State funding increases student internet access

State funding increases student internet access

You're taking a live look outside madison county school's main office.

Wednesday marks the first day of the school year.

It begins with 9 weeks of remote learning as the school system tries to help fight the spread of coronavirus.

Including madison county -- there are more than 10- thousand coronavirus cases in the metro -- i-65 cooridor tonight.

Nearly 13-hundred came within the past 2 weeks.

Thank you for joining us -- i'm najahe sherman.

Dan shaffer has the night off.

Many students depend on the internet as they begin their academic year online.

The state created a new program to help families navigate though technical challenges.

Waay31's megan reyna joins us live... she learned how families can get help when they need it.most.

I'm told by madison county school officials that every student has a device or chromebook for this upcoming year.

And to get that technology connected to the internet, there are several wifi options -- both from the district and - thanks to the cares act -- from the state.

Nats waters says:"they are doing the best they can with what they can do."

Teri waters is still uncertain on how exactly virtual learning will pan out for her two kids.

Girl says:"i'd like to go back to school and i'd like to learn from mrs. pratt."

Waters doesn't have internet access at home.

Last year when the school shut down due to coronavirus-- her daughter learned from packets.

A few weeks ago she was worried about the start of the new school year, but now some of her concerns have gone away.

Waters says:"i mean it's a lot better than expected because they did supply the chromebooks and the wifi."

The district gave her family a hotspot.

But another option will soon appear in her mailbox.

Its called the alabama broadband connectivity for students program.

It's a wifi voucher funded by 100 million dollars from the coronavirus relief and economic security act.

Kids enrolled in the national school lunch program will receive free internet access.

Waters says:"this is the first time i've heard of it so, hopefully it comes through and we can be eligible for it."

For high school senior tomas rodriguiz -- he says he's fortunate to already have internet access.

However -- he did receive his chromebook... and is actually looking forward to learning virtually.

Rodriguiz says:"it's going to be weird at first especially because i'm not a computer guy so i don't know too much about it, but i think i'll get into it."

Nats back at the waters' home -- while she's relieved her kids have the tools to learn online -- they will be going to traditional in-person school as soon as the district allows it.

Waters says:"it hurts your heart a little bit because like she'll get up and want to get dressed and ready to go to school and you'll tell her no and she's eager to go and most kids aren't like that."

A voucher should be coming in the mail for those who are eligible in the next five to ten days.

In the meantime -- the district told me they have wifi available from each school... have handed out hot spots... and have 90 buses with wifi going out to different locations throughout the county.

Reporting live in madison co., mr waay 31 news.

The voucher will arrive in the mail inthe next 5 to 10 days.

You'll also receive a list of internet providers in your area.

You'll need to contact a provider