File photo
File photo
Wi-Fi hotspots are available throughout Illinois for students who don't have access to internet in their homes.
State agencies are supplying internet to students so they will be able to complete online learning, according to the Gazette-Democrat. In Union County, several areas offer hotspots for students: Stinson Memorial Library District, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and Shawnee Community College.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Innovation and Technology, the Office of the Secretary of State, Illinois State Library, and the Illinois Community College Board all participated in the effort to bring students Wi-Fi, according to the news agency.
“The Illinois Board of Higher Education embarked on a collaborative project to identify public locations across the state where students could tap into free internet access,” Illinois Board of Higher Education Executive Director Ginger Ostro told the Gazette-Democrat. “It’s key to helping our state’s students to ‘attend’ class, use video and conference calling, conduct research, email assignments and more.”
Illinois Wi-Fi hotspot maps showed 200 areas where students can access internet for their distance learning. When using the hotspots, it's encouraged for students and parents to remain in their cars to social distance from other students using the same hotspots.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the life of every Illinois student but not equally,” Illinois State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala told the Gazette-Democrat. “The transition to remote learning has accelerated our efforts to close the digital divide among Illinois students and families. This map is one way to level the playing field in the short term and to increase access to the tools students and educators need to engage more deeply in remote education.”
Many local colleges and libraries are home to hotspots during this time as well as many other areas throughout the state.
The view the map showing where Illinois hotspots are, click here.
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