October 19, 2021 – FWD>DFW – David Buice
When the pandemic forced Dallas students — and millions more across America — to shift to online learning, the divide between those who have access to reliable broadband internet and those who don’t was put in the spotlight.
While most Dallas students are back in the classroom today, many, especially those from underserved communities, continue to grapple with connectivity challenges related to their education, an issue also known as the homework gap. It creates hurdles not just for students, but also for teachers and parents responsible for helping young people learn.
Earlier this year, AT&T made a $2 billion, 3-year commitment to address the nation’s digital divide and narrow the homework gap. Below, the company’s impact is illustrated by individuals and families previously challenged by the digital divide who have since benefitted from reliable connectivity and innovative digital learning solutions through AT&T Connected Learning.
Keeping kids connected at home
As part of its work to keep students connected to learning, AT&T is providing Wi-Fi hotspots and connectivity to young people in underserved communities in D-FW and across the U.S. This includes students at Momentous Institute, a laboratory school in Dallas’ Oak Cliff community.
Anthony Castro is a third-grade teacher at Momentous. The Wi-Fi hotspots allow him to provide students additional one-on-one instruction when they’re not at school.
“Without having a hotspot, I wouldn’t be able to logistically work with them one-on-one,” says Castro, who meets remotely with students via Zoom. He is particularly grateful that the hotspots enable him to give special attention to students who need additional reading and phonics instruction.
Castro is also able to engage the students’ parents in their lessons. He often collaborates with families to make sure that students have suitable resources and that they’re available and present for tutoring sessions. “When parents have insight into what their children are working on, they can better support them at home,” he says.
Castro says connectivity provided by AT&T to Momentous students has increased his teaching effectiveness and his students’ ability to master subject matter. “These services have truly made a difference, and we’re grateful to be able to offer them to our students and their families,” he says.
AT&T is delivering similar solutions to schools and organizations across the country through a collaboration with Connected Nation. Together, AT&T and Connected Nation deployed more than 35,000 hotspots to some of our nation’s most vulnerable students, making it easier for teachers like Castro to better reach these kids both in school and at home.
Connecting the community, connecting students
Since mid-May, 27-year-old Brittany McCoy and her children Harmony, 9, and Courtney Jr., 6, have been staying at Family Gateway’s homeless shelter in Dallas that provides children and families a safe, stable and supportive place to learn and grow.
“Before we got to Family Gateway, we weren’t able to get on the internet at all to do homework or other things like that,” McCoy says. “My son, Courtney, is in the first grade. During his first year of school, he didn’t get to be in front of a teacher. It put him a bit behind.”
In fact, McCoy says that both of her children have had difficulty adjusting to remote learning, due in large part to the lack of reliable connectivity.
AT&T’s Connected Learning Center housed within Family Gateway provides high-speed AT&T Fiber internet, Wi-Fi, devices and digital learning resources to students and families living on-site. This Center is the first of more than 20 Centers launching in communities across the country.
Family Gateway’s Connected Learning Center is bridging the gap for Courtney and Harmony. Both passionate about education, McCoy says the pair are thrilled to have access to tools to help further their learning and better connect with their teachers.
“Before I came here, I didn’t even know this type of program was possible,” McCoy says. “The new Connected Learning Center gives everyone hope and a chance.”
From homelessness to hope
Antonio Washington and his family found themselves in a similar position earlier this year. Antonio and his girlfriend, Victoria Lando, both lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. After months of struggling to find stable housing for themselves and their 5-year-old daughter Amani, the family was triaged into Family Gateway’s emergency shelter in May.
Amani, who began Kindergarten this year, has experienced early success with the learning tools available at the Connected Learning Center. “She is a visual learner,” her father says. “Being on the computer helps her comprehend and process everything she’s learning in school.”
Reliable internet and digital learning resources have helped Washington in his search for housing and a new job, while also allowing him to pursue his passions. “I am very creative and musical, and the Connected Learning Center helps me spread the word about my music and be more entrepreneurial in my outreach,” he says.
Beyond connectivity, digital literacy is also essential for parents like Washington to continue building confidence in using computers and mobile devices. AT&T and the Public Library Association are collaborating to launch 12 digital literacy courses, which newly connected families can access at AT&T Connected Learning Centers, online and at public libraries. In Washington’s case, these educational courses, which include basic search, navigating a website and intro to email, can help him prepare for a job, build an online presence, expand his music career and support Amani in her virtual learning.
Washington says he feels he is already making progress. “With the AT&T Connected Learning Center, we have connections to the outside community that encourage us to keep going,” he said.
The AT&T perspective
“Here in Dallas and across the country, there are far too many families who lack reliable, affordable internet access, devices and the resources they need to succeed in a digital-first world,” said Charlene Lake, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility at AT&T. “We believe focused, local action plays a key role in narrowing the homework gap and closing the digital divide.”
Lake says the AT&T Connected Learning initiative is tackling these issues head-on in Dallas by working to expand access to connectivity, devices, digital literacy and education resources. Still, she realizes there is more to be done. Students aren’t the only ones who feel the consequences of the digital divide — their entire family is affected, too.
“Without connection, it can be even harder for vulnerable families to apply for jobs, find housing, or complete other basic tasks, causing the cycle of hardship to continue,” Lake says.
Access to reliable, affordable internet is critical for overall wellbeing, and Lake says the stakes for closing the digital divide are high. It will take a collective effort of the public sector, private sector and nonprofits to ensure all students and families are able to move forward in a world that’s increasingly connected.
“Long-term, we want vulnerable communities to have the tools they need to thrive in school, at home and in life,” Lake says. “As technology continues to advance, our hope is that we can prepare individuals to grow and succeed in a digital society.”
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