He says 46% of families across the city don’t have internet access for remote learning.  

The city has been distributing laptops and iPads for students to use at home for the upcoming school year, but many may not have access to quality service.

Torres is among many others who have been calling on the mayor to make Wi-Fi more accessible for low income students, not to mention those families who are experiencing homelessness and shelters lack internet access.

According to a UNICEF report, one-third of children worldwide have not been able to access remote learning since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is about at least 463 million students.

Asia Thomas, of Students First New York, says the DOE has not released a concrete plan for how they are going to make sure people in the poorest neighborhoods have Wi-Fi.

"Some of the most important questions parents can ask right now in some capacity every student will do some remote learning this year and if I have to do remote learning and I'm having trouble accessing great Wi-Fi, what are the procedures and protocols in place to allow my child to participate in education this year,” says Thomas.

The mayor's office had previously said they are working with internet providers to lower monthly prices.