NORTH TEXAS – For students like Praise Louis, having access to the internet is crucial.
“We do our schoolwork on the computers,” she said. “Multiplication, division.”
“Very rarely are they coming in with books where you sit down with a paper and pen,” Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County CEO Shawn Wills said.
Wills noted that many students don’t have internet access at home.
“Over 51% of our kids are on free or reduced meals,” she said. “That may not be the top priority if families have to pay for rent and groceries and transportation, so we are very grateful for the partnership that we have with AT&T.”
AT&T’s Connected Learning Center inside the McKinney club is giving students like Praise a safe space to get online.
Three months ago, the Dallas-based company committed to opening 100 Connected Learning Centers across the country by 2027. They’re halfway there.
Each location is equipped with internet and technology supplied by corporate partners. In North Texas, multiple centers are up and running in underserved communities.