October 18, 2017
For Immediate Release
CONTACT:
Office of Communications
301-952-6001
communications@pgcps.org
Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) and Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced that nearly 3,000 high school students will receive the equipment and connectivity they need to complete their schoolwork from home as part of the 1Million Project.
The 2017-2018 school year marks the first year of the initiative with more 180,000 students in 1,300 schools across 30 states. Every year over the next five years, hundreds of thousands of high schoolers who lack internet access at home will join and benefit from the 1Million Project. The ambitious goal is to connect one million students in that time to help level the playing field and help eliminate the “Homework Gap.”
“Having access to technology can be the bridge to academic success for many high school students,” said Brian Hedlund, Sprint President for the D.C., Maryland and Virginia Region. “Our goal with the 1Million Project is to help close the homework gap that exists for many youth in PG County. We expect that these devices and internet service will help to provide academic opportunities that extend well beyond their classroom doors.”
Each student participating in the 1Million Project will receive either a free smartphone, tablet, or hotspot device and 3GB of high-speed LTE data per month for up to four years while they are in high school. Unlimited data is available at 2G speeds if usage exceeds 3GB in a month. Those who receive a smartphone can use it as a hotspot.
"We are grateful that Sprint recognizes the power of opportunity in helping students reach their full potential—and we are appreciative of this opportunity and its potential to support our students," said PGCPS CEO Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell.
The 1Million Project will distribute devices and provide service to eligible students at the following PGCPS High Schools:
About Sprint:
Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served 59.7 million connections as of March 31, 2017 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to- talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the past five years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
1 The Pew Research Center (http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/20/the- numbers-behind- the-broadband-homework-gap/)
2 Cash donations for the 1Million Project are tax-deductible charitable contributions to the Sprint Foundation.
3 Device donations are not tax deductible. Net proceeds from reselling/recycling donated devices or $1 per device, whichever is greater, will be donated to the program.
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