At-home internet access is essential for students to learn, complete homework, and engage in virtual learning. Across New York State, many young students lack the internet service and devices needed to participate in remote learning. The new ConnectED NY program, from Schmidt Futures and the Ford Foundation in partnership with New York State, will provide hotspots and data plans for students in the most economically disadvantaged school districts. Managed by Digital Promise, ConnectED NY is a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED)’s Fall 2020 survey of educational institutions suggests that as many as 166,000 students remain without internet access at home. With $10 million in initial funds, ConnectED NY will provide data-enabled hotspots to approximately 50,000 students.

School districts where the percent of students that are economically disadvantaged exceeds the state average are eligible for this program.

The Riverhead Central School District is partnering with Digital Promise, Connect ED NY and AT&T to provide up to 188 free hotspots to students who do not have good Internet service at home now.

Here is a Flyer to learn more about the Connect ED NY program (English l 11 translations available )

Frequently Asked Questions

If approved, the AT&T hotspots will begin shipping in May 2021. If interested please respond to the survey sent to you via email and phone call on April 12th, 2021. If you did not receive an email or Schoolmessenger phone call and are interested please read below.

How to Apply

In order to qualify, the caregiver will be asked to fill out, sign, and return an application for each student they wish to enroll in the Connect ED NY Program. The signed forms can be returned to the child's school or sent electronically to connectedny@riverhead.net on or before April 19th, 2021. The applications are linked below.

Thank you,

Riverhead Schools Technology Department