MCSD has received the following information from the State Education Department to share with our families about the Affordable Connectivity Program:
“As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the President and Congress created the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households up to $30/month (or $75/month for households living on Tribal lands) toward their internet bills, as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet.
All households with a child who was approved to receive free or reduced price school meals under the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, within the last 12 months, including children who attend schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, are eligible for ACP benefits. Households are also independently eligible if (1) their income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level ($55,500 for a family of four); or (2) a member of the household participates in certain other Federal benefit programs—including, among others, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Medicaid, and Federal Public Housing Assistance.
To further lower costs, the Biden-Harris Administration secured commitments from internet service providers across the country to offer high-speed plans that are fully covered by the ACP. As a result, millions of working families can now get high-speed internet without paying a dime.
Families can check their eligibility, sign up, and find fully covered plans at GetInternet.gov (mobile-accessible and available in Spanish) or by calling 877-384-2575.
About 13 million households have enrolled, but tens of millions more have not yet claimed their ACP benefit.
Please feel free to use the following resources:
- GetInternet.gov — a one-stop shop to learn about ACP, check eligibility, enroll, and find fully covered internet plans.
- ACP Outreach Toolkit — outreach materials from the Federal Communications Commission, including sample factsheets, flyers, PSAs, text messages, social media posts, and more.
- White House Fact Sheet on the ACP and its benefits.
Additionally, please note that this benefit is not considered income for purposes of determining eligibility for free and reduced price school meals.”
For questions about the free and reduced price meals program, please contact Lindsay Van Auken at Vanauken.lindsay@mayfieldcsd.org.