Albany Fund for Education and The Salvation Army of Saratoga Springs Receive 1,000 Free Hotspots, Internet Service From AT&T to Help Address the Capital Region’s Homework Gap
Through free connectivity solutions, AT&T is breaking down barriers to remote learning and the homework gap for Capital Region students who need it most
CAPITAL REGION, N.Y., June 2021 — As students and teachers cross the threshold from a full year of remote learning and begin to address the learning loss resulting from it, AT&T and leading national nonprofit Connected Nation are continuing work to put the connectivity solutions vital to education into the hands of those who need it most.
AT&T has announced that it has given two local Capital Region organizations, the Albany Fund for Education and The Salvation Army of Saratoga Springs, 1,000 free wireless hotspots as well as free internet connectivity for one year. Each organization has received 500 hotspots with free connectivity. They are part of more than 100 organizations and school districts that will benefit from a $10 million commitment from AT&T, first announced last year, to provide free internet subscriptions and wireless hotspots to 35,000 vulnerable students across the country. [1] Connected Nation administered the program—reviewing applications and choosing awardees across 26 states.
The Albany Fund for Education and The Salvation Army of Saratoga Springs will distribute the hotspots to under-resourced students across the Capital Region. The hotspots come at a critical time for many students — the final months of the school year — with many students in remote or hybrid learning, and ahead of summer break, where home connectivity can be used to catch up from learning loss caused by the pandemic. Students will have the opportunity to use the free connectivity to prepare for the 2021-2022 school year and will have the connectivity available when school begins in the fall to assist with homework and other learning opportunities to position them for educational success.
An estimated 17 million K-12 students nationwide and approximately 11,000 students in the Capital Region currently lack access to the connectivity and devices required for successful online learning. While this homework gap is not new, the pandemic has heightened the challenges — most acutely in rural and under-resourced neighborhoods, where the effects of the pandemic have disproportionately impacted 1 in 3 students of color students with disabilities, and roughly 10 percent of all public school teachers.
Whether students are learning remotely or in the classroom, having access to affordable high-speed internet service and devices is non-negotiable for successful learning outcomes.
“Organizations like the Albany Fund for Education and The Salvation Army of Saratoga Springs are critical to serving and supporting some of the most at-risk students across the Capital Region, and AT&T is proud to be teaming up with them to connect 1,000 local students to the internet,” said Amy Kramer, President, AT&T New York. “By helping to expand connectivity for the students these remarkable organizations serve, we can play a role in narrowing the homework gap and helping address inequities associated with virtual learning.”
“As remote learning became the norm this past year, it was increasingly clear that far too many students and teachers do not have access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet access, specifically in low-income communities,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “I want to thank AT&T for working with the Albany Fund for Education to provide free hotspots and internet service to help alleviate this inequity that was highlighted by the pandemic. We need to ensure that our students have all the tools they need to access a quality education, especially when so many students are now suffering academically from the circumstances that were presented during the past year.”
“At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, in consultation with the Saratoga-North Country Continuum of Care and the Saratoga County Public Health Department, the City’s Community Development Citizen’s Advisory Committee developed a list of priorities to assist the low-moderate income population in response to the impacts of the pandemic. Internet access was readily identified as a top priority, particularly for families with school-aged children,” said Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly. “I would like to commend both The Salvation Army for their work to provide equitable access for the disadvantaged families of Saratoga Springs, and AT&T for providing the support needed to accomplish this goal. Connectivity has never been more essential to the academic success of our children. This initiative will serve to level the playing field for children of families of limited means. Every child in Saratoga Springs deserves ready access to the best education our district can offer.”
Since its inception in 1998, the Albany Fund for Education (AFE) has brought forward new ideas, approaches and funding to support the children of the Albany City School District. AFE enhances opportunities for students to learn, grow and succeed by building community partnerships, fundraising, and investing in innovative and effective programs that build equity and strengthen the educational infrastructure of Albany public schools. The Albany Fund for Education strives to enhance opportunities for students in the City School District of Albany to learn, grow, and succeed. In the recent uncertain times, fulfilling that mission has meant making sure that all students in Albany have access to the technology and connectivity they need in order to take part in remote learning.
“Many Albany families have multiple children online at one time, and struggle with Wi-Fi access and reliability, impairing their children’s ability to attend school and AT&T’s donation of 500 hotspots and a year of connectivity will be transformative for the families in our district that receive them,” said Mari Shopsis, Executive Director, Albany Fund for Education. “Students receiving the wireless connectivity will be able to participate in online classes, complete homework, and access educational resources even when school is not in session. We are so grateful to AT&T and Connected Nation for their help in opening the virtual school doors to our community.”
The Salvation Army of Saratoga Springs will distribute the 500 hotspots with free wireless connectivity they are receiving from AT&T to assist with the issues many students and families face with remote education and access to the internet for school. The organization will distribute the hotspots directly to families across Glens Falls, Schenectady, Troy, Albany, Gloversville, and Saratoga Springs. Providing direct access to the internet for education will allow children to set the foundation for a better, more secure future. Since the start of COVID-19, The Salvation Army of Saratoga Springs has helped serve 61,951 meals and 175,000 pounds of food, has assisted more than 50 families with paying rent and utilities, and has continued to find ways to help those in need.
“Access to internet is a privilege not everyone has access to,” said Lieutenant Bree Barker, The Salvation Army of Saratoga Springs. “We are extremely thankful for AT&T helping us continue to ‘do the most good’ by contributing 500 Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless connectivity for students in Saratoga and the Capitol Region to be able to succeed.”
“What makes this program so critical is that it seeks to help students who have been disproportionately disconnected from formal learning opportunities due to COVID-19,” said Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO, Connected Nation. “The investment being made through the AT&T K-12 homework gap program will not only allow these kids to fully participate in remote learning now, but also to catch up on learning lost during the pandemic. We must all work together to minimize and mitigate the impact that the pandemic has had on our must vulnerable youth.”
In addition to contributions to organizations like the Albany Fund for Education and The Salvation Army of Saratoga Springs, AT&T is expanding wireless affordability and flexibility for all schools in its service with unlimited wireless data plans that include content filtering services to support online safety protocols.
Learn more about the offer here or visit www.att.com/closethegap.
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[1] Selected recipients are required to agree to certain terms before receiving Internet subscriptions and wireless hotspots.
About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
Our society doesn’t work if it doesn’t work equally for all. We recognize that inequalities are pervasive, and we have a role to play in helping to address them. That’s why we’re committed to advancing education, creating opportunities, strengthening communities and improving lives, particularly amongst historically underserved populations. We have a long history of investing in projects that promote academic and economic achievement and addressing community needs that promote social justice and racial equality. With a financial commitment of $600 million through AT&T Aspire since 2008, AT&T has leveraged technology, relationships and social innovation to help give people – regardless of age, gender, race or socioeconomic status – the opportunity to succeed.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. The Empire State Division of The Salvation Army covers 48 counties in upstate New York and one city in Pennsylvania (Sayre, Pa.). Headquarters are located in Syracuse, NY. We have 45 community centers and 166 volunteer driven service units who raise funds that remain in each community to help those in need. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.
Albany Fund for Education
Since its inception in 1998, the Albany Fund for Education (AFE) has brought forward new ideas, approaches and funding to support the children of the Albany City School District. AFE enhances opportunities for students to learn, grow and succeed by building community partnerships, fundraising, and investing in innovative and effective programs that build equity and strengthen the educational infrastructure of Albany public schools.
