The internet is more important than ever: It is how almost all of us are connecting with our friends and family, it is how most of us are getting our work done - And for students about to return to school, the internet will be the portal to learning. In households without good internet access or enough internet-connected devices, the door to school will be closed for many kids. Internet access is an educational justice issue.
The communities Land to Learn serves are primarily students of color who come from economically-disadvantaged families, and their families have been hit hard by both the health and the economic effects of the pandemic. Newburgh, where the majority of our students live, faced not only per-capita infection rates five times higher than New York City’s at the two cities’ respective peaks but also soaring unemployment that has exacerbated the city’s already-existing poverty. Meanwhile, we watched students struggle to transition to virtual learning, as their parents worked hard to adapt to being homeschool teachers as they fought to keep their job or seek out a new one.
Land to Learn learned to shift our programming to deliver our curriculum virtually, creating videos and joining virtual classrooms to deliver our garden lessons, teaching students to connect with nature and gardening in safe and accessible ways (even if they are just in their own kitchen or backyard). Last spring, teachers gave our educators very supportive feedback about how much students appreciated Land to Learn’s efforts to connect with students online and eased the burden of remote learning. We will be learning how to offer lessons to in-person and online students this fall.
However, many of our students have still struggled with access to remote learning. The pandemic has highlighted inequalities in access to technology and educational resources. In Newburgh, for instance, only 62% of households have high-speed internet and an internet-connective device. Given that this fall will involve online learning in various forms, our students need support to ensure that they are able to keep up with their classmates.
What are each of the districts in which we work doing to help students connect online?
The Newburgh school district is starting with online-only instruction, with plans to phase into a hybrid of in-person and online learning over the course of the semester. The district is seeking funding for internet-connected devices for students in grades pre-K through 1st grade (i.e. the majority of our students). They hope to be able to purchase and distribute these a.s.a.p. but aren’t yet certain on the timeline. All students in grades 2-12 who need a device can receive a device from the district. All families who need a WiFi hotspot can have one per household.
Newburgh student internet access help:
Call the District’s Technology department: 845-568-6542
Submit a helpdesk request here
The Kingston school district will also be starting entirely online, and after 5 weeks (health permitting) will shift to a hybrid online/in-person model championing in-person learning for younger students (including Land to Learn’s K-2nd grade students) and those with special learning needs. The district will make Chromebooks available to any students who need them. For families on the Free/Reduced Lunch Program in need of internet service, Spectrum is offering assistance: info here, or go to SpectrumInternetAssist.com.
Kingston student internet access help:
Call tech support: 845-943-3020, Option 1
The Beacon school district is doing a hybrid in-person and online education system, including the option for all families to opt into online-only instruction. The district had already purchased internet-connected devices for each student prior to Covid19. There are wifi hotspots available to students outside of the High School building, and more options are available if you contact the district.
Beacon student internet access help:
Call the Superintendent’s office: 845-838-6900 x2033
Email the IT help desk: help@beaconk12.org
The Garrison school district is small enough to be returning entirely in person this fall, with the option to opt for online-only education. As nearly 100% of Garrison households have home broadband access and devices, internet connectivity is less of a concern for students’ outcomes there.
Garrison student learning help:
Contact Ms. Dusti Callo, Secretary to the Superintendent/District Clerk: 845-424-3689 Ext. 224 or dcallo@gufs.org
What can you do to help affect change on this issue?
1) Direct any sources of major funding you may know of to the Newburgh school district to purchase internet-connectable learning devices (like Chromebooks) for all pre-K through 1st grade students. This is time-sensitive.
2) Support municipal broadband efforts
While wifi hotspots can serve as bandaids, municipal broadband is the sustainable community-level solution to providing internet access as part of our essential public infrastructure, like roads and water pipes. Contact your local City Council representative and/or Mutual Aid group to learn what efforts are being made in your community regarding municipal broadband - Nearly every spot in the Hudson Valley is making strides towards this goal either through grassroots efforts or official channels.
3) Support the proposed federal bill H.R. 865, aka the Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act
This bill is crucial to allocate federal funds to states for school improvements and expand school access to high-speed broadband to ensure our students can connect to the reliable and high-speed Internet access they need for digital learning. H. R. 865 would also ensure no teachers are laid off. This bill would be hugely beneficial to our district, and help to make sure that many students are not left behind in the midst of this crisis.
Contact your representative today and encourage them to support HR 865 and pass it a.s.a.p.! (Find your federal House of Representatives member here.)
We are glad to live in a region where so many people are working together to help each other out, and help our kids thrive as best we can. Thank you for being a partner in supporting children’s education and health throughout this unprecedented time!