Legislation would assure K-12 students have equal opportunity.
Four Senators announced their intentions to introduce legislation aimed at ensuring that K-12 students have access to the internet amid the coronavirus pandemic that has forced school closures pivoting to online learning.
The Emergency Educational Connections Act would create a special $4 billion fund for the Federal Communications Commission to disburse to schools and libraries so that they would buy Wi-Fi hotspots, routers and internet-connected devices.
“The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated our existing ‘homework gap’ and spurred a growing ‘learning gap’ that will have a lasting impact on America’s children,” said the senators in a joint statement.
“Given the magnitude of this pandemic and its effects on teaching, we must increase our investment beyond $2 billion to $4 billion,” they continued. “Our students come first, and we cannot allow any of them to fall behind as a result of this crisis. We are proud to enjoy the support of more than 50 organizations that focus every day on educating and protecting our nation’s youth.”
In rural areas, nearly one-fourth of the population lack access to the internet. Even in areas where broadband is available, approximately 100 million Americans still do not subscribe, giving children without internet access a distinct disadvantage in the digital age.
The legislation comes as schools across the country remain closed in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For elementary school children who don’t yet have access to the internet to continue their at-home schooling.
- For parents suddenly forced into being stay-at-home tutors.
- About changes that will be made in educating children in the fall, perhaps including class sizes, more work-from-home, and the like.
Sources: The Hill, Education Week, FCC.gov
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