In 2020, approximately 21% of schools in the country were entirely online and the majority of schools (59%) offered one class or more online.[1] Distance learning required during COVID-19 made differences in digital access stark: roughly 30% to 35% of Black and Hispanic households and 20% of White households did not have the broadband access that made distance learning possible.[2] Bridging the gap in access to and knowledge of technology — often referred to as the “digital divide” — is critical

not just for remote school, it is increasingly required for in-person school (e.g., for homework adn interactions with other students and teachers).[3] For parents and other caregivers, digital access and knowledge is increasingly important for jobs, health, and meeting other needs. Technological skills are useful and/or required in a wide variety of careers and students disadvantaged by this digital divide are at risk of falling behind their peers and losing the opportunity to advance in these fields. Here’s how funders can help:

Gaps in device accessibility and connectivity became critical during COVID-19. States, districts, and donors mobilized to provide devices and access to the Internet and to facilitate online learning. Between May and October 2020, the numbers of students with access to devices increased, and the gaps between White and Black students access to devices dropped from a 10 point difference to 4 points, with 93% of White students having access to learning devices all or most of the time in October and 89% of Black students reporting the same.[4]

This quick response is an example of how philanthropic funders and businesses can help close the digital divide. Donors can help by funding and advocating for affordable broadband options at home and ensuring that every student has access to a digital devices at school and home. This is necessary for both virtual learning and to close the “homework gap,” where some students can not complete homework because they have no device to use at home.

Digital equity is not just about access, but also about digital literacy — preparing students, parents, caregivers, and teachers to navigate the online world safely and efficiently. Technology is only a tool — the interactions between technology and students are what matters most.

Digital equity also means advancing education technology for all, as technology is increasingly a necessary component of learning. Educational technology (ed tech) enables remote learning and introduces IT tools into the classroom to create a more engaging, inclusive, and individualized learning experience. Student performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2019 Mathematics Assessment provides an example of the difference in student performance where technology played a role. Among eighth-grade participants, higher socioeconomic status (SES) students (i.e., students not eligible for the National School Lunch Program [NSLP]) consistently performed better than lower SES students (i.e., students eligible for NSLP). But students who reported having access to computers at home, regardless of SES, had higher average scores than those who reported no access to computers at home.[5]

Ed tech increases collaboration; 24/7 access to learning, including the ability to “flip” the classroom so that lessons can be viewed outside the classroom and classroom time can be focused on more interactive and group-based learning; personalized education where students can learn at their own pace while teachers receive timely feedback on a students’ progress; and the ability to have more engaging lessons through different platforms (video, podcast, games). No single ed tech solution or initiative will achieve the same results everywhere, but improving access to ed tech can help create equity in the classroom.

Donors can help by providing digital literacy training not only for students, but also educators, parents, and caregivers. Funders can fund research on the effectiveness of new ed tech and how such technology can improve learning in different populations and settings. Funders can also support training and coaching for teachers on howto better engage students using ed tech. These include improving instruction with prerecorded quality lessons that level the playing field and facilitating differentiated instruction through computer-adaptive learning and live one-on-one tutoring.

Notes

1. National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.). Distance Learning NCES Fast Facts. National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 25, 2022, from https://nces.ed.gov/fast- facts/display.asp?id=79
2. Auxier, B., & Anderson, M. (n.d.). As schools close due to the coronavirus, some U.S. students face a digital ‘homework ’ Pew Research Center. Retrieved January 25, 2022, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/03/16/as-schools-close-due-to-the-coronavi- rus-some-u-s-students-face-a-digital-homework-gap/
3. Ganimian, A. J., Vegas, E., & Hess, F. M. (2020, September 10). Realizing the promise: How can education technology improve learning for all? Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/ essay/realizing-the-promise-how-can-education-technology-improve-learning-for-all/
4. Dorn, E., Hancock, B., & Sarakatsannis, J. (2020, December 8). Mind the gap: COVID-19 is widening racial disparities in learning, so students need help and a chance to catch up | McKinsey. McKinsey & https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-and-social-sector/ our-insights/covid-19-and-learning-loss-disparities-grow-and-students-need-help
5. National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.). The NCES Ed Tech Equity Initiative [Indexes; Offices]. National Center for Education Research (NCER). Retrieved January 25, 2022, from https://nces.ed.gov/resources/edtechequity/#/about-initiative