AT&T is contributing $100,000 to Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) to help California families with the transition to distance learning during the COVID-19 crisis.
The contribution is part of AT&T’s Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund to give parents, students and teachers tools they need. The fund also provides resources to maintain meaningful connections and bonding opportunities for those isolated from family and friends.
“Now more than ever before, connecting people with the resources they need to maintain a sense of normalcy is paramount.”
Christine Moore – External Affairs Director, AT&T California
“Our community is grappling with an unprecedented challenge,” said Christine Moore, Director-External Affairs, AT&T California. “Now more than ever before, connecting people with the resources they need to maintain a sense of normalcy is paramount. For students and teachers, that means creating the best digital learning environment.”
Established in 1987, PIQE is a national organization with evidence-based programs that empower and transform parents to actively engage in their children’s education and strengthen parent-school-community collaboration. PIQE serves the highest need families and partners with more than 100 school districts in California, including serving thousands of parents in the San Diego County.
“Our parents are shouldering a great burden as they deal with the challenges of isolation, economic hardships, as well as their children’s distance learning when there is limited or an absence of tools and skills to navigate new digital platforms,” said Gloria Corral, President and CEO, PIQE. “We are thrilled to have the support of AT&T. This investment will allow us to continue our ability to support our families in their home language with online connectivity and navigation, bridge them to needed resources, transition to distance learning, and continuing building strong family school relationships.”
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, AT&T is also donating 300 tablet devices to PIQE to assist in their efforts in helping families stay engaged during distance learning and empowering and transforming families to ensure their children achieve their full potential. PIQE will be distributing the tablets to local students, including students who attend school in the San Ysidro School District, which serves 4,500 students, with a large majority from underserved areas.
“Our San Ysidro school community extends a heartfelt thank you to PIQE and AT&T for their support of our students,” said Dr. Gina A. Potter, Superintendent of San Ysidro School District. “We sincerely appreciate and value our collaboration with PIQE and the programs that they provide for our parents and families. ‘Together or Juntos,’ we will help our community make it through this difficult time.”
As circumstances surrounding COVID-19 change daily, AT&T continues to work alongside families, educators and community leaders to understand the challenges they will face in the days and weeks to come. To learn about additional tools and resources available nationwide through the Fund visit our site.
For parents and caregivers, we know this time has brought a multitude of new and unexpected challenges. And we also know the need for broadband connectivity has never been greater. For that reason, we have several initiatives to help keep students connected and continuing their education:
- We are committed to making home internet affordable with our Access from AT&T Program. This program provides home internet access at $10 a month for limited income households. We’ve also increased eligibility to households participating in the National School Lunch Program and Head Start.
- To further support education initiatives across the country, AT&T is contributing more than $1 million to teacher-focused organizations as they gear up for back to school. Contributions will support Teach for America, Breakthrough Collaborative, ISTE’s Summer Learning Academy and Alliance for Excellent Education.
- AT&T is also matching donations (up to $250,000 total) to special needs distance learning projects posted from low-income school districts to DonorsChoose, a nonprofit crowdfunding platform allows public school teachers to request support for resources.
