AT&T Connected Learning Program Commits $3M to Khan Academy
The AT&T Connected Learning Program Commits $3M to Khan Academy Education Content, Plus Provides Free Hot Spots for Students
What’s the news? As part of our commitment to bridge the digital divide and narrow the homework gap, AT&T will provide $3 million to Khan Academy to support personalized student learning, including free virtual summer camps for students in preschool through twelfth grade.
This is part of the AT&T Connected Learning program, which was announced in April with a companywide $2 billion, 3-year commitment to bridge the digital divide. The program aims to help stem learning loss, narrow the homework gap, and deliver high quality learning experiences anywhere today’s connected students learn.
“Millions of students have struggled to keep up with learning this year because of the pandemic – a challenge felt most acutely amongst our most vulnerable students in underserved rural and urban communities,” said Charlene Lake, senior vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility, AT&T. “We are proud to collaborate with Khan Academy to provide students and teachers with free online education resources that help them catch up from the past school year and stay engaged in learning this summer.”
Why is this important?
Summer learning has always been an important way for kids to stay engaged and prepare for the next school year. This year it’s even more important.
According to a recent Morning Consult survey conducted on behalf of AT&T, one fifth of parents and more than a quarter of teachers report children will need to continue learning this summer to be ready for the next grade level.
Additionally, according to the AT&T Future of School survey, 78% of teachers and 84% of parents are in favor of virtual tutoring sessions or enrichment programs.
Connectivity is vital to ensuring students have access to these virtual summer learning opportunities. We’ve provided 10,000 students with free hotspots and internet through our Connected Nation collaboration, and we’re on track to connect 35,000 students with connectivity before the fall. We also raised $175,000 during the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament on the PGA Tour. Those funds will go towards providing more students with hotspots and free internet.
Read more from educators on the homework gap and how hotspots have helped get their students back on track.
In addition, AT&T is helping to make broadband more affordable for the millions of eligible households who need it most. Families can sign up for discounted connectivity through the $10/month Access from AT&T broadband offering or can get temporary discounts on internet through AT&T’s participation in the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) fund, administered by the Federal Communications Commission.
How will Khan Academy and AT&T deliver summer learning?
- As the lead supporter of Camp Khan, we are helping to provide a free 30-day math challenge for children in third through 12th grade.
- We’re also supporting Camp Khan Kids, a free, self-paced virtual summer learning program for children ages 2–8. The camp guides parents and children in a playful educational journey using the Khan Academy Kids app.
- Our commitment also supports free, self-paced education courses covering K-12 math, grammar, science, history, AP®, SAT®, and more.
What are people saying?
“The pandemic brought the inequities of education into sharp focus,” said Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy. “We’re grateful for AT&T’s continued support during this critical time. With AT&T’s help, more students will be able to access our free learning resources this summer as we all begin the journey to recovery.”
“When the pandemic hit in Los Angeles last year, our kids were left behind at school and couldn’t participate in distance learning because most of their families were already dealing with the digital divide and couldn’t afford quality home internet,” said Emma Hernandez, executive director, Southeast Community Development Corporation. “Because of the work of AT&T and Connected Nation, we’ve received 500 hotspots that will be very valuable to our students, some of which are in foster care or English learners, providing them a free year of internet to participate in online learning from home and catch up on learning loss this summer.”
“At Hmong American Peace Academy, we serve just under 2,000 students that live at or below the poverty line as well as many who are English learners. The 400 AT&T hotspots provided by Connected Nation means our students will be able to use high speed internet to participate in our virtual learning programs this summer and will help them complete homework from home,” said Luke McAvoy, operations director, Hmong American Peace Academy.
