Photos by Olivia Ross/Hamilton County Schools
As students and families head back to school, getting connected to no-cost high-speed internet is easier than ever. Now in its fifth year, HCS EdConnect, powered by EPB, connects eligible Hamilton County Schools families at no charge to them.
The Enterprise Center and EPB representatives kicked off the school years at Hamilton County School’s Back 2 School Bash on Saturday, Aug. 2, signing up more than 30 families on the spot. With a new sign-up form in PowerSchool, any eligible family can now register themselves at any time.
Annually, HCS EdConnect provides access to more than 17,000 students, reaching nearly one-third of all Hamilton County School students. More than 10,000 households have benefited over the first four years. Including students and their families, that’s more than 30,000 individuals who’ve gotten online thanks to this one-of-a-kind partnership.
Families are eligible if they qualify for free or reduced lunch, or attend a school where every family receives free or reduced lunch (a CEP school); families are also eligible if they are enrolled in a state economic assistance program, such as SNAP. View free or reduced lunch guidelines here.
How do I get connected to HCS EdConnect?
To register, eligible families simply log in to their child’s PowerSchool Parent Portal, navigate to “Forms” and complete an HCS EdConnect form.
Ongoing collaboration and support on behalf of the program’s partners, including Hamilton County Schools, EPB, and The Enterprise Center, have improved the sign-up and registration process for families.
“HCS EdConnect was a vital service when the program started, and it’s just as important today, connecting students and their families to a world of opportunity,” said Geoff Millener, COO of The Enterprise Center. “Teachers can have the same high expectations for each and every student, knowing they won’t be limited by connectivity. And parents can better support their child and their education, too, with more ways to stay in touch with school. They can schedule doctors appointments, too, and take advantage of telehealth. They can get books or movies from the public library, meal plan and compare prices, enroll in an online class or even apply for a new job . When we say we want the best connected school district, these are the opportunities we’re talking about.”
HCS EdConnect is made possible by public-private partnerships through a funding commitment from City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, the Smart City Venture Fund, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, EPB, Hamilton County Schools The Enterprise Center and private donors.
Ready to get started? Visit the new EdConnect.org for more details.
