Today’s students often need a device and internet access to complete assignments, check grades, read class announcements and communicate with teachers. Parents use school portals to sign forms, view report cards and get updates. For households with one aging phone, no laptop or no home internet, this can quietly put kids at a disadvantage. Neighbors can help by sharing information, connecting families to resources and offering patient, practical tech support.
Understand the Common Gaps
Digital access challenges usually fall into a few categories:
- No device, or only a single smartphone shared by the whole family
- No home internet, or unreliable service
- Data limits on phone plans that run out quickly
- Limited digital skills, especially for parents new to school portals or using them in a second language
- Older equipment that cannot run required programs
Understanding which gap a family faces helps point them to the right solution.
Start With the School
Schools are often the best first stop. Encourage families to ask:
- Does the school or district provide devices, such as laptops or tablets, to students?
- Are there loaner hotspots or internet assistance programs?
- Where can students use computers before or after school?
- Can paper copies of assignments be provided if needed?
- Who can help parents set up access to the family portal, and is help available in other languages?
Families sometimes hesitate to ask, worried about seeming unprepared. A neighbor can help them find the right contact or practice what to say.
Libraries: A Hidden Treasure
Public libraries are among the most valuable digital access points in any neighborhood.
- Free computer and internet use during library hours
- Free Wi-Fi, often reachable from outside the building after hours
- Device and hotspot lending at many libraries, allowing families to borrow laptops or mobile hotspots for a set period
- Printing, copying and scanning at low cost
- Tech help sessions and classes on basic computer skills, email and online safety
- Homework help and quiet study space
Any Massachusetts resident can get a Boston Public Library card, and local libraries across the state offer many similar services. Encourage families to ask at the front desk what is available.
Exploring Low-Cost Internet Options
Home internet makes a big difference for homework. Some options to explore include:
- Low-cost plans offered by internet service providers for eligible households, often tied to participation in programs such as school meals, SNAP or other benefits
- Community Wi-Fi in some public housing developments, community centers or public spaces
- Mass 211, which can help families find local resources, including help with internet access
Programs and eligibility rules change over time, so check directly with providers and local agencies for current offerings.
Refurbished Devices
A new laptop is not the only option. Many organizations refurbish donated computers and offer them at low cost to students and families. When considering a refurbished device:
- Make sure it meets any school software requirements.
- Confirm it has a working battery and charger.
- Ask whether it includes security updates and antivirus protection.
- Check that it has been fully wiped of the previous owner’s data.
If you are donating a computer, wipe it thoroughly and follow the receiving organization’s guidelines.
Offering Tech Help as a Neighbor
Many families need hands-on support more than hardware. You can help by:
- Setting up email accounts and teaching how to check them.
- Logging into school portals and showing where to find grades, messages and forms.
- Adjusting language settings so portals and devices display in the family’s preferred language.
- Teaching basic troubleshooting, such as restarting a device, reconnecting to Wi-Fi or updating apps.
- Explaining online safety, such as strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links and keeping personal information private.
Always let the family type their own passwords, and never store their login information on your devices. Write simple step-by-step instructions on a card for tasks the family will repeat, such as checking messages or reporting an absence, so they can manage on their own next time.
Supporting Kids Online
As kids spend more time on devices for school, families may also want guidance on healthy habits:
- Set up a consistent homework space with good light and minimal distractions.
- Use parental controls appropriate to the child’s age.
- Encourage breaks from screens.
- Talk with kids about kindness and safety online, including not sharing personal details with strangers.
Neighborhood Ideas
- Host a “tech help hour” at a library or community room where volunteers help families with devices and portals.
- Create a simple flyer listing local resources: library services, school contacts and Mass 211.
- Offer printing help for neighbors without printers, especially during school registration season.
- Connect families with bilingual neighbors who can help navigate portals.
Digital Access Checklist
- Identified whether the need is a device, internet, data or skills
- School asked about devices, hotspots and portal help
- Library services explored, including device lending
- Low-cost internet options checked with providers and Mass 211
- Refurbished device options considered
- Hands-on help offered for email, portals and online safety
Getting connected is no longer a luxury for students; it is part of going to school. A neighbor who helps a family log in, borrow a laptop or find affordable internet is helping a child keep up, stay engaged and feel ready to learn.
Quick check: When helping a neighbor set up a school portal, what should you avoid?
- Showing them where to find messages from teachers
- Saving their password on your own phone
- Changing the display language to their preference
Show answer
B. Families should keep control of their own passwords; helpers should never store login details.
