In response to the suspension of normal school operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the School District of Philadelphia applied for and was subsequently awarded a $500,000 Continuity of Education Equity grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, in order to purchase WiFi hotspot equipment and cellular Internet service plans for 2,500 students. It is widely known that despite efforts by both philanthropic agencies as well as Internet service providers, to assist families with obtaining free or low-cost Internet access in their homes, there still remains a significant number of students who lack adequate on-line access due to varying factors such as extreme economic conditions and/or loss of employment, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2,500 hotspots acquired through the Continuity of Education Equity grant will be used to address the immediate need for Internet Access for students in these unfortunate situations, which in turn will enable their use of a District-issued Chromebook computer and participation in the District’s Continuity of Education plan for remote digital learning.

Utilizing the District’s existing RFP for cellular services, and after analysis of the best negotiated COVID-19 offers from the four major tier-1 cellular carriers in the Philadelphia region, T-Mobile USA, Inc., was selected to provide WiFi hotspots with accompanying 12-month unlimited use Internet data plans, to be distributed to District students and families. Following the prepaid 12-month service period, families will have the option to keep the hotspot device and to purchase a continued service plan with T-Mobile beyond the 12-month period. This award will allow the District to amend its existing six-year contract with T-Mobile in order to provide the additional spending authority to purchase the grant-funded hotspots and services. 

May 17, 2018; A-5