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Keeping kids connected: Connected Learning Program gives rural students a chance to learn outside the classroom

Marion, Kentucky (May 18, 2022) - As part of AT&T’s $10 million commitment to helping our nation’s most at-risk children, the company and national nonprofit Connected Nation (CN) partnered last year to deliver hotspots to 150 schools and nonprofits across the country, providing connectivity for more than 40,000 vulnerable students. 


The Crittenden County School District, located in Marion, Ky., is one of the districts that received the hotspots thanks to the AT&T Homework Gap program.


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“Our district is in a rural area in western Kentucky, and internet access is always a challenge,” said Tonya Driver, Assistant Superintendent for Crittenden County Schools. “The hotspots have allowed uninterrupted learning and connectivity for our students during a time when they couldn't physically be in the classroom.”


Thanks to these new internet connections, Crittenden County students are now able to fully participate in classroom activities, complete homework, and communicate with their teachers and fellow students from anywhere. 


“We are very grateful to be a part of this grant and are thankful for the opportunities it has afforded our students who may otherwise have struggled with internet access,” said Driver.


Through this initiative, AT&T and Connected Nation are focused on providing access primarily for students in the following groups: students in foster care and those who are experiencing homelessness, students who are learning English as a second language, students with disabilities, those eligible for the Migrant Education Program, and other at-risk students who may be disconnected from traditional education opportunities.


To learn more about the AT&T Homework Gap program and see the full list of awardees, head over to https://connectednation.org/homeworkgap/ 


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About Connected Nation: Connected Nation is celebrating 20 years of service in 2021.Its mission is to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand access to and increase the adoption and use of broadband (high-speed internet) and its related technologies for all people. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation.


The national nonprofit works with consumers, local community leaders, states, technology providers, and foundations to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered on a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. For more information, please visit: connectednation.org and follow Connected Nation on Facebook and Twitter.