ST. STEPHEN, S.C. – South Carolina’s Berkeley County schools are partnering with Google to turn school buses into “Rolling Study Halls” equipped with WiFi access so students can study on their daily commute.

The school district unveiled 28 WiFi enabled buses Monday that will serve students at six Title I schools in the St. Stephen and Cross communities, an initiative that builds on Google’s decade-long relationship with Berkeley County, the Post and Courier reports.

MORE NEWS: From Classroom to Consulate Chef: Culinary Student Lands Dream Job at U.S. Embassy in Paris

The technology giant has invested more than $1 billion in a nearby data center nearby since 2007, and spokesman Lilyn Hester told WCSC the improved buses are aimed at capitalizing on that foundation to “bridge the digital divide” for students without internet access.

“The Rolling Study Hall is like an extended classroom,” Hester said. “It addresses the needs of students that don’t have WiFi or internet access in their home.”

Google also spent $180,000 on Chromebooks for 1,700 students who now participate in the Rolling Study Hall program.

“It’s huge because in a rural area like St. Stephen, most of our students don’t have internet or WiFi,” St. Stephen Mayor John Rivers said. “You’d be surprised how many of our young people have never even left St. Stephen, this gives them a chance to explore and travel around the world without even leaving home.”

State Superintendent Molly Spearman also applauded the program in a prepared statement.

“Not everything can be covered during the school day and all students can benefit from additional help outside the classroom,” she said.

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

“Google’s Rolling Study Hall initiative is an innovative approach that allows bus riders to have connectivity and support to complete their assignments,” Rivers said. “I look forward to watching the success of this pilot in Berkeley and seeing how it can be replicated in other areas of the state.”

Hester said the program started last year in Caldwell County, North Carolina, home to another Google data center, and the company plans to expand the program through a needs-based approach.

School officials estimate students in Berkeley County schools spend up to two hours on a bus every day.

“Why don’t we make that instructional time?” Hester questioned.

The plan is to eventually park the buses in useful locations, such as community centers or fellowship halls, to provide internet access to students in the community outside of school hours, CBS News reports.

Eighth-grader Lakaysha Governor, an aspiring forensic anthropologist, told the news site she appreciates the extra time for her studies, and teachers are happy because “more students are doing their homework.”

The change has also helped to calm rambunctious preschoolers who previously made studying on the bus difficult.

“Now that we have the Chromebooks and the WiFi, they’re kind of quiet,” Governor said, “so it’s good for everybody.”