Decatur Township Receives T-Mobile Grant

The Dual Language Immersion Pilot Program is in its second year.

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The Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township has been awarded a $700,000 two-year grant from T-Mobile. The wireless provider’s EmpowerED program will give every student in grades 3-8 a personal MiFi hotspot. 

The 3,500 MiFi hotspots will serve as mobile WiFi devices that can connect to a cell network and allow students internet access away from school. The district’s Chief Information Officer Jeff McMahon says the grant opens many possibilities. “The MiFi hotspots will have a huge impact on our students and give them the advantage as we continue to transform our teaching styles and learning approaches to match the 21st Century mindset.”

The school’s curriculum and digital work secured the grant, and since it’s a one-on-one school district, each student is given an iPad to use in the school year, which will allow the students to take full advantage of the technology. The grant compliments the district’s existing CN ePortfolio, which is an online platform that includes student information, to allow the district to focus on digital curriculums. More information on the program can be found here.