Welcome Educators!
The California Emerging Technology Fund is partnering with schools serving low-income students, to help those students and their families learn more about Affordable/Reduced-Cost Internet Offers.
Some are available for as little as $10 a month!
We know you are keenly aware of the Homework Gap and the Opportunity Gap; cruel results of the Digital Divide between students who have Home Internet access and those who do not. These gaps impact low-income and rural area students, making it difficult to complete homework assignments and take advantage of other online opportunities. Lack of Home Internet connectivity impacts school-parent communication and makes it difficult for parents to support their children academically.
As educators you have the ability to provide information that is reliable, vendor-neutral and useful to your students and their families.
STEP ONE:
Open the Educators Toolkit. It includes graphics and informational flyers to inform parents of reduced-cost Internet offers. Below is an explanation of everything in the Educators Toolkit:
| The Internet Informant provides in-depth details for staff on each of the reduced-cost Internet offers including the price, necessary qualifications, the data cap, etc. Click for more info. | The Benefits Informant provides information on the available reduced-cost Internet benefits, pricing, and a toll-free number for parents to call to learn the in-depth details from a trusted source. Download Flyer with Internet carrier Info. Download Flyer without Internet carrier Info. |
| The Buyer’s Guide has complete listings of free or low-cost computers that are available through the program. Click for more info. | The Graphics Package inside the toolkit has downloadable graphic elements for newsletters, school social media accounts, website posting and banners. Download Toolkit. |
STEP TWO:
Connect! Determine the best way to communicate with students and families in low-income communities. Families may not be aware that they qualify if their child is enrolled in the Free and Reduced Lunch program, if the parent is a beneficiary of SSI, Cal Fresh (food stamps), or has a household income under $40,000.
Connect with administrators in Adult Education, Parent and Community Relations, Instructional Technology, Information Technology, Nutritional Services etc. who will join your team to help inform families.
STEP THREE:
Decide! Determine the best way to share this information with eligible families. Consider email, texts, or posting info on your website. Also look into printing flyers to hand out at Back-to-School Nights or any event where parents and students are present to receive information!
STEP FOUR:
Change! Helping students and their families gain Internet connectivity is a game-changer. We have partners with re here to help you get your students and their families online. Consider setting up a workshop, engaging with one of our trusted community organizations in your area, and ordering 6 x 3 school banners (examples below).
The California Emerging Technology Fund will sponsor the first 400 banners ordered!
- – Each school can order up to 4 banners, in English or Spanish or both
- – Each district is limited to 20 banners
- – After your school or district have reached the maximum amount of banners, each banner costs $50
Please click here for more information and to submit your order.