Closing the Homework Gap to #KeepAllKidsLearning
In communities where internet access isn’t widespread in student homes, some schools are opening up their parking lots as “park and learn” sites, inviting families to connect to WiFi in their cars to complete schoolwork.
For education and technology equity advocates, this isn’t enough: the Homework Gap is widening each day every student cannot complete work from his or her own home. 15 million American school children still do not have consistent access to the internet, and historically underserved communities are at the highest risk. Plus, park and learn sites are only convenient for families with reliable transportation and flexible schedules. Students are still being left behind.
In a critical moment that reflects this urgent need for widespread internet access, the Federal Communications Commission is seeking comment on petitions that request lifting restrictions on certain funds awarded by the E-Rate program for services that provide internet access outside of schools and libraries.
Within this request for comment is an important eye-opener: the FCC acknowledges that kids and caregivers across the country are struggling to access the internet (and because of the nature of the pandemic, their homework) in their homes. Even though this is just the first step in a long process that would allow communities to utilize the funds in new ways, this action by the FCC sets a precedent for acknowledging the critical nature of the Homework Gap.
Let’s break this down to see what it means for our initiatives to #KeepAllKidsLearning.
What is the Homework Gap?
15% of households with school-age children do not have high-speed internet at home, and this is more pronounced for Black, LatinX, and lower-income families.¹ In fact, according to Pew Research data, roughly 35% of households with children ages 6 through 17 and a household income below $30,000 per year do not have access to high-speed internet in their homes, compared to just 6% of households earning $75,000 or more per year.
With in-person schooling still restricted due to COVID-19, these inequities are heightened as students in some communities have more challenges accessing the educational tools, resources and classes that rely on the internet, including their homework.
What is E-Rate?
Authored by Congress in 1996, the E-Rate program was designed to enhance access to internet for all public and nonprofit elementary and secondary schools and libraries. With the program, institutions could request aid to expand broadband connectivity for educational services. To date, the program does not provide services for off-campus activities (though, recently, the Commission has expanded its allowance to schools with residential services for underserved populations - including schools on Tribal lands or those designed to serve students with medical needs).
What are the petitions?
With many schools still relying on remote learning throughout the country, administrators are looking for ways to expand access to internet for the students and teachers that rely on it for education every day outside of the school or library building. The E-Rate program helped get their students modern technology for use at school, but with health guidelines still recommending virtual or hybrid models, schools are prevented from utilizing these funds off school grounds. According to the FCC, in the petitions, “eligible schools and libraries explain that they are hampered in their ability to address the connectivity needs brought on, and in many cases exacerbated, by COVID-19 because of the restrictions on off-campus use of E-Rate-funded services and facilities.”² The petitions ask the FCC to lift certain restrictions to make it easier for students to utilize E-Rate funded technology and internet services while they are off campus in ways that work for the community - whether that means installing WiFi hotspots outside of school grounds or investing in more expensive products.
What does it mean for the Homework Gap?
This is just the first step in a series of actions that could allow certain communities to provide better broadband connections for students while they’re at home - so they can avoid doing their homework in parking lots. The petitions also highlight the diverse needs of different communities; a renewed focus on creative ways to address the Homework Gap paves the way for innovative solutions that are tailored to specific neighborhoods.
What about those who still won’t have access despite these efforts?
While widespread access to internet is just one part of the solution for the Homework Gap, other innovative solutions to address the gap are still needed. Offline learning tools, resources, and content, such as those in the #KeepallKidsLearning initiative can meet the immediate needs of our under resourced communities and guide the country toward diverse and realistic solutions.
¹https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/03/16/as-schools-close-due-to-the-coronavirus-some-u-s-students-face-a-digital-homework-gap/
²https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-98A1.pdf