DALLAS, Nov. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --
What's the news? The COVID-19 pandemic has forced
more than 50 million U.S. students to learn from home. Yet nearly
17 million children are unable to take part because their families
don't have an internet connection or device to support digital
learning.
To help close the gap and enable connected learning, AT&T is
offering discounted unlimited wireless data plans1 and
content filtering services to more than 135,000 public and private
K-12 schools, colleges and universities across the country for a
limited time. Offer details include:
- Schools can migrate existing AT&T lines or activate new
lines for students on a qualified unlimited wireless data plan and
content filtering service for $15 a
month, with the additional option of an AT&T Moxee hot spot at
no cost after bill credits.3
- For every 24 qualified student activations above, schools can
activate 1 line with the same services for a teacher at no cost
after bill credits to help them do what they do every day as
classroom superheroes.
- The offer is good through December 29,
2020 – schools that add at least one eligible line as part
of this offer can also activate additional lines at the same price
through December 29, 2022, at which
point the promotional pricing ends.
In addition to the discounted plans for schools to connect their
students, AT&T is making a $10
million commitment to support at-risk students disconnected
from learning with internet connectivity and Wi-Fi hotspots. We
will also expand availability of tech-enabled tools and learning
resources for students, teachers, schools, and parents working
across company resources, including WarnerMedia, for ongoing
support for this initiative.
While the homework gap is not new, the pandemic and the critical
need for remote learning has made it worse. This nationwide problem
disproportionately impacts 1 in 3 students of color, as well as
students with disabilities and students in rural and
under-resourced neighborhoods. Additionally, 300,000 to
400,000 K-12 teachers live in
households without adequate internet connectivity or home computing
devices – roughly 10 percent of all public school
teachers.4
What is AT&T doing for teachers beyond school-funded
service? Teachers can still take advantage of our
appreciation offer announced in July for exclusive savings on
personal wireless service. This offer applies to both new and
existing customers that are Kindergarten through post-secondary
teachers, professors, instructors, and their families with a 25%
savings on AT&T Unlimited Starter, Extra and Elite consumer
wireless plans.5
How will AT&T's $10 million
commitment support education? Today, we're committing
$10 million to support our nation's
most vulnerable students, who don't have adequate internet access
and are disconnected from learning. There are an estimated 17
million public K-12 students falling into the homework gap due to
COVID-19 school closures.
Together with Connected Nation, a leading non-profit helping
communities solve their broadband and digital technology
challenges, we'll work to close the homework gap for struggling
students by providing WiFi hotspots and free AT&T internet
service. School districts and non-profits across the U.S. will be
invited to apply for support in the coming weeks.
This commitment comes alongside a collaboration with a global HR
services and solutions firm Randstad to refurbish and donate
laptops and other devices to keep students connected.
AT&T has a long history of supporting communities where we
live and work. This new commitment builds on the $10 million Distance Learning and Family
Connections fund we launched at the start of this pandemic. We've
committed $600 million since 2008 to
advance education and create opportunity, particularly in
historically underserved populations.
What about safety protocols for school-provided student
access? We understand that schools need affordable
options including services to support their online safety protocols
like those in the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
That's why we've included content filtering options, which will
help schools deliver safer on-ramps for K-12 and higher education
users/devices connecting to the Internet. For schools looking to
add device management, an additional option is also available at a
discounted rate.3
What else is AT&T doing about the connectivity challenges
in America? We continue to expand our connectivity
efforts while working with stakeholders to develop policies that
will help sustain and expand reliable broadband connectivity for
all Americans.
What are people saying?
QUOTE: "There are many challenges to providing high-quality
education to children nationwide. Inequities and other impediments
can mean millions of kids don't get a fair shot at succeeding in
school. We are helping to bring innovative solutions to remove the
barriers to learning. That's critically important to the future
success of students," Anne Chow,
CEO, AT&T Business.
QUOTE: "Millions of kids are struggling with their
schoolwork because they don't have internet access at home. Without
access, assignments are a daily challenge, and this
disproportionately affects children of color and those living in
rural areas. This is one of our greatest challenges as a country
and it's going to take the collective power of businesses,
industry, public policy and non-profits to make a difference," said
Tom Ferree, Chairman &
CEO of Connected Nation.
QUOTE: "Many students are locked out of the
classroom because they don't have reliable internet access and
connected devices. Closing this widening gap is the most important
issue of digital equity that we face as a nation," said
Christine Fox, Interim Executive
Director, State Educational Technology Directors Association
(SETDA). "SETDA has been a strong advocate for ensuring
equitable digital learning opportunities for all students
since its inception. We commend AT&T for its commitment to
addressing the homework gap and their partnership in pushing for
critical change so that all students can succeed."
QUOTE: "We are excited to support our students here in
Atlanta with the rollout of this
new offer from AT&T," said Olufemi
Aina, Executive Director, IT, Atlanta Public Schools. "As a strong
advocate for digital inclusion, we also applaud the commitment to
closing the Homework Gap and ensuring students have the tools they
need for success."
QUOTE: "Covid-19 has shown us that at-home internet
connectivity is no longer a nice-to-have. It is a must-have.
Without it, many students face an uphill battle in their
education," said Sal Khan,
founder of Khan Academy. "I am heartened by AT&T's
commitment to provide connectivity to these students and their
families, which will help bridge the gap and give countless young
people the tools they need to succeed in school and beyond."
1 After 50GB of data use on a line, AT&T may
temporarily slow data speeds if the network is busy.
2 Based on the average class size of 1 teacher to
24 students, schools will get one free (after bill credits)
qualified line for a teacher for every 24 lines for students that
are migrated to or activated on the qualified services. Taxes
and fees are extra.
3 Req's new line on Special DataConnect for Education
plan ($14/mo. after credits) w/
Enterprise Traffic Protector service ($1/mo.) or AccessMyLAN ($6/mo. after credits) and elig. data-only device.
AT&T Moxee offer req's new line and $85 on 0% APR 24-mo. agmt. Free after credits
over 24 months. If data svc cancelled, data plan and device
credits stop & device balance due. Other fees, taxes, and
charges & restrictions apply. See offer details.
4 Common Sense Media, 2020
5 Terms and conditions apply, see offer brief for
details.
*About AT&T Communications
We help family, friends
and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first
phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we @ATT
innovate to improve lives.
AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc.
(NYSE:T). For more information, please visit us at
att.com.
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SOURCE AT&T Communications