Technology -- Remote Learning and Home Wi-Fi

NEED HELP WITH TECHNOLOGY?

If you or your student needs help or guidance with technology, student email addresses or accessing grades, please let us know using the MS 54 Technology Help Form. This form may also be used to request a remote learning device (iPad) for student use at home.

DOES YOUR STUDENT NEED A REMOTE LEARNING DEVICE?

Please help us by filling in our Home Technology Survey so that we know what computer devices you already have at home for your student to complete homework assignments.

If your student needs a school-provided iPad for use at home, please fill in a device request online. You will also need to fill in a Student Device Loan Agreement. The parent/guardian and the student should sign this form, and the student submit it to their homeroom teacher. The Student Device Loan Agreement form is also available in Spanish, Russian and other languages.

NYCPS offers additional information about remote learning devices, available software and device use, care and safety. Note that all devices issued by Booker T. may only be kept by the students through 8th grade or upon transferring out of MS 54. 


FREE MICROSOFT SOFTWARE AND MORE
The DOE provides free Microsoft software to students and families with education-specific content that supports your child's academic improvement.  Go to the Digital Learning page for information about this and other software available to students.

 

REMOTE DEVICES AND HOME WI-FI / LTE Data

LTE Service is available on NYCPS-Owned, LTE-Capable Remote Learning Devices

LTE service should now be activated on NYCPS-owned LTE-capable devices. This service, provided through a mayoral initiative, will help ensure students have reliable internet access outside the classroom. For most students, this service will be turned on automatically with no assistance required from Booker T. technology support. If your student needs LTE data service, please check their devices to see that the LTE feature is active. If it is not working, the student should bring the device into school to have it checked out and/or swapped.

OTHER HOME WI-FI OPTIONS
NYC's Office of Technology and Innovation officially launched Big Apple Connect to ensure that NYCHA residents have access to free, fast, reliable, and safe internet. NYCHA residents without existing home internet will be able to sign up for Big Apple Connect with either Optimum or Spectrum (service provider will depend on where you live). Existing Optimum and Spectrum customers will have their bills reduced to as low as $0, as monthly internet and basic cable TV charges are eliminated.
Learn more about this program.

There are several free or low-cost internet options available to New York City students and families.

T-Mobile’s Project 10Million
T-Mobile is proud to partner with the NYC DOE in joint efforts to continue to eliminate the Digital Divide in New York City. T-Mobile has a robust program, Project 10Million, that they are offering to all families who lack consistent internet connectivity at home for their K12 students, and qualify for free-reduced lunch, SNAP, or EBT benefits. Please navigate to https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/project-10-million, click on “Apply now,” and fill out a brief form to receive a free 4G wireless hotspot device with 100GB of high speed data, free, annually for five years.

If you need to find your student’s school to complete the form, please enter “NYC” in the School District box on the form. This will display four options. Please select ‘ NYC Chancellor’s Office #NY-300000010000’ . You should then be able to locate the correct school in the School Name dropdown box by typing the first few letters of the school name. If the school is not listed for some reason, you can select ‘I do not see my school listed…’ and continue with the application process.

For more information on this project, please go to: DTC Flyer – English or DTC Flyer - Español. Any questions regarding delivery or support of the items should be directed T-Mobile. If you have any issues in signing up the direct number for support is 1-877-775-1066.

Free Internet for Your Home
The following internet carriers are offering free household Wi-Fi or special accommodations for 60 days:

Comcast
Charter Communications/Spectrum
Altice

Learn more about the above at NYC.gov.

Free Internet Locations in NYC
​There are many places across the city where you can go to connect to internet for free. Locations include:

Low-Cost Internet Plans
The following internet plans are available to eligible participants. Eligibility varies by provider. Contact the provider for more information.

Optimum (also known as Altice)
Altice offers Optimum Advantage, plans that start at $15/month. To qualify, you must be:

  • eligible for--or participate in--the National School Lunch Program (NSLP); or
  • a New York City resident who attends a New York City public school; or
  • eligible for--or receive--Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and 65 years of age or older; or
  • a veteran and receive state or federal public assistance.

Spectrum (also known as Charter)
Charter offers Spectrum Internet Assist, a plan that starts at $25/month. To qualify, one or more members of your household must be a recipient of one of the following assistance programs:

  • National School Lunch Program (NSLP) 
  • Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP 
  • Supplemental Security Income (for applicants age 65+ only) 

Verizon
Verizon offers the Lifeline program, home and Fios plans that starts at $19.99/month. To qualify:

  • Your annual income is at 135% or less than of the U.S. federal poverty guidelines
  • You, or someone in your household, participates in a qualifying benefits from:
    • Medicaid, SSI, SNAP, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension, Veterans Survivors Benefit or one of the 4 tribal programs, you need to return the Lifeline application and official documents as proof. 
    • The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or National School Lunch Program’s free school lunch, you need to call 1 800 VERIZON 1.800.837.4966 and request a New York State Program Lifeline application. After you complete the application, you’ll need to return it with official documentation to the Verizon address on the application.  See below for the full list of accepted documents. Do not send original documents, as they will not be returned.

For more eligibility information, visit Lifelinesupport.org

Wi-Fi Hotspots for Existing Cable Customers
​As an extension of their internet service, the providers listed below enable each other's high-speed internet customers to access up to 500,000 nationwide WiFi hotspots through the network name CableWiFi:

  • Cox
  • Optimum
  • Spectrum
  • Xfinity

Learn more at cablewifi.com

For the latest information, go to to the Internet Options page at schools.nyc.gov