Broadband Internet Accessibility and Digital Inclusion Issues

Summary

A presentation titled Broadband Internet Accessibility and Digital Inclusion Issues, given to the ITED Committee on September 30, 2020 by Dennis Small and Steve Young of OSPI. It lists the issues as access to broadband connectivity, devices for at-home learning, support for students and parents, technical support, and multiple family members online at once. It reports that in May 2020, 81% of students had reliable broadband internet connectivity, and that as of August 2020 about 3% of students (estimated 30,000 statewide) had no learning device available. It describes a K-12 Internet Access Program funded with $8.8 million in CARES Act money, in which Comcast, Presidio, and Ziply responded to an RFQ to offer 2 free months of service followed by $10/month.

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Issuer: Congressional materials
Document type: 2020 09 30 A26949 D223615 Ospi Broadband Internet Accessibility And Digital Inclusion
Date: 2020-09-30
Case: 2020 09 30 A26949 D223615 Ospi Broadband Internet Accessibility And Digital Inclusion

Cite this document

“Broadband Internet Accessibility and Digital Inclusion Issues.” Original at app.leg.wa.gov, dated 2020-09-30. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2020-09-30-2020-09-30-a26949-d223615-ospi-broadband-internet-accessibility-and-digital-inclusion/, SHA-256 e3250a1c795f531df748bcda0e2466cbcb788b72d34c75cd6471f533b327b801.

Full text

  Broadband Internet
Accessibility and Digital
    Inclusion Issues
    ITED Committee Presentation
        September 30, 2020
  Dennis Small & Steve Young, OSPI
 Vision   All students prepared for post-secondary pathways, careers, and
          civic engagement.



Mission
          Transform K–12 education to a system that is centered on closing
          opportunity gaps and is characterized by high expectations for all
          students and educators. We achieve this by developing equity-
          based policies and supports that empower educators, families,
          and communities.




 Values   •
          •
              Ensuring Equity
              Collaboration and Service
          •   Achieving Excellence through Continuous Improvement
          •   Focus on the Whole Child
Equity Statement   Each student, family, and community possesses strengths and
                   cultural knowledge that benefits their peers, educators, and
                   schools.
                   Ensuring educational equity:
                   • Goes beyond equality; it requires education leaders to examine
                     the ways current policies and practices result in disparate
                     outcomes for our students of color, students living in poverty,
                     students receiving special education and English Learner
                     services, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and highly mobile
                     student populations.
                   • Requires education leaders to develop an understanding of
                     historical contexts; engage students, families, and community
                     representatives as partners in decision-making; and actively
                     dismantle systemic barriers, replacing them with policies and
                     practices that ensure all students have access to the instruction
                     and support they need to succeed in our schools.
     Internet Accessibility and Digital
              Inclusion Issues
• Access to broadband connectivity
• Devices for at home learning
• Support for students, parents, and others who are assisting
  students in remote learning
  • Technical support
  • Multiple family members online at the same time
  • Getting connected and staying connected to remote learning
                                            Connectivity

May 2020                                 81% of students had reliable broadband
                                         internet connectivity

Start of 2020-21                         80-89% of students have adequate
school year:                             technology and connectivity to learn
                                         remotely.


Sources: Spring Survey (May 17 through May 23) and Home Digital Access Data Collection (August 2020)
Estimates assume that reporting districts are representative of all districts.
                                  Student Technology
As of August 2020:
     • ~97% of students had a device adequate for online learning.
     • ~3% of students (estimated 30,000 statewide) did not have a learning
       device available.
     • An additional 10% of students (estimated 115,000 statewide) were
       thought to be sharing a learning device.



Source: Home Digital Access Data Collection (August 2020)
*Percentages based on student enrollment counts for the 2020–2021, as reported by districts in the Home Digital Access Data
Collection. Statewide estimate assumes that reporting districts are representative of all districts.
                                  Student Technology
April 2020                        ~48% of students (estimated 545,000 students
                                      statewide) had a district-issued device to
                                      use at home.

August 2020                       ~74% of students (estimated 820,000 students
                                      statewide) had a district-owned device for
                                      use at home.
Sources: Spring Survey (April 2020) Home Digital Access Data Collection (August 2020)
*Percentages based on April 1 CEDARS enrollment data, and student enrollment counts for the 2020–2021, as reported by districts in
the Home Digital Access Data Collection. Statewide estimate assumes that reporting districts are representative of all districts.
       K–12 Internet Access Program
  Agreements with Internet Service Providers
• $8.8 million in CARES Act funding to provide internet access to
  students whose families are low-income and who are not
  currently connected to internet
• Funding available through the end of 2020–21 school year
• Comcast, Presidio, and Ziply responded successfully to RFQ to
  provide 2 free months of 25MB/3MB broadband service followed
  by $10/month (plus taxes & fees) to eligible families, without
  regard to unpaid bills or other economic qualifications
          K–12 Internet Access Program
             District Reimbursements
• Partial reimbursement to school districts, tribal schools, and charter
  schools who entered into their own agreements with internet
  service providers.
• Districts may use these funds to cover costs incurred on or after
  September 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
• $10 of the recurring monthly costs (plus taxes and fees, up to $15
  total) is eligible for reimbursement.
• One-time costs (e.g., purchase of hotspots) are not eligible for
  reimbursement, nor can funding be provided for families who were
  already receiving broadband internet access prior to August 2020.
k12.wa.us            facebook.com/waospi


twitter.com/waospi   youtube.com/waospi


medium.com/waospi    linkedin.com/company/waospi

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File: 2020-09-30_a26949_d223615_ospi-broadband-internet-accessibility-and-digital-inclusion-.pdf
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Our copy: 2020-09-30_a26949_d223615_ospi-broadband-internet-accessibility-and-digital-inclusion-.pdf
Original: app.leg.wa.gov