The paper looks at the gap between internet connectivity at schools and within under-resourced, low-income communities, which is often referred to as the homework divide. The author looks at data collected from schools in two different cities—Marion, Alabama, and Phoenix, Arizona, where access at school is high due to participation in the ConnectED initiative, a program launched under the Obama administration to accelerate on-site internet access.
The paper explores both the availability of service and the capacity of the local communities; especially libraries, community-based organizations, and local businesses; to help close the digital divide between home and school and address the homework gap. Researchers and educators will both want to read the series of proposals and programs the author offers at the end of the paper.
Source Organization: Brookings