Hotspot buses bring internet to under-connected students

To improve internet access during remote learning, Austin ISD partnered with the local housing authority to identify locations where students were under connected. Buses equipped with hotspots were then parked in strategic locations across the city to improve connectivity.

The pandemic shed new light on the lack of sufficient internet access for many families across the country. In Austin, TX, the school district recognized early on the impact that the digital access gap was having on students in remote learning. District leaders at Austin ISD turned to the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) to quickly surface and implement solutions.

Approach

In partnering with HACA, Austin ISD was able to identify high-priority locations around the city where students were under-connected. The district then outfitted school buses with hot spots and hired bus drivers to park them each day in those high-priority locations.

The unique partnership made remote learning possible for thousands of students across the city who otherwise would be left behind.

For another example from a different district, check out how Lindsay Unified in California implemented a community Wi-Fi program.

This strategy is a part of TLA’s Hop, Skip, Leapfrog release, which explores the concrete ways in which schools and systems pursued student-centered innovation during COVID-19. Explore the full guide to find additional strategies, insights, and resources.