Forum Guide to Digital Equity
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
National Cooperative Education Statistics System
Foreword
Working Group Members
Glossary of Common Terms
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Digital Equity Data
Chapter 3: Closing Digital Equity Gaps
Chapter 4: Case Studies from State and Local Education Agencies (SEAs and LEAs)
Appendix A: Additional Resources
Appendix B: Sample Digital Equity Questions
Appendix C: Digital Equity Audit Resources
Reference List
National Forum on Education Statistics Resources
Appendix A: Additional Resources
The following is a sample list of resources developed by federal, state, and local agencies, as well as organizations, related to digital equity.
Federal Resources
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
https://www.fcc.gov/affordable-connectivity-program
In November 2021, Congress created this new long-term $14 billion Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program, which will replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. This investment in broadband affordability will help ensure people can afford the connections they need for work, school, health care, and more for a long time.
BroadbandUSA
https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s BroadbandUSA program serves state, local, and tribal governments, industry, and nonprofits that seek to expand broadband connectivity and promote digital inclusion.
Building Technology Infrastructure for Learning
https://tech.ed.gov/infrastructure/
This guide provides practical, actionable information intended to help district leaders navigate the many decisions required to deliver internet connectivity to students.
Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/childrens-internet-protection-act
CIPA was enacted by Congress in 2000 to address concerns about children’s access to obscene or harmful content over the Internet. CIPA imposes certain requirements on schools or libraries that receive discounts for internet access or internal connections through the E-Rate program, a program that makes certain communications services and products more affordable for eligible schools and libraries.
Common Education Data Standards (CEDS)
CEDS is an education data management initiative whose purpose is to streamline the understanding of data within and across early learning, elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and workforce (P-20W) institutions and sectors. The CEDS initiative includes a common vocabulary, data models that reflect that vocabulary, tools to help education stakeholders understand and use education data, an assembly of metadata from other education data initiatives, and a community of education stakeholders who discuss the uses of CEDS and the development of the standard.
The Condition of Education
https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe
This report contains key indicators that summarize important developments and trends on all levels of education, labor force outcomes, and international comparisons. It includes indicators on Children’s Internet Access at Home and the Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Elementary and Secondary Education System.
ConnectHome
https://www.hud.gov/connecthomeusa
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development launched this program to address the “homework gap” for students in grades K-12 living in public and Indian housing by offering broadband access, technical training, digital literacy programs, and devices for residents in assisted housing units.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)
https://oese.ed.gov/offices/education-stabilization-fund/
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) created four grant programs that can be spent on hardware and software, connectivity, and instructional expertise to support remote learning, among other activities.
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
https://tech.ed.gov/files/2017/01/2017.1.18-Tech-Federal-Funds-Final-V4.pdf
This letter provides examples of how funds may support the use of technology to improve instruction and student outcomes.
Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF)
https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-connectivity-fund
The FCC’s ECF is a $7.17 billion program that aims to help schools and libraries provide the tools and services their communities need for remote learning during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Federal Funding
https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/resources/federal/federal-funding
The BroadbandUSA website contains a searchable database of various funding opportunities that support broadband planning, digital inclusion, and deployment projects.
Home Access Playbook: Strategies for State Leaders Working to Bridge the Digital Divide for Students
https://tech.ed.gov/home-access-playbook/
This playbook outlines seven strategies that state leaders are taking to address the need for home internet and device access for students.
How Can Districts Support Families’ Access to Technology During School Closures?
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northeast/Docs/Blog/FAQ_COVID19_TechnologyAccess_508c.pdf
This Regional Educational Laboratory (REL)—Northeast & Islands Frequently Asked Questions document offers links to examples and resources focused on how schools and districts can find creative ways to support students and families with limited access to technology.
Infographics Shed Light on Rural Internet Connectivity Issues
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/central/blog/rural-connectivity-infographics.asp
REL—Central worked with six of the states in its region to examine where students are more likely to lack reliable home internet access. This work revealed considerable access gaps and disparities across places.
Keeping Students Connected and Learning: Strategies for Deploying School District Wireless Networks as a Sustainable Solution to Connect Students at Home
https://tech.ed.gov/wireless-brief/
This brief presents strategies for deploying off-campus wireless networks as a sustainable solution to provide home connectivity to all students and educators.
Learning Remotely in the Age of COVID-19: Lessons from Evidence and Concerns for Equity
This REL—Mid-Atlantic webinar disseminated information about evidence-based practices and approaches in supporting effective remote learning, shared a high-level framework to help inform decision-making by states, districts, and schools in responding to remote learning, and highlighted approaches to addressing equity concerns that arise from school closures.
Lifeline
https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers
The FCC Lifeline program provides subscribers a discount on qualifying monthly telephone, broadband, or bundled voice-broadband packages to help ensure that low-income consumers can afford 21st-century broadband and the access it provides to jobs, healthcare, and educational resources.
Monthly School Survey Dashboard
https://ies.ed.gov/schoolsurvey/
This dashboard provides insights into learning opportunities offered by schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the percentage of schools that reported prioritizing students without internet access at home for in-person instruction.
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Technology & Engineering Literacy (TEL) Report Card
https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/tel/
The NAEP TEL assessment at grade 8 measures three interconnected areas of technology and engineering literacy. Results are based on a representative sample of students in both public schools and nonpublic schools and are reported for students overall and for selected demographic groups.
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Ed Tech Equity Initiative
https://nces.ed.gov/resources/edtechequity/
This initiative aims to better inform the condition of American education by giving greater attention to education technology and equity (ed tech equity) as it relates to K-12 education.
National Education Technology Plan
This flagship educational technology policy document for the United States articulates a vision of equity, active use, and collaborative leadership to make everywhere, all-the-time learning possible.
Protecting Student Privacy
https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/
ED’s Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of federal laws relating to the privacy of students’ education records, and for the provision of technical assistance on student privacy issues for the broader education community.
Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) Grant Program Webinar: COVID-19 and Equity - How the Pandemic has Revealed and Exacerbated Inequities and How States are Addressing them
https://slds.ed.gov/#communities/pdc/documents/20211
This webinar addresses, in part, how the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is working to eliminate the digital equity gap in collaboration with agency partners to ensure that every Wisconsin K-12 student will have broadband internet connections for learning purposes.
Strategies to Support Remote Learning Along a Continuum of Internet Access
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/central/events/remote-learning-support.asp
This REL—Central Quick Chat discusses strategies school districts can use to bridge the digital divide and support student learning at home.
Student Access to Digital Learning Resources Outside of the Classroom
https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2017098
This report draws upon nationally representative data sources, existing research, and relevant state and local intervention efforts to provide a comprehensive picture of student access to digital learning resources outside of the classroom.
Students’ Access to the Internet and Digital Devices at Home
https://nces.ed.gov/blogs/nces/post/students-access-to-the-internet-and-digital-devices-at-home
This blog post continues a robust discussion about data collected from the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and Household Pulse Survey (HPS) that illuminate the issue of students’ access to the Internet and digital devices at home.
Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries (E-Rate)
The FCC E-Rate program provides discounts for telecommunications, internet access, and internal connections to eligible schools and libraries.
State and Local Resources
Anchorage School District (AK) Digital Equity Survey
https://www.asdk12.org/cms/lib/AK02207157/Centricity/Domain/1180/ENGLISH-ASD%20Digital%20Equity%20Survey.pdfThis survey collected data on student internet and technology access to students at home.
Broadband for Unserved Students – Update
http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/Documents/2021/0323/BroadbandAccessEfforts.pdf
The Maryland Governor’s Office of Rural Broadband developed this plan to support expanded broadband access for education.
California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF)
CETF provides leadership statewide to close the “Digital Divide” by accelerating the deployment and adoption of broadband to unserved and underserved communities and populations.
Community Broadband Planning Playbook
https://www.ncbroadband.gov/technical-assistance/playbook
This playbook provides the tools needed to follow the North Carolina Department of Information Technology Technical Assistance team’s guidance to help expand broadband access in North Carolina communities. It uses functional resources to help identify current broadband needs; take stock of available assets, strengths, and weaknesses; establish goals; and create and implement policies that will help communities achieve their vision for the future.
Connecting Kids
The Nevada COVID-19 Task Force developed a public-private initiative to help ensure internet connectivity for all students.
Digital Equity in Cambridge: Data and Strategic Recommendations
This study was commissioned to develop a complete, clear understanding of the problems preventing residents from obtaining and effectively using broadband, and to suggest solutions for the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts to consider related to broadband access, affordability, device ownership, and digital skills.
Future Ready Nebraska District Technology Profile
https://nep.education.ne.gov/statedata.html#00-0000-000/districttech/20192020
This website reports digital learning, access, and equity data that are reported by Nebraska local education agencies (LEAs).
Hamilton County - Broadband Survey
Indiana’s Hamilton County Broadband Task Force conducted this survey to identify areas where broadband connections could be improved.
Indiana School Tech Plan
https://www.in.gov/doe/it/indiana-school-tech-plan/
This plan provides an annual snapshot of where corporations are concerning integrating student technology and the infrastructure to support it. The plan was updated in 2021 to better understand the landscape of K-12 digital learning and the technical and instructional responsiveness of schools through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kentucky Digital Readiness Survey
This website provides a snapshot of technology infrastructures throughout Kentucky schools and districts.
Learning Devices
https://www.brandywineschools.org/domain/5080
Starting in the school year 2020-21, Brandywine School District (DE) provided all K-12 students with a computing device that students are required to use daily for schoolwork completed both at school and home.
Nashville Digital Inclusion Needs Assessment Results Questionnaire
The Nashville (TN) Digital Inclusion and Access taskforce collected data with this questionnaire to assess just how broad the gap is between those who thrive in the digital world and those who are left out.
New York State Education Department (NYSED) Digital Equity Survey
In Spring 2020 and Fall 2020, NYSED required public schools to collect and report information on student access, in their places of residence, to devices and the Internet.
Noblesville Schools HelpDesk
https://www.noblesvilleschools.org/Page/7055
This page includes Noblesville Schools’ (IN) technology resources, current district technology updates, top frequently asked questions (FAQs), and information on how to get additional technology support.
Putnam County Schools (WV) Technology Survey (Summer 21)
This survey collected data to help this West Virginia district provide better internet and technology access to students.
Student Device Program
Wake County Public School System (NC) assigned each K-12 student a laptop at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year for students to use in school and at home (with parental permission). Students have the option to bring a personal device to school instead, provided the personal device meets certain requirements and has been approved by the district.
School2Home
Since 2009, School2Home has provided financial support and technical assistance to partner schools in 12 districts throughout California. School2Home is a comprehensive initiative that builds the capacity of its partner schools to integrate technology into teaching, learning and parent engagement to improve student outcomes and establish a sustainable digital learning culture.
Standards of Learning (SOL) for Digital Learning Integration
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/technology/standards/index.shtml
The Virginia SOL for Digital Learning Integration describe a progressive development of knowledge and skills necessary to access, evaluate, use, and create information using technology. The focus is on learning to use technology effectively and wisely rather than learning about technology.
West Virginia College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Technology and Computer Science
https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=50990&Format=PDF
These content standards for technology and computer science are intended to provide a focus for teachers to teach and students to learn those skills and competencies essential for future success in the workplace and to further education.
West Virginia Kids Connect
This initiative installed the necessary equipment to turn all public schools, higher education institutions, county libraries, and state parks into Wi-Fi hotspots to support the learning needs of children who do not have access to the Internet in their homes.
Wisconsin Standards for Information and Technology Literacy
https://dpi.wi.gov/imt/it-literacy-standards
These standards are intended to provide an important foundation to prepare students to be college- and career-ready.
Other Resources
Digital and Media Literacy
https://www.iste.org/explore/category/digital-and-media-literacy
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has compiled resources on how to help students build foundational technology literacy skills.
Digital Equity
https://www.cosn.org/tools-resources/toolkits/digital-equity/
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) has updated its Digital Equity Toolkit. The new version spotlights ways in which schools and districts have successfully addressed digital equity challenges and identifies community engagement opportunities around digital access and inclusion.
Digital Equity Audit: Self-Assessment Tool
https://practices.learningaccelerator.org/artifacts/digital-equity-audit-self-assessment-tool
This Self-Assessment Tool is intended to foster productive dialogue within leadership teams in an iterative manner. The tool has been created to support teams when using The Learning Accelerator’s Digital Equity Guide.
Digital Equity Guide
https://practices.learningaccelerator.org/guides/digital-equity/introduction
The Learning Accelerator created this guide to support concrete, actionable conversations among school and district leaders that lead to coherent plans to address the nuance and complexity of digital equity.
Digital Equity Initiative
https://www.cosn.org/digitalequity
CoSN has several resources on closing the access gap for learning no matter where the students are, including a report on student home internet connectivity and a digital equity toolkit.
Ed-Fi Working Draft 3: Digital Equity Collection
https://techdocs.ed-fi.org/display/EFDSDRAFT/ED-FI+WORKING+DRAFT+3+-+DIGITAL+EQUITY+COLLECTION
The Ed-Fi Alliance worked with several states to set up application programming interface (API) endpoints for collecting CEDS-aligned student-level digital access data elements via the student information system.
EducationSuperHighway
https://www.educationsuperhighway.org/resources/
Since 2012, this nonprofit has provided free support to help school districts upgrade internet access in every public school classroom in America. It is now focused on providing states and school districts with the tools they need to connect the estimated 10-15 million students who lack home broadband.
Equity of Access
https://www.setda.org/priorities/equity-of-access/
The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) has published reports and compiled resources on national and state digital equity programs, broadband and Wi-Fi access, E-Rate, and federal policies and funding.
Home Digital Access Data Collection: Blueprint for State Education Leaders
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) developed a blueprint for how state leaders can facilitate the collection of high-quality data to identify which students are adversely impacted by the home digital access gap.
Plan a Successful 1:1 Technology Initiative
https://www.iste.org/explore/ISTE-blog/Plan-a-successful-1%3A1-technology-initiative
This blog post reviews the importance of 1:1 planning, explains how ISTE standards can help educators with planning, and shares lessons learned from districts.
What Remote Learning Revealed About the Benefits of 1:1 Devices
This ISTE blog post discusses the results of a survey of Michigan K-12 teachers that provide some insight into the potential positive impact for teaching and learning when students had access to a school-provided device before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.