The La Crosse Public Education Foundation has approved a $3,000 grant to the School District of La Crosse to help students get wireless internet access away from school.

The District provides equal opportunity for students with its 1:1 technology initiative – laptops for high school students and iPads for students in grades 5-8. But about 30% of students do not have wireless internet access at home. To provide equity, the District is planning to offer wireless hotspots for students to check out. The mobile devices have content filtering so inappropriate content cannot be accessed, just as students are limited when at school.

The LPEF grant, along with $525 raised thus far from the community, will support at least 10 hotspots. Each device will cost about $350 per school year – and the District estimates a need for nearly 100 (20 per high school, 10 per middle school and 3 per elementary school).

For more information on how to help, contact LPEF Executive Director David Stoeffler at (608) 787-0226 or via email: david@lacrosseeducationfoundation.org