ATLANTA — Sprint and the 1Million Project Foundation announced new investments to support Atlanta area high school students who lack home internet access.
The program has expanded locally from two districts to seven, and nearly doubled the number of Atlanta area student participants to a total of nearly 20,000.
"Far too many students across the country do not having access to the internet when they go home each day from school, leaving them unable to complete homework, conduct research, and apply for jobs and college admission," said Sprint President and CEO Michel Combes.
Doug Michelman, president of the 1Million Project Foundation, said the free device and free internet access will be given "to any high schooler in the Atlanta area who is missing out on the critical connectivity they need to achieve their full potential" with a partnership with 100 Black Men of America.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 24 percent of Atlanta households do not have internet access.
Over the past two school years, the foundation worked with Atlanta Public Schools and DeKalb County Public Schools to connect 11,200 students by providing them the essential digital tools they need to access the Internet virtually anywhere, anytime just as most of their classmates do.
With the expansion announced this week, five new school districts will join the program. Atlanta-area 1Million Project Foundation school districts include (* indicates new participants):
- Atlanta Public Schools
- Bibb County Public Schools*
- Clayton County Public Schools*
- DeKalb County Public Schools
- Fulton County Public Schools*
- Henry County Public Schools*
- Rockdale County Public Schools*
Starting this school year in several Atlanta Metro school districts, 100 Black Men will support the program by providing mentoring to participating students.
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