Dedicated to supporting educational growth and achievement to improve lives through leadership and education, Love Our Schools is partnering with the Lafayette Parish School System, Pugh Family Foundation, William C. Schumacher Family Foundation, One Acadiana, and many others to address the digital divide in our community, working toward ensuring that all students have access to the internet and are on an equal playing field related to connectivity for academic purposes.
“As educators, we always keep at the forefront of our minds the vital importance of making sure our students have a safe, quality environment conducive for learning and growth; since many of our students will engage in some form of virtual learning for this school year, it is incumbent upon us to do all that we can to help that learning and growth continue and thrive while at home – ensuring internet access for all of our students is a huge step in that direction,” says LPSS Superintendent Irma Trosclair.
Recognizing that the internet and technological devices are no longer luxury items but absolute necessities for all, especially our students, the Lafayette Parish School Board voted to allocate $1.5 million for the provision of internet solutions to students without access as part of a public-private partnership with local philanthropists and businesses. LPSS is offering a free in-home internet assistance program for residents who meet certain qualifications. This service provides academic-filtered internet access for LPSS students only (limited/restrictive access to certain websites) and will be provided through either Cox Communications or LUS Fiber.
Parents/guardians in need of assistance for internet access are encouraged to visit https://www.lpssonline.com/Smarts to fill out and submit the In-home Internet Assistance Application by the deadline of October 30, 2020.
Ryan Domengeaux, CEO of the William C. Schumacher Family Foundation, shared, “In these unprecedented times that are necessitating virtual learning for a significant portion of LPSS students, we are at a defining moment for our community where we should rise up in support of closing the technology accessibility gap that currently exists. Love Our Schools Link & Learn is proud to play a part in helping this dream become a reality.”