Schools Can Apply for Free Classroom Connectivity
Teachers and school administrators in NACEPF-covered areas can apply for devices or hotspots before December 31, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Mobile Beacon has opened applications for its Connect for Success Fall/Winter Connectivity Grants, which give teachers and school administrators one of four grant options for classroom connectivity. Applications close December 31, 2026, and grant decisions are expected in early February 2027.
Why it matters
For schools that cannot afford reliable home or classroom internet, these grants can reduce the cost of getting students online. The program covers devices and two years of unlimited mobile service, which can shape how much schools must spend from their own budgets on connectivity.
Each award type comes with a fixed allocation, such as 25 laptops or Chromebooks with mobile hotspots, or 10 hotspots supporting up to 10 devices each. Eligibility is limited to teachers and school administrators in areas covered by NACEPF spectrum, which schools can verify by zip code on the Connect for Success page.
The players
Mobile Beacon
A mobile service provider that has offered connectivity for more than fifteen years and runs the Connect for Success grant program.
NACEPF
The spectrum network, based in Rhode Island, whose coverage determines which teachers and administrators are eligible to apply.
The details
Teachers and school administrators choose one of four grant types: STEM laptops, Chromebooks, mobile hotspots, or SIM/eSIM cards to upgrade existing devices. Applicants must describe how the school will reach students and how it will measure the program's impact. Mobile Beacon evaluates submissions in January 2027 before notifying applicants of decisions.
Timeline
December 31, 2026: Application deadline for Connect for Success grants.
January 2027: Mobile Beacon evaluates submitted applications.
Early February 2027: Applicants are notified of grant decisions.
Education Landscape
Device and connectivity grants like these have become a recurring way schools close access gaps outside traditional federal aid programs. Expanding coverage to more than 130 markets places this program among the broader private efforts to supply classroom technology.
Teachers and school administrators who want these grants must submit applications by December 31, 2026, and should confirm their school's eligibility by zip code on the Connect for Success page. Schools that are approved will receive the device or connectivity allocation for their chosen grant type and two years of unlimited BeaconANYWHERE service.
The takeaway
Schools that need devices or connectivity should note the December 31, 2026 deadline and review which of the four grant types fits their classrooms. Confirming eligibility by zip code before applying can save time, and questions about funding planning are worth raising with the school's financial-aid or budget office.
What happens next
Mobile Beacon will evaluate applications in January 2027 and notify all applicants of grant decisions in early February 2027.
Further reading
For more on how schools and families find help covering education costs, explore Financial Aid.
More information
Apply for and check eligibility on the Connect for Success grant application page.
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