Helping School Districts Keep Students Connected

Students across the country are experiencing a school year unlike any other, and with some going back to school in person, others learning remotely and some using a more hybrid model, access to technology is vital for millions of students. But many face barriers connecting to the internet, making it difficult to attend online classes and complete schoolwork. 

To help address the lack of internet connectivity faced by some student households, we have teamed up with NCTA and EducationSuperHighway on the K-12 Bridge to Broadband Initiative, which is working to close the home connectivity gap. The K-12 Bridge to Broadband Initiative aims to break the barriers students and families face by establishing a partnership that facilitates providers like Charter to work directly with school districts in our footprint to assist them in offering high-speed broadband internet access to students, educators, and staff in their homes. Charter’s offering, called Stay Connected K-12, also maximizes flexibility for districts, allowing them to add students to the program when needed, with no minimum term commitment on any of the connections. 

“Through Stay Connected K-12, the Spectrum Enterprise team is providing the high-quality connectivity students, teachers and staff need to have a successful educational experience. The turnkey solution is easy for school administrators to put into place, freeing them to maximize their focus on learning and student achievement.”

Charter is already connecting thousands of students and educators through Stay Connected K-12 agreements throughout its 41-state footprint, including the Menasha Joint School District in Menasha, Wisconsin.

“Every child possesses unique talents and skills, which is why we pride ourselves in providing personalized learning opportunities for our students and families. We’re relying on the Stay Connected K-12 program to help us continue to meet the high expectations of our community even when the classroom is online.”

Charter’s participation in the K-12 Bridge to Broadband augments our ongoing support for students, school systems, and families during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has included connecting approximately 450,000 students, teachers, and their families to broadband service for 60 days at no cost; protecting from disconnection 700,000 customers who indicated economic hardship due to COVID-19; and forgiving $85 million in customers’ overdue balances.