Chicago Connected announced the launch of a partnership with Coursera, one of the largest online learning platforms, which delivers world class content by instructors from over 200 of the world’s leading universities and organizations in multiple languages. Chicago Connected, launched in June 2020, provides no-cost, high-speed internet service to eligible Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students and their families. Now, Chicago Connected is acting on the City’s commitment to digital inclusion: The program engaged thousands of families to understand their digital learning needs, and as a result, is offering free access to Coursera for approximately 1,000 as they expand their skills and bolster their professional and personal credentials. 

Coursera will offer learners a range of educational opportunities at no cost to them – from job-ready professional certificates and hands-on projects to courses on improving personal well-being and building resilience. These programs include entry-level Professional Certificates designed by industry leaders like Google, IBM, and Facebook, which prepare learners without a degree or technology experience for roles in high-demand fields such as IT support, data analytics, and social media marketing.  Chicago Connected users will have access to a customized landing page that is tailored to their interests in English, Spanish, and more. To learn more about Chicago Connected’s free digital learning offerings, please visit cps.edu/digitallearning.  To check if you are eligible for Chicago Connected’s no-cost broadband service, please visit cps.edu/getconnected.