The Administration recommends that the Board of Education authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent  or his designee, to provide up to $3,000,000 through June 30, 2022 to support student internet connectivity and digital navigation through the PHLConnectED Program.

Purpose:  To ensure connectivity  for all students in Philadelphia to support digital learning.

Start date:  8/21/2020

End date:  6/30/2022

Amount:  Up to $3,000,000

Location(s):  All Schools; Administration

Description:

PHLConnectED is a program designed by business and civic leaders to connect up to 35,000 K-12 student households with internet service in Philadelphia.  The program will offer eligible student households up to two years of high-speed internet.  Participants will not pay any out-of-pocket expenses or installation fees.  The program prioritizes families who do not have any internet access, who have only mobile phone internet access. or are homeless or housing-insecure.  Eligible households are already being identified through data gathered by the School District of Philadelphia, the Charter Schools Office, and internet service providers.

This phase of PHLConnectED will cost $17.1 million over two years to implement, $9.1 million in year one and $8 million in year two.  Philanthropic partners have already committed over $11 million and the City id contributing $2 million from CARES act funding.  The Administration is recommending that the School District commit up to $3 million over the next two years to ensure the success of the PHLConnect effort.  The District expects to fund these costs through State and Federal grants designed to ensure student access to digital learning.