But it’s been a difficult transition. CPS hadn’t made hotspots available to students, citing a limited supply. About 10:20 p.m. a 55-year-old driver of a Toyota SUV was driving on Fullerton Avenue when she crashed into a Ford Focus in the 2600 block of West Fullerton Avenue. “This access, I think, is a game-changer because it will allow us to have other modes of communication with families.”. Now the city has secured 12,000 devices that provide high-speed internet, officials announced Thursday. CPS Energy has several smart, easy ways to help you save energy and money and become more energy efficient - for both residential and commercial customers.. WiFi Thermostat Rewards Choose an energy-saving device to help you save money year round “This effort makes the difference between having an education and not. “I applaud all of CPS leadership and staff for moving mountains to ensure each of our students has access to the tools they need to continue to learn and achieve with their classmates despite the unprecedented challenges this crisis brings,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a news release. Bruce Rauner. We follow the stories and update you as they develop. Free high-speed internet. And really more than that, it’s about empowering families. CPS spent $2.5 million to buy 11,200 of the devices, which include four months of free internet service. The mayor’s office cited census data showing roughly 100,000 Chicago students coming from low-income families still lack reliable high-speed internet access. Last month, Mayor Lori Lightfoot demanded Chicago internet providers stop “putting profits over people” and bridge the digital divide that has made remote learning difficult at CPS. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. The announcement comes after CPS already distributed more than 125,000 digital devices and thousands of internet hot spots to students, according to district CEO Janice Jackson, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down school buildings and made remote learning necessary. But whether they’re at home or in the classroom, Lightfoot said the improvements promised through “Chicago Connected” will help students learn in the fall. More than 100,000 Chicago Public Schools students will soon have free access to broadband internet through a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at helping the kids and families who are most in need in the city. Know about breaking news as it happens. The Hyde Park- and Evanston-based schools both ranked in the top 25 nationwide. External companies and their service options are not affiliated with CPS. See the latest data, Maps and Data: Tracking the impact of Coronavirus in Illinois and Chicago, The most important news about the COVID-19 outbreak in Illinois, Subscribe to our free daily Coronavirus newsletter, Matt Nagy: Flag on Jaylon Johnson was a ‘close one’, Menu planner: Your budget and your palate will like cheesy lentils and rice, Two women killed, man injured, in vehicle crash in Logan Square: police, COPA releases video, audio in 3 incidents of off-duty officers firing at suspects, 1 dead, 1 injured in Gresham crash: police, UChicago, Northwestern earn top marks in 2021 best global universities rankings. Speakers discuss the five-year vision for the future of CPS at a Town Hall at Michele Clark High School. It’s saying to them that you matter.”. Staff Find resources, links, services, applications, policies, and other useful staff information. Here are some main dishes and sides to try. https://t.co/9lWwFIZtwG pic.twitter.com/txcZSjKDnN, — Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) June 25, 2020. “With ongoing access, every student and their family — regardless of economic circumstance — will be better positioned to pursue a brighter future,” Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel, was quoted as saying in a press release. Lightfoot has said she hopes to open school on time this fall with in-classroom learning, a goal Gov. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. CPS hadn’t made hotspots available to students, citing a limited supply. CPS was also unable to contact more than 2,000 students during this period. Their households will get just that for four years; students’ eligibility will depend on whether they are covered by one or more “priority indicators”: eligible for free lunch; having special needs; experiencing homelessness; or living in communities with the highest hardship. No injuries were reported in the shootings. Jackson said “Chicago Connected” will help solve that problem by giving the district more avenues to try and reach families. We follow the stories and update you as they develop. 100,000 @chipubschools students. James Redford was an environmental activist and a philanthropist, as well as a documentary filmmaker. Chicago Connected is a groundbreaking program that will provide free high-speed internet service to approximately 100,000 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students. Students enrolled in summer school will also get priority. James Redford was an environmental activist and a philanthropist, as well as a documentary filmmaker. City Hall will round out the first two years of funding by contributing $5 million in federal stimulus funds. At today’s event, youth were recognized with certificates of completion and other awards for their hard work and dedication to the program throughout the summer. Though companies like Comcast are now offering free internet to low-income families for a limited time, many families are unaware of those resources or had other barriers to registering for the service. “While we remain fully committed to making every possible effort to getting students back in the classroom this fall, we also need to be realistic,” Lightfoot said Thursday. Thinking ahead to your next few meals? Movers and shakers fearful that Chicago could take a sharp turn to the political left and increase business taxes joined Griffin in filling Daley’s campaign coffers. Sign up for our morning newsletter to get all of our stories delivered to your mailbox each weekday. The city has secured 12,000 devices that provide high-speed internet, officials announced Thursday. More than 100,000 Chicago Public Schools students will soon have free access to broadband internet through a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at helping the kids and families who are most in need in the city. Similar investments are being made statewide, as Pritzker on Wednesday announced what he called the state’s largest-ever broadband expansion initiative – a $115 million program that’s aiming to expand internet access for more than 26,000 homes, businesses, farms, and community institutions across Illinois. Now, she’s turning to hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin and some of Chicago’s most powerful philanthropies to solve a vexing, persistent problem in the city’s most impoverished South and West Side neighborhoods.