Innovation:
How Schools are Tackling the Homework Gap
Discover how some school districts are providing Wi-Fi for their students

FIXED SUPER SPOTS
Open School Networks
Liberty-Eylau Independent School District opened its school Wi-Fi network to the community. Since their Internet is delivered via nearby wireless towers, community members can connect to the Internet from the school parking lot.
Photo credit: Which?
Drive-thru Internet Sites
Frisco Independent School District installed 14 wireless access points throughout the community, enabling parents and students to “drive-thru” and access the Internet from their cars.
Photo credit: Lingo Networks
WI-FI ON SCHOOL BUSES
A Traveling Library with Wi-Fi
Cincinnati Public Schools turned a school bus into a super hotspot and library for elementary school students to access from a 150-foot radius. The results are encouraging – during the first week of Ohio’s school closure, just one in five elementary students logged into their online math program. Four weeks later, more than half had done so.
Photo credit: Sam Greene/The Enquirer
Mobile Wi-Fi Enabled Buses
Charleston County School District partnered with the wireless provider Kajeet to equip 10 school buses with Wi-Fi super hotspots at a cost of around $20 per bus each month. The buses operate morning and afternoon shifts, so they can bring Internet to 20 different locations.
Photo credit: Andrew Whitaker/ Post and Courier
PERSONAL AND SMARTPHONE HOTSPOTS
Unlimited Data Plans
Columbus School District recently approved a spending measure to purchase unlimited data plans for students without Internet access, so students can stay connected by turning their mobile devices into hotspots for online learning. A local nonprofit also donated more than 500 personal hotspots to students who were otherwise unable to connect from home.
Personal Wi-Fi Hotspots
Dayton Public Schools are loaning Chromebooks to students who need them, as well as Wi-Fi hotspots for high school students. The district also has 32 school buses equipped with Wi-Fi, that will park around the city on school days so students can connect from inside their homes.
Photo credit: Mark Hertzberg
Evaluating the best option for your school district to connect students to remote learning opportunities? Read our seven steps to connecting students at home in our toolkit.