Only 27 percent of the states plan to maintain digital access K-12 as federal programs end

Key points:

Only 27 percent of the states have plans to maintain digital K-12 access as key federal programs, according to a new Setda report, the main association that represents state and territorial educational technology and digital learning leaders.

The new report, Universal connectivity imperative: maintain progress to close the digital access division in K-12 education, It arrives at a critical moment, since several federal programs that reinforced the connectivity of the students during and after the pandemic, including the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), the affordable connectivity program (ACP) and the emergency relief of The primary and secondary school (Esser), is over, ended, and the new state and federal leaders begin their policy formulation cycles after the elections of 2024.

“Universal connectivity is more than only Internet access, it is about addressing digital division to ensure that each student is prepared for postsecundary success,” said Julia Fallon, executive director of Setda. “Almost all professional careers today demand technological literacy and digital citizenship skills, not just the works of tomorrow. This report provides evidence-based strategies and processable policies recommendations to help educational leaders and state and federal policy formulators to close the digital division and build sustainable systems that guarantee that all students thrive beyond education K-12 “

The report, informed by leaders, researchers, non-profit organizations, industry representatives and students of K-12, is based on the previous research of Setda, including the previous research of Setda, including Broadband imperative series and recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/usin532b4taf28a5m943x/2024-State-edtech-Trends-Report_Final.pdf?rlkey=gmx7ar9d36lsm78x4fgdob9he&e=1&st=4rb83w1s&dl=0″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>edtech state trends information.

Key findings include:

• The sustainability of financing is a great challenge: Only 27 percent of the states have plans to maintain funds for technological initiatives previously backed by federal aid programs, despite the fact that 92 percent of school districts have used Esser funds for educational technology.
• The digital skills gap persists: While 72 percent of students receive support for the development of digital skills, only 24 percent of families receive similar assistance barriers to strengthen these critical home skills.
• Cybersecurity remains the highest priority: With K-12 schools that face cyber threats and costs ranging from $ 50,000 to $ 1 million per incident, state leaders constantly classify cybersecurity as their main concern for technology.
• The barriers of affordability continue: Almost three million homes are at risk of losing the Internet service with the sunset of the ACP, while 8.3 million may need to degrade the slower plans, directly impacting the capacity of K-12 students to learn to learn .

“The states have made remarkable progress in the connection of students with learning opportunities, but we are at a critical situation,” said Doug Casey, executive director of the Connecticut Educational technology Commission and a member of the Setda Board. “This report provides a clear road map to maintain the impulse through policy solutions that address not only access, but the complete spectrum of digital inclusion.”

The report provides specific policy recommendations to close the digital division in education. Request reliable Internet access for all K-12 students who meet the updated FCC broadband reference points and emphasize the need for individual and updated devices regularly updated to the Internet.

The report also highlights the importance of developing digital skills aligned with the learning standards developed by the community, guaranteeing the privacy of students and the safety of solid data, and the creation of inclusive and accessible digital tools and platforms to support all the Learning opportunities.

This press release Originally appeared online.

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