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Waco ISD to distribute laptops, iPads and Wi-Fi hotspots for virtual learning

Posted at 2:07 PM, Apr 05, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-05 15:07:19-04

WACO, TX — Waco ISD will begin the next phase of at-home instruction for students this week.

Starting April 6, Waco ISD will start distributing technology to families who need a device and internet access.

“WISD has been surveying families to understand their technology needs,” Waco ISD Superintendent Dr. Susan Kincannon said. “We understand that some of our families don’t have devices or internet access. That’s why our technology team has been working tirelessly over the past two weeks to prepare thousands of devices for distribution to our students. I want to thank them for taking on this huge project and recognize that they did it at the same time they were supporting our employees making the transition to working remotely.”

Families that indicated in the survey that they need a device for their student(s) will be able to pick up technology at their child’s campus.

Elementary campuses will mostly be distributing iPads, and middle and high school campuses will mostly be distributing laptops.

Campuses will also be receiving a limited number of mobile hotspots for families without internet access at home who cannot utilize one of the options at wacoisd.org/freeinternet.

"If your family does have a laptop, tablet, Chromebook or other device at home, we would encourage your student to use that, if possible, because we do not have enough devices to distribute one to every student in Waco ISD," said Superintendent Kincannon.

Specific directions, including how families with multiple students can pick up technology, can be found in Dr. Kincannon’s most recent update at wacoisd.org/covid19, and a complete schedule of device distribution dates and times can be found at wacoisd.org/athome by clicking on technology distribution.

The District will also begin supplementing physical learning materials that families picked up two weeks ago with instructional resources online. The at-home learning section of our COVID-19 website will be updated to include links to activities for each grade level and educational applications.

“I want to thank our curriculum and instruction team for their work to make sure that our students can continue learning while our campuses are closed,” Kincannon said. “They have developed high-quality instructional resources while also ensuring that we are providing additional support tailored to meet the unique needs of students in our special programs.”