Chicago Extends Free Home Internet for CPS Students

Chicago’s mayor’s office announced on Friday that the city’s free‑home‑internet effort – Chicago Connected – will stay alive a little longer, meaning more than 28,000 public‑school students won’t lose the broadband they’ve come to rely on.

The program, which first rolled out in the thick of the pandemic in 2020, was meant to be a stop‑gap while schools scrambled to shift classes online. It gave low‑income families a choice: a modest‑priced broadband plan at no cost, or a portable hotspot that could be set up in a few minutes. In the five years since its debut, roughly 60,000 CPS kids have taken part.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, speaking at a press briefing, reminded everyone that “every student deserves an equal opportunity to learn and succeed in the classroom, and access to internet shouldn’t stand in the way.” He also noted that the extension will pull about $2 million from the city’s budget – a small price tag when you think about the doors a reliable connection can open.

While the city can’t take on any brand‑new families right now, those who already qualified – typically kids whose households receive free or reduced‑price meals – will keep their service through the end of the school year. It’s a little bittersweet, because nearly one‑third of those qualifying families said they had no internet at home before Chicago Connected stepped in.

Data from the mayor’s office shows that the biggest gains have been on the South and West sides, where disconnection rates fell dramatically after the program began. A recent review by Kids First Chicago found that 93 % of participants were economically disadvantaged and almost 30 % were English‑language learners, underscoring how critical the service has been for the city’s most vulnerable students.

Back when the program was first funded, the city earmarked $50 million for a four‑year stretch, mixing municipal dollars with philanthropic grants. That money helped families stay plugged in well after schools reopened in person, because many older students still needed to log in from home for homework, test prep, and extra tutoring.

In short, Chicago Connected has become more than a pandemic‑era band‑aid; it’s a lifeline that’s been woven into the fabric of the public‑school system. Whether the city decides to expand enrollment later this year remains to be seen, but for now, thousands of kids can finish their assignments, join virtual clubs, and keep up with classmates without the dreaded “no internet” warning flashing on their screens.