Hundreds of students' lives will get a lot easier in the Irving Independent School District thanks to a state grant to provide Internet access for students who currently don't have the service at home.
Starting as early as next month, close to 250 students at Barbara Cardwell Career Preparatory Center will be able to check out wireless internet devices.
Teacher John McFarland said students need access to the internet as more classes require online participation.
"All of our teachers are using Project Share, so we use that to post notes, and activities, and lessons," said McFarland.
He hoped the $125,000 state grant will help keep the students better connected.
Sophomore Ruben Meza said not having internet at home also forces him to maximize his hours on campus. "Every day I go through a course where I take 11 classes a day, three of them being online," he said.
"I have to wake up early and 7:30am, and sometimes I can't so I get behind," said senior Vianney Galindo.
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McFarland said the grant will help students progress in their online courses, even while off campus.
"They can catch up on work, they can move ahead, they can get on the internet and research for projects and papers they need to when they run out of time here at school," he said.
The grant program was established by the 82nd Texas Legislature in Senate Bill 6, section 32.201.
Its goal is to ensure that all students, including economically disadvantaged students, have dedicated access to a personal technology device.
