Helping parents use the internet as a homework tool

Keyla Enamorado has a daughter in elementary school, and she knows that for a seamless transition from learning in the classroom to studying at home, she must provide her first-grader with a reliable internet connection, even while money is tight. 

“Sometimes it's hard for us to pay because we have to cover other bills before the internet,” Enamorado said. “It’s pricey, but it's essential because my daughter needs it for homework.”

Luckily for the Montrose resident, the Glendale Unified School District allows parents to check out Chromebook laptops for their kids, which takes a portion of the financial burden off of already-struggling families. While not having to pay for a device is a relief, Enamorado remembers the times when cost-free internet was offered to her in light of the pandemic when Google partnered with California legislators to provide 100,000 free WiFi hotspots to low-income households in order to bridge the digital divide. 

“[The hotspot] was really reliable for us and it helped a lot,” Enamorado said. “I had to get Spectrum Internet since it was the only one offered in my area. They offered me a discounted promotion for one year and I applied for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) so I was only paying $40 a month at first but now it’s $75 even with ACP since the Spectrum promotion ended.”

Discounted internet for those who qualify

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the ACP on Dec. 31, 2021 which replaced the previous Emergency Broadband Benefit Program that offered similar assistance at higher rates for those living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The assistance program is a lifeline for those eligible, with more than 20 million households enrolled across the country according to the FCC.

Parent Engagement Academy 

While benefits are open to those who qualify, many Latinos—especially those with a language barrier—are unaware of the program or lack knowledge of available resources in general. María Elena Meraz, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Parent Engagement Academy (PEA), knows firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate the system. As an immigrant who grew up in Culiacán, Mexico, she came to the United States in 1990 in search of better healthcare for her son with an orthopedic disability. 

When the doctors mapped out the treatment, Meraz knew that she had to stay in the States and adapt to her environment, even though she didn’t speak English. With an education from Tecnológico de Monterrey and Escuela Libre de Derecho de Sinaloa in Mexico, Meraz had to start from scratch in the U.S., enrolling herself in ESL and computer information classes at Rio Hondo College in Whittier. 

“That was a complicated transition for me, so I totally understand the families that we serve,” Meraz said. “Many of them are immigrants who speak little to no English, have limited access to resources and don't understand the system in this country.”

She had no choice but to get involved in her son’s education, investing a huge portion of her time as a volunteer at the school to make sure he received attentive care throughout early childhood intervention. Her journey influenced a career in serving others. With decades of experience, PEA serves 20,000 families across Southern California through partnerships with 16 school districts in Los Angeles County, Ventura and Santa Barbara. 

The nonprofit offers five-week training programs that help parents understand the school system and also make them aware of programs like the ACP in hopes of influencing higher education.

Internet is a necessity today

In her years of interacting with parents—especially when jobs and schools went remote—Meraz noticed a pattern across many of the Latino families she served — not everyone has home internet. Some of those who did were previously stuck in a contract with their internet service provider (ISP), not realizing that their rates would increase before the end of their term. This was the case for Sergio Lanza, recent alumni of PEA’s five-week training program who was bound to a three-year contract with his ISP. 

After skimming over the fine print, Lanza didn’t realize his discounted-promotional rate was only valid for the first six months of the contract. With a phone, internet and cable bundle, Lanza told CALÓ NEWS he was paying $160 at the start of the agreement. When his bill was bumped up an additional $90 per month, he realized how expensive internet bundles can become. To his discontent, Lanza knew that although he didn’t like the bill, he needed home internet as someone who works from home. 

Luckily for him, Lanza’s employer now pays him a $60 per month internet allowance which relieves some of the burden. He believes there should be more programs like ACP that allow for discounted internet. 

“I think internet access should be a right because we want to bridge the gap for low-income families,” Lanza said. “It’s essential for living today. People do everything through the internet, even making doctor's appointments.” 

Lanza and his wife found PEA through their daughter’s school and after attending the workshops, he feels that he has learned a lot about the education system and how to prepare his daughter for college.  

“It's such a nice resource for parents,” Lanza said. “I think workshops like these are vital. As a very busy parent, I used to think I could rely entirely on teachers to guide my daughter in her education.”

Now with a changed perspective, Lanza realizes that he must actively be an advocate in his daughter’s education and personal development. This is the exact response Meraz and her team hope to get out of the parents they interact with. 

“When they change their beliefs about education, they also change their behaviors and that's what we want to accomplish at the end of the day,” Meraz said.