How Digital Equity Advocates are Supporting Students in Washington State
A blog post by Maya Totonchi
The K-12 Digital Divide in Washington State
According to a 2020 analysis by All4Ed, more than 55 million students were forced to transition to online instruction due to the pandemic. Out of those students, one in three Black, Latino, and American Indian/Alaskan Native children were unable to participate due to the lack of internet access. Over 16.9 million students remained logged out of remote instruction for the majority of the pandemic.
Digital equity advocates in Washington State are working every day to provide students with the help they need to have a successful education. They have dedicated themselves to creating programs that support households in need of low-cost broadband internet with reliable download/upload speeds. Advocates in the state legislature have also established bills that fund the promotion of digital inclusion, so Washington’s school districts can help their students get access to the technologies.
Recent State Initiatives
Several state initiatives were recently created to address the national digital divide of technology. The Digital Equity Act of 2021 was created in order to establish grant programs to support digital inclusion and make distributions to all demographics in need of technology. The Affordable Connectivity Program is a benefit program that ensures affordable internet access for households in need of Wi-Fi for work, school, and healthcare. The program has helped families with getting connected during the pandemic.
The Washington Statewide Broadband Act is a bill that works to ensure access to affordable and reliable broadband technologies in the state of Washington. The bill was enacted in hopes of enriching the lives of Washington state residents by reaching their download/upload speed goals for communities and businesses in the near future.
Graphic from digitalequityact.org
Washington State Resources
There are many resources available for students and teachers who wish to support the digital inclusion of pupils in Washington State school districts. The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction provides information on digital integration for students from different demographics and offers support for educators and school funding.
Literacy Source is an organization that helps not only students but adults who wish to have a digital education and gain literacy skills for the workplace. They support immigrants, low-income individuals, and many others who are in need of help.
A recent meeting of the Digital Equity Learning Network of Seattle & King County, hosted by Literacy Source, talks about great opportunities for students and adults who wish to gain digital skills and access to technology. For example, they offer tutoring programs which teach digital learning skills, as well as technological and troubleshooting support sessions.
They also provide English conversation and workplace classes for those who want to learn communication skills necessary for a job. For more information on available opportunities, visit the Literacy Source homepage and the DELN website.
