As schools across the country prepare for a blend of online and in-person learning during this fall’s reopening processes, a new analysis shows that 1 in 3 Black, Latino and American Indian/Alaska Native students not only lack high-speed home internet access, but are more likely than their White peers to be disconnected from online learning, known as the homework gap.
The analysis, which includes an interactive map with state-by-state disparity data, lists D.C. as having the second highest gap in the country for both Black and Latino students without access to high-speed home internet.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the impact of the digital divide on the academic progress of our students, particularly from low-income, Black, Latino, and American Indian households,” UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía, said in a statement. “Roadblocks, including internet connectivity and access to a computer or tablet, have denied students of color the opportunity to meaningfully engage in online learning, resulting in learning loss and widening achievement gaps.”
Given that millions of Americans are out of work or experiencing pay cuts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the report calls on Congress to pass the Emergency Education Connections Act and provide $6.8 billion through the E-rate program in the next COVID-19 relief package.
COVID-19 Pandemic Exposes Digital Divide Regarding Students’ Academic Progress
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What sad about this article, is that taxpayers build the infrastructure’s for the big Internet companies. With federal, state and city dollars. But they don’t build it throughout the whole state or city as they should they only choose the best areas. If elected to Congress I would never allow this to happen.