shelter shared. “They will help my children keep up with their schoolwork and will assist me in my search for a new apartment for our family.”
Narrowing the homework gap
As some schools across the country and in Dallas have resorted to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the divide between those students who have access to reliable broadband internet access and those who do not has become increasingly apparent. Although some schools are reopening to in-person instruction, too many students are still struggling to complete their homework. It’s estimated that millions of children can’t take part in digital learning because they don’t have a reliable internet connection or device.
AT&T has committed $2 billion over the next three years to help bridge the nation’s digital divide and narrow the homework gap. The pledge builds on its $1 billion investment to provide broadband service and bring digital literacy to students, including continued support for low-cost internet programs.
AT&T’s renewed commitment combines its low-cost broadband service offerings with AT&T Connected Learning, a multi-year initiative to close the homework gap by providing internet connectivity and devices, learning opportunities and digital literacy resources to students and families.
Connected Learning Centers
To help families overcome these challenges, AT&T is launching more than 20 AT&T Connected Learning Centers — many of which will open before the end of 2021 — to facilitate digital literacy and learning outside the classroom. The first of the Connected Learning Centers launched recently within Magnis’ Family Gateway. A collaboration between AT&T employees and local organizations, these Connected Learning Centers will be in traditionally underserved neighborhoods where residents face barriers to connectivity.
Each facility will feature high-speed AT&T Fiber internet and Wi-Fi. Meanwhile, Dell Technologies is donating Dell OptiPlex computers and monitors, and Overland-Tandberg, a leading global technology and IT services company, will lead the onsite configuration of the computers.
The centers will be equipped with education, mentoring and digital literacy resources including full access to a new digital learning platform that AT&T is developing, which will include exclusive content from WarnerMedia.
Also, AT&T employees will take an active role in the centers, volunteering their time and offering mentoring and tutoring for students. With the resources available at the centers, students will be able to complete their assignments and easily access digital learning tools.
“The last 18 months have been particularly challenging for students, many of whom had to switch from in-classroom to remote learning overnight,” says Hardmon Williams, VP for AT&T Believes and community engagement. “The impacts have been significant.”
A national Morning Consult/AT&T survey shows many parents and teachers are still seeking solutions to the homework gap and learning loss, as 76% of parents and 81% of teachers remain concerned about the difficulties many students face in completing online homework assignments. Based on results from the Texas Education Agency, nearly four out of 10 Texas students failed state math exams in 2021, and learning loss was steepest in districts with a higher percentage of virtual learning.
While most Dallas students have returned to the physical classroom, Williams is mindful of the fact that the homework gap and other learning challenges still exist.
“Our Connected Learning Centers here in Dallas are designed to reach those students most in need, providing them with the connectivity, computers and digital learning resources that they need to succeed in school and beyond,” Williams says.
Digital literacy with Public Library Association
Supporting students also means supporting parents. So, AT&T is working with Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association, to offer digital literacy courses designed to help parents develop confidence using computers and mobile devices, and gain skills to support their child’s online learning.
The courses will be available virtually for everyone and offered in-person at the AT&T Connected Learning Centers. Starting in 2022, librarians will offer the courses in public libraries nationwide with support from AT&T.
For Dallas Director of Libraries Jo Giudice, providing internet connectivity is only the first step to achieving digital literacy.
“Just getting connected doesn’t mean you’re able to get online and attend classes or apply for a job,” Giudice says. “Many Dallas families need help utilizing what’s available through an internet connection, and that’s where it is important to include public libraries in new initiatives to enhance the availability of learning in each neighborhood of the city.”
AT&T and PLA’s work to provide free, high quality digital literacy education is a powerful tool in the hands of AT&T employee volunteers and local libraries. The collaboration between PLA and AT&T will bring an array of refreshed and new courses to a larger audience of families and learners everywhere. The first three courses in the series are now available at att.digitallearn.org, and 12 courses will be available by the end of the year.
“Families who visit their local public library can take a DigitalLearn course, or use the internet access to take other online trainings,” says Giudice. “When they can’t physically get there, they can learn online from their home, school, or anywhere they get internet access.”
Giudice adds that the collaboration will also help public libraries at the community level work with new partners, including the AT&T Connected Learning Centers and others, to combine strengths to reach those negatively impacted by the digital divide.
“Working together, we can make sure no one gets left behind in the digital world.”
Connected Learning Center at Family Gateway
The importance of technology is apparent now more than ever, says Family Gateway’s Magnis.
“The AT&T Connected Learning Center will help keep the children in our care engaged in the world around them and excited about learning,” she said.
One of Family Gateway’s most important activities is its Education Program, which helps children living in the shelter learn crucial subjects like math and reading skills, as well as the coping skills needed to deal with the many stresses associated with homelessness.
Magnis says the collaboration with AT&T benefits not only the children living in the shelter, but the adults in their families as well.
“Technology and internet access are essential for the parents in our program, to update their resumes, apply for jobs and secure housing,” she says. “We know that the AT&T Connected Learning Center will be beneficial to the entire family unit as they work together to regain stability and overcome the negative effects of homelessness.”
Multiple forms of digital assistance
AT&T’s extensive efforts to provide safe, reliable internet connectivity exemplify its dedication to helping students and families negatively affected by the digital divide.
“Closing the digital divide is a complex undertaking that requires collaboration between businesses, nonprofits, academia and government,” says Williams. “By working directly with organizations like Family Gateway and Public Library Association, we’re able to help people on an individual basis, giving them the connectivity, devices and resources they need to thrive.
“AT&T believes that every child should have the opportunity to succeed, and we know that given the right tools and support, that success can become a reality.”
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