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As a nation and as an educational community, we are truly in this together as we respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This partnership allows us to come together with other states to leverage buying power and deliver connectivity solutions for our students.
— Richard Woods, Georgia State School Superintendent
Challenge
- As the 2020-21 academic year approached, schools in 11 states needed a quick way to enable distance learning
- The solution needed to help eliminate the digital divide that occurs when some students have Wi-Fi to access remote learning and others do not
- Thousands of Wi-Fi hotspots had to be distributed before the school year started
Solution
- The Georgia Sponsor State Distance Learning Initiative with Verizon provides discounted service plans for up to 12.5 million students in 11 states; school districts pay with funds from the federal Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act
- Service plans include unlimited 4G LTE Internet access, Mobile Device Management (MDM) and applications that promote compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
- Students who need them receive 4G LTE wireless connectivity devices with an unlimited data plan
Outcome
- Students can participate in remote learning regardless of whether they have a broadband internet connection at home
- School districts have the flexibility to order devices on their own schedules; once inventory is confirmed, Verizon delivers devices in three to five days
- Schools can switch from in-class learning to remote as needed
- Schools are covered in 11 states: Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia
3-5 days
Delivery time for 4G LTE wireless connectivity devices once inventory is confirmed
12.5 M
Number of K-12 public school students in 11 states that could be covered by the agreement
How we built the solution