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Satellite Broadband Is Expanding. Can That Reduce the Digital Divide?

Edsurge

The program was first announced in 2016, and the launch is expected this summer—though it was delayed early this year because of a lack of critical workers. During the pandemic, broadband access became more pressing than ever for education, as schools and colleges suddenly shifted most teaching online.

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Revised Federal Edtech Plan Calls for Closing Digital Divides

Edsurge

The plan was first released to fulfill the Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994 and last revised in 2016. These reports, some observers believe, mark a thoughtful step toward ensuring digital equity. There are some attempts to plug the cavernous hole that would leave in funding broadband advances.

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Millions of Students Are Still Without WiFi and Tech—Why Haven’t Policymakers Stepped Up?

Edsurge

1560 , and proposed adding sections designed “to close the digital divide in California.” These new amendments require the State Superintendent to survey education institutions to understand students' access to computing devices and broadband connections. Federally, mandates do exist for schools and districts. Jennifer E.

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4 Examples of the best digital access initiatives

Neo LMS

Only 3% of teachers in high-poverty level schools said that their students had the digital tools necessary to complete homework assignments, compared to 52% of teachers in more affluent schools. A counterpoint to these figures, is also the finding that 70% of teachers assign homework requiring broadband access. EveryoneOn.

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Top 5 IT and technology trends for 2016

eSchool News

Here are five key trends that CTOs will be watching and reacting to in 2016: The modernized E-rate program. Krueger, CEO at CoSN – the Consortium for School Networking , said the fact that the modernized E-rate hones in on broadband and more robust networks is a net positive for K-12 IT departments and their CTOs. Broadband equity.

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Report: 41 percent of schools are under-connected

eSchool News

A new report details the importance of state advocacy in connecting schools, students to broadband internet. A new report from SETDA and Common Sense Kids Action focuses on K-12 broadband and wi-fi connectivity, state leadership for infrastructure, state broadband implementation highlights, and state advocacy for federal broadband support.

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Will a new batch of licenses help rural students get online?

The Hechinger Report

Her district of Garfield County has provided a computer to every student since 2016. And yet, reliable broadband is far from guaranteed in this region of towering plateaus, sagebrush valleys and steep canyons. That’s why district leaders are eager to pilot an ambitious, statewide broadband initiative.