Equity of Access

Ensure Equity of Access Outside of School for All Students

Equity of access includes ensuring access to devices and sufficient high-speed broadband in school, at home, and everywhere else in the community to utilize digital instructional materials, complete homework assignments, and to connect with students, educators, and experts throughout the world anytime/anywhere. Unfortunately, the digital divide persists and not all students have access to the internet at home—often referred to as the “homework gap.” The Pew Research Center reports that 5 million households with school-age children do not have broadband access at home. Low-income households—especially black and Hispanic ones—make up a disproportionate share of those households. As content shifts to digital, with some or all of that content exclusively available online, students must have access to broadband and devices outside of school, particularly at home, to be successful in school. SETDA recommends states, districts and schools:

• Deliver outreach to families, particularly low-income families, about the necessity for out-of-school access
• Leverage community partnerships for access
• Share out-of-school access options