Philly students without internet can do remote learning in parking lots, district says

Students who don’t have reliable internet access at home can do their remote learning in parking lots, the School District of Philadelphia (PA) says. “Parking Lot” Wi-Fi is one of the options listed on the distrct website for kids whose households aren’t yet connected. Included along with other free or low-cost alternatives from Comcast, Verizon and T-Mobile, it’s described as “accessible around the exterior of a building such as a school or library — and generally reachable from the facility’s parking lot.” One North Philly special education teacher said parents laughed at her when she suggested it. “You expect me to have my kid sitting in a parking lot with a laptop?” she recalled one parent saying. “In a community where there are high rates of community violence, we’re asking kids to be sitting ducks with pieces of technology that people could steal from them,” the teacher said, noting that 4 of her 25 students currently lack internet at home.

To make remote learning work for everyone, the district has handed out thousands of Chromebooks. Superintendent William Hite said recently that they’ll also distribute wireless hotspots to families that need them — but that hasn’t happened yet. Asked for an update on hotspot distribution, a district spokesperson has not yet provided an answer.