Aha! – At Home Internet Access for Students

Program Description

• Starts during the 2020-2021 school year
• The Wilkes County Community Partnership (WCCP) will arrange for internet services with Relyant Communications (Relyant) on behalf of students in Wilkes County who are in households which lack the financial resources to afford at home internet service
  • WCCP will work with third parties to acquire other necessary technologies (e.g., laptops, software, routers).
  • The Wilkes County Board of Education (BOE) will provide guidance so technologies are compatible with BOE programs.
• BOE will determine which students or groups of students should be eligible to participate in the program based on BOE criteria
  • The BOE will nominate specific students or groups of students to participate in the program. Final Scholarship selections will be made by WCCP
  • The BOE will monitor student use of the program pursuant to standard practices
  • The BOE will report on the progress of the program and make recommendations to WCCP for program improvements
• WCCP will offer an “Internet Scholarship” to each selected student (an “Internet Scholar”)
  • WCCP will establish financial and other eligibility criteria
  • Each Scholarship will provide for no-cost, at home internet service during the applicable school year. WCCP will also provide computer equipment.
  • The number of Scholarships will be based on the success of WCCP’s fund-raising efforts
  • Each Scholarship will last until the end of the school year
  • Scholars will reapply for Scholarships each year. Preference will be given to students who have already participated in and properly used the program.
  • Scholarships may be extended by WCCP during the summer in appropriate circumstances and subject to available funding
  • Individual scholarships may start in the middle of a school year
  • Each Scholar is responsible for taking care of the equipment and keeping it safe, and also for learning how to maintain the equipment and service and keeping them up and running.
  • Scholars who do not properly use the program may be terminated after being given notice and an opportunity to improve
• WCCP will raise money to operate the program through grants, fund-raising and other means
  • Local fund-raising will be emphasized and will include individuals, businesses and organizations.
  • Money for Scholarships will be contributed by donors
    • A $1000 donation will provide a one-year Scholarship.
    • Donors may give partial Scholarships (e.g., $25), full Scholarships (e.g. $1000), and multiple Scholarships (e.g. $5,000).
    • Donors will not be linked to specific Scholarship students
  • WCCP will aggregate multiple donors until there is a sufficient amount for a full Scholarship (e.g., the employees of a business or organization might collectively sponsor one Scholarship)
  • Internet, social media and other mechanisms will be used for fund-raising
• Internet service arrangements
  • The internet service may be used by other members of the household, but the student’s schoolwork use is the primary goal. Other family members may not interfere with the student’s use of the internet
• WCCP Administration
  • WCCP will provide reports about the program
  • WCCP program revenues and expenses will be handled by Farmers & Merchants Bank to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability.

Frequently Asked Questions

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

Who can apply for an Aha! Scholarship?

Students qualify for consideration in Aha! if: (a) they are enrolled and a current student in a Wilkes County, GA public school, (b) do not have internet service in their home, and (c) are financially disadvantaged. A student will be considered to be financially disadvantaged if they or their parents participate in one of the following programs: Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8), Veteran’s Pension and/or Survivor Benefits, or if household income is at or below 135% of Federal poverty guidelines. WCCP will consider other criteria as necessary or appropriate.

How do I apply for an Aha! Scholarship and where do I get an application?

You can obtain an application from the Wilkes County Board of Education. You can also get an application on this website by clicking [here]. Aha! applications should be submitted directly to the school where the student is enrolled.

How are students selected for Aha! Scholarships?

More students will probably apply for Scholarships than there will be funds available. If this happens, WCCP will make final selection decisions based on the recommendations, criteria and priorities of the Wilkes County Board of Education and also internal WCCP criteria and processes. WCCP uses a Committee to make these decisions.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

How long does an Aha! Scholarship last?

Each Scholarship lasts from the time of internet installation until the end of the school year during which the service was installed. WCCP will consider extending the Scholarship during the summer if the student plans to return to a public school in Wilkes County and has been a good participant in Aha!

The Scholarship will terminate if the student no qualifies under the Aha! rules, for example, if the student no longer attends school in Wilkes County.

Scholarships may also be terminated by WCCP if the student has violated the rules of WCCP, the Wilkes County Board of Education and/or Relyant Communications.

What costs does the Aha! Scholarship cover?

The Aha! Scholarship covers the full cost of internet service fees charged by Relyant. These fees will be directly billed to, and paid for, by WCCP. The Scholarship does not cover the costs of any additional services or products purchased or subscribed to by the student or the student’s family.

The Scholarship also covers the costs of the Aha! computer equipment, software, and related items provided by WCCP. The Scholarship does not cover the costs of any extra computer equipment, services or products acquired by the student or the student’s family.

If I receive a Scholarship do I have to reapply for a Scholarship for the next year?

Yes. Each Scholarship last only for the school year in which the system is installed. Each student must reapply for the Scholarship for each school year. Students who have a Scholarship will receive a preference the next year if they are in good standing and meet the program criteria.

Does the student get to keep the computer and other equipment at the end of the Scholarship period?

No. All computer equipment, software and related items provided by WCCP remain the property of WCCP and must be promptly returned to WCCP when the Scholarship ends.

STUDENT AND PARENT/GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITIES

What are the responsibilities of a student who receives an Aha! Scholarship?

The Aha! Scholarship application contains the student’s responsibilities. Each student is responsible for:

• Regularly using the computer equipment to do her/his schoolwork.
• Learning how to use the computer equipment and the internet.
• Taking care of the computer equipment.
• Learning how to keep the system and equipment up and running and how to work out solutions when they are not working properly.
• Following all rules established from time to time by WCCP, the Wilkes County Board of Education and/or Relyant Communications.

What are responsibilities of the parents/guardians of a student who receives a Scholarship?

The Aha! scholarship application contains the responsibilities of the parents/guardians of a student who receives a Scholarship. Some of those responsibilities are:

• The parents/guardians will encourage the student to use the computer equipment and internet.
• The parents/guardians agree that the student’s schoolwork takes precedence over all other uses of the equipment and internet access.
• The parents/guardians will not use the equipment or internet in any way that interferes with the student’s use of the equipment or internet.
• The parents/guardians will follow all rules of WCCP, the Wilkes County Board of Education and Relyant Communications.

INTERNET USE QUESTIONS

Can the student use the equipment and internet service for other than schoolwork?

The student may use the internet and equipment for purposes other than schoolwork; however, the student’s schoolwork is the primary purpose of the Internet Scholarship and other online activities should not be allowed to interfere with the student’s schoolwork.

May members of the student’s household use the Aha! internet service and equipment?

Other members of the student’s household may use the equipment and the internet, but the student’s use always takes precedence. Other people’s use of the equipment and the internet must never be allowed to interfere with the student’s use.

If there is more than one student in a home, may the other students use the equipment and the internet?

Yes. The Scholarship student should have priority on the system to do their schoolwork.

But the student should make reasonable accommodations to allow other students in the home to use the system for their schoolwork.

DONATION QUESTIONS

I want to give but can’t afford to donate $1,000 for a one-year Aha! Scholarship. What happens if I donate less than a full scholarship?

Donations of all amounts are welcome and will make a real difference to students in Wilkes County. We expect that most donors will make contributions of less than $100. WCCP will combine individual donations until there is a sufficient amount to fund another Scholarship.

Will I learn the name of the student who receives an Aha! Scholarship based on my donation? Can I direct that my donation go to a specific student?

Donors will not learn which specific student their contribution is supporting and donors may not specify that their donations go to specific students. All donations will be placed in one account and all expenses will be paid from that one account.

Can I make a donation through my employer or through an organization that I belong to?

WCCP does not currently have any formal contribution programs with businesses or organizations. We hope that business, civic, faith-based, and other organizations will encourage participation by their members and employees. We encourage organizations to sponsor Scholarships and will be happy to discuss ways to create a streamlined, easy donation process.

Are contributions to Aha! tax deductible?

Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. WCCP is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (Tax I.D. 58-2269288). Please consult your tax advisor regarding specific questions about your deductions.

AHA! PARTNERSHIP QUESTIONS

What’s a brief description of how Aha! works?

The process works generally as follows:

• Qualified Wilkes County public school students without internet service at home apply for an Aha! Scholarship through their school.
• The Wilkes County Board of Education nominates students for Scholarships based on the school system’s priorities and goals.
• WCCP makes final selections of Scholarship recipients based on its criteria and process. These decisions will be made throughout the year and the number of Scholarships will depend on the available funds.
• WCCP orders an internet line for the student’s home from Relyant. WCCP also provides the necessary computer equipment.
• The student returns the computer equipment to WCCP at the end of the Scholarship period and the internet service terminates.

Who are the three main partners of Aha!?

Aha! is a public-private partnership among WCCP, Relyant Communications, and the Wilkes County Board of Education. WCCP, as founding and managing partner, makes final selections of Internet Scholars, provides family support, manages fund-raising, and orchestrates a hoard of details The Wilkes County Board of Education, as education partner, sets educational priorities, and nominates students for Aha! scholarships. Relyant Communications, as internet partner, installs and provides internet service at students’ homes.