OPINION: College in a pandemic is tough enough — without reliable broadband access, it’s nearly impossible
Author: Ray Schroeder
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OPINION: College in a pandemic is tough enough — without reliable broadband access, it’s nearly impossible
by TED MITCHELL and JAMIENNE STUDLEY, Hechinger Report
Sadly, though, the reality is that millions of Americans — in rural and urban areas alike, and including many underrepresented minorities — lack the reliable broadband connections needed to access postsecondary and K-12 education in a nation that remains in partial lockdown. This longstanding digital divide for learners of all ages has morphed into a divide that is keeping these vulnerable students offline during a critical period. This means that students living in online “education deserts,” who already face significant barriers to success, are being locked out of the postsecondary education that is so important to so many individuals’ prospects for future prosperity and civic engagement.