Internet
How to Get a District-Loaned Hotspot
District-loaned hotspots are provided to students in grades 3-12 that meet the following criteria:
- Parent indicated in Data Confirmation (registration) that their student does not have home internet access, AND
- Student does not already have a hotspot checked out to them.
If you feel that your student meets the criteria or you have questions about the status or process, please contact your school for more information.
How to Get Home Internet Access
We understand that while not all students qualify for a district-loaned hotspot they may still require connectivity at home that the district is unable to provide. We encourage families to reach out to Tech Exchange, our community partner, to explore low-cost options for home digital access.
Tech Exchange can help families apply for low-cost home broadband through local Internet Service Providers like Comcast and AT&T.
Tech Exchange Tech Hub
They can also help students with their hotspots and with improving digital skills as they offer workshops for students and families
- Phone (Call/Text): (510) 866-2260
- Address: 2530 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601
- Hours: Wednesday - Saturdays 10am-4pm, No appointment is necessary
Lifeline Support
Lifeline is a federal program dedicated to making phone and internet service more affordable for low-income households. This benefit provides eligible consumers with a monthly discount of up to $9.25.
- Check Eligibility
- Apply
Getting Help with a District-Loaned Chromebook
Your (or Your Student's) School
Reaching out to your student's school should be your first point-of-contact. They can help you if you have issues with:
- Connecting to the network
- Device is not working or turning on
OUSD Tech Repair Hubs
- District-loaned Chromebooks
- #OaklandUndivided Chromebooks
Use the resources below to learn more about how to connect to the internet.
Pro-Tips for Troubleshooting Hotspots
Problemas con su Hotspot: Consejos
#OaklandUndivided & Content Filtering One-Pager (English, Spanish, Cambodian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Chinese)
How to Connect Your Chromebook to a Hotspot
OUSD Student Wifi Access Map
*ONLY WORKS ON DISTRICT CHROMEBOOKS PROVIDED TO STUDENTS*
An important update is the OUSD Student Wifi Access Map. Locations on this map correspond with select OUSD school sites and they feature a WiFi network called OUSD Chromebook. Signal strength has been turned up at these locations, and families can drive up to one of the sites and connect. This WiFi service is for those families who do not have a viable internet option at home or who just need to connect to a stable and robust wifi signal. OUSD Chromebooks will automatically connect to the network. We will continue to add more sites based on results and requests from the Google Form survey available in the map description.
