Parents hoping for better internet service for Pittsburgh Public Schools online learning Share Updated: 6:21 PM EST Feb 11, 2021 Share Updated: 6:21 PM EST Feb 11, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. P SPOKE WITH ONE PARENT WHO HAS RECEIVED THREE LETTERS FROM THE DISTRICT. SHELDO TRUANCY REPORTS ARE INCREASING SO MUCH, ONE PARENT SHOWS US THREE TRUANCY LETTERS HE RECIEVED SINCE DECEMBER. ROBERTO BOYZO SHOWS PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4 THREE TRUANCY LETTERS FROM THE OBAMA ACADE ABOUT HIS SON WHO IS IN THE SIXTH GRAD THE PROBLEM, CONNECTION ISSUES AFFECTING ACCESS TO ONLINE LEARNING. >> I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THE CONNECTION, EVERYBODY AT THE SAME TIME, THE PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERNET. SHELDON: YOU’RE SAYING IF HE LOGS ON LATE, HE’S MARKED ABSENT FOR THE WHOLE DAY? YES, AND THAT’S WHY I DON’T LIKE. IT’S NOT FAIR AT ALL. SHELDON: BOYZO ISN’T ALONE WITH THAT FRUSTRATION. THE PITTSBURGH LEARNING COLLABORATIVE SAYS IT IS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM WITH HOMES USING COMCAST AS ITS INTERNET PROVIDER >> WE’RE STILL IN THE COLLECTION PHASES RIGHT NOW, IN TERMS OF DATA, BUT WE ARE HEARING STORIES PRETTY REGULARLY FROM FAMILIES. SHELDON: THE PITTSBURGH LEARNING COLLABORATIVE SAYS FAMILIES ARE FACING UNFAIR TRUANCY CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE O CONNECTION ISSUES. IF THEY’RE NOT ONLINE DURING ATTENDANCE, THEY’RE MARKE AS ABSENT FOR THE WHOLE DAY, EVEN IF THEY GET ON LATER THAN PLANNED. >> WE SEE STUDENTS BEING KICKED IN AND OUT WHAT WE’RE FINDING NOW AND WHA WE’RE STARTING TO HEAR IS THA WHEN STUDENTS ARE KICKED OFF DURING AN ATTENDANCE-TAKING TIME, THOSE ABSENCES ADD UP. THIS LEADS TO OR CAN LEAD TO TRUANCY FILING. SHELDON: MEANWHILE, COMCAST SAYS INTERNET PROBLEMS ARE NOT ALWAYS RELATED THE PROVIDE HOWEVER, COMCAST SAYS IT IS ABOUT TO DOUBLE THE SPEED OF ITS INTERNET ESSENTIALS SERVICE BY THE FIRST WEEK IN MARCH. A SPOKESPERSON FOR PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAYS STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE MARKED ABSEN BECAUSE OF CONNECTION ISSUES AND THAT PARENTS SHOULD CONS