New York City Housing Authority community centers across the city are getting a high-tech boost to their internet service.

It's a much-needed upgrade at the learning lab at the Butler Houses Community Center that's bridging the digital gap to help virtual students connect to their classrooms.

"It helps them so much. They're still in school, so the fact that they're still in school it helps with getting all their work that they need to be done," Damali Prince, of Butler Houses.

Through a private and public partnership, cornerstone programs at 50 NYCHA developments received upgrades to their internet service with free Wi-Fi and high-speed connection.

"Right now, we want to be able to support our youth to do schoolwork and recreation, and this is a step for us toward closing the digital divide," says Peter Hatch, of the mayor's office.

Out of the 50 sites that received the upgrades, the Butler Houses is one of 30 that offers community access hot spots.

"When we do break out of COVID, we want to make sure that we're able to let people know that we have Wi-Fi that's open, that's free," says Robert Brown, of Directions for Our Youth.

The initiative is a $500,000 investment that now brings learning labs at NYCHA community centers up to speed in neighborhoods like Morrisania, where some families struggle with limited internet access. Officials say the free high-tech connection will help more than 12,000 students and community members at numerous NYCHA community centers.