It’s back-to-school season, and modern education assumes a home internet connection. Homework, class portals, and teacher updates all live online. Getting ready for school now means checking off two boxes instead of one: getting a student online and keeping them safe once they’re there.
Why it matters: Home internet has gone from a nice-to-have to a basic school supply, and assistance programs have made it more affordable for families who need it. But getting students online is only part of the equation. With the internet playing such a big role in kids’ daily lives, families also need support to help them use it safely. Screen time is now the top thing families fight about, ahead of chores and homework.
Step One: Getting Connected
Providers still offer discounted plans for qualifying families this school year:
- Comcast’s Internet Essentials: $14.95/month for up to 75 Mbps, or $29.95 for up to 100 Mbps, for households on NSLP, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, or other select programs. Free equipment and digital literacy training included.
- Cox’s Connect2Compete: $9.95/month for families with a K-12 student in NSLP, SNAP, TANF, or public housing. Open to households that aren’t current Cox customers.
- Spectrum Internet Assist: $25/month, or $15 for some families, for households on NSLP, the Community Eligibility Provision, or SSI.
Of note: The Affordable Connectivity Program ended in May 2024, but households that qualified may still be eligible for Lifeline, worth up to $9.25/month.
Step Two: Staying Safe Once They’re Logged On
Screen time is only once concern. Parents are also navigating risks they may not know are there. A 2024 Cox Mobile survey found:
- Location sharing is often on: 56% said their child’s location was publicly visible across several apps.
- Stranger contact is a real risk: 31% said a stranger had contacted their child on a mobile device, and 28% said that a stranger had referenced their child’s location.
- Kids are seeing content they shouldn’t: Many run into violent or graphic content, even in homes with screen rules.
Built-In Tools Parents Already Have
The good news: providers build safety and parental control tools right into home Wi-Fi.
- Xfinity xFi: Content filters, Wi-Fi pausing by device, downtime schedules, and real-time alerts.
- Cox Panoramic Wifi Advanced Security: Blocks malicious sites and phishing across every connected device.
- Spectrum Advanced WiFi with Security Shield: Time limits, content filtering, and network-level threat protection, available as an add-on.
Network-level tools protect every device automatically. Pairing them with device-level settings gives families the broadest coverage.
The bottom line: Getting students connected is step one. Keeping them safe is step two. Thanks to assistance programs and built-in parental controls, families don’t have to tackle either one alone this school year.
Find what’s available where you live. Programs vary by provider and by state. Use the state-by-state lookup on Beyond to see which adoption programs serve your area and which ones your family may qualify for.