Wifi to use at home?
I have a family in the McKinney-Vento program. She only has a wifi phone issued through a local homeless shelter. She will be moving into her own apartment within the week, but will not have the funds to pay for wifi. Can we offer a wifi device that they can use while in the program? The phone is her only way to communicate via email, district eblast, ParentSquare, and to make and receive phone calls.
Important
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The district can provide a Wi-Fi hotspot or device if it is determined that the lack of internet is a barrier to the student’s academic success or the parent’s ability to engage with the school.
Since the district uses digital platforms like ParentSquare and email for essential communication (attendance, grades, teacher updates), a lack of Wi-Fi directly hinders the student’s educational support system.
Even though she is moving into permanent housing next week, she remains eligible for McKinney-Vento services through the end of the school year. I’d recommend checking if your district has Title I, Part A set-aside funds or available hotspots from the technology department to bridge this gap. Just be sure to document that the device is specifically to ensure ‘equitable access to educational communication’ for the student.