As schools across the State will remain closed and continue to hold classes online because of the COVID-19 pandemic, State representative Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, encourages students without access to the internet to utilize free drive-up Wi-Fi hotspots to do school work.
“E-learning is necessary to educate our students while schools are closed to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but it may come with several challenges for many students and families as they adjust to this new type of schooling,” said Hernandez. “While this disruption is affecting all students, this transition is a problem for students who do not have access to the necessary resources to succeed, like reliable Wi-Fi for e-learning.”
Hernandez highlights a new online Wi-Fi hotspot map recently released by governor J.B. Pritzker which allows students to find nearby Wi-Fi access to use when participating in e-learning classes, doing homework and other online school activities. Hernandez is highlighting a library in the district offering free drive-up Wi-Fi, the Messenger Public Library, at 113 Oak Street in North Aurora. Students, parents, and guardians are asked to continue practicing social distancing by staying in their cars when at these hotspot locations and to only use it for school-related purposes. The list for all Wi-Fi hotspots in the state can be found at: coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/resources-for-families-and-children.
“There is a lot to be done to address inequities in resources and the ability for students to access them, especially right now during this pandemic” said Hernandez. “These free Wi-Fi hotspots are a great step in giving more access to students in our community, and I encourage families in need to utilize them.”
—State representative Barbara Hernandez