OKC students gain wireless access at home
About 350 ninth-graders in the Oklahoma City school district have gained access to the internet at home with the help of free mobile hot spots.
By 2022-23, that number is expected to grow to 2,000 students, district officials said Thursday during a joint news conference with Sprint representatives at U.S. Grant High School.
Sprint, through its 1Million project, will provide free mobile devices and high-speed wireless internet connectivity to one million high school students over the next five years.
U.S. Grant Principal Greg Frederick said the devices will “remove barriers” from learning.
“In this day and age, not having Wi-Fi at home, it’s not quite as bad as not having running water, but the impact on a student’s education is pretty close to that,” Frederick said. “In 21st century learning, it’s an expectation that you’re going to be able to do a certain amount of work online through various programs that we have, or just to be able to access emails, to be able to email your teacher an assignment.”
Hot spots are devices about the size of your hand that let you get internet for up to five other devices (ipod touch, laptop, netbook) anywhere you are.
Students from 11 district high schools and mid-highs who qualify will check out the devices like they would a library book, but get to keep them for the rest of their high school careers.
Madeline Ridge, 14, is among 20 U.S. Grant students who checked out hot spots Thursday. Madeline said she is a good student who plays basketball and aspires to be a teacher.
“We don’t have a computer at home or internet access at home, so it will be easier for us to get on our phones and access the internet,” she said.
According to the wireless carrier, approximately five million U.S. families with school-aged children do not have broadband access at home while 70 percent of teachers assign homework that requires web access.
Superintendent Aurora Lora called it a “really special day” for students.
“This means that many, many students and families in our school district are now going to have access to the internet at home, where kids can do their homework, they can read E-books, they can learn about colleges, apply for scholarships, jobs,” Lora said.
“No longer will they have to worry about trying to find transportation to a library or a friend’s house or a relative’s house where they can have access to that. “What’s great is even their sisters and brothers are going to be able to enjoy it, too.”
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett was on hand along with Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, a former U.S. Grant teacher.
“We have got to keep investing in education,” said Cornett, who posed for selfies with Sprint representatives, elected officials, school leaders and students.
“It’s going to be the future of this state, it’s going to be our future workforce and if we’re going to drive Oklahoma and Oklahoma City on a forward trajectory with the economy that we all deserve, it’s going to be with projects like this and kids that are going to be using these to build a workforce for tomorrow.”