Parkland School District in Pennsylvania, like many of the nation’s public school systems, is seeing increases in student poverty rates and English language proficiency — trends that could make any existing digital divides worse. But Parkland school leaders are taking proactive steps to improve digital equity.

Tracy Smith, Parkland’s assistant to the superintendent for operations, spoke with EdTech about the district’s strategies and best practices for improving digital equity and shared her hopes for bringing broadband to every home in the Lehigh Valley region.  

EDTECH: What challenges related to digital equity are you facing in your district?

Smith: There needs to be a lot of professional development and a change in mindset from teacher-oriented instruction to empowering students to take more ownership of learning. As a one-to-one district, we need to ensure that essential infrastructure for students is available beyond the walls of their schools. Education now is 24/7. Parents are a critical partner in this. We’ve done surveys, and 3 percent of our students — about 300 kids — don’t have internet access at home.

We also have seen increases in the free- and reduced-price lunch population and the English-language learner population, and we are trying to address our challenges. For example, some staffers say, “How do I teach a class where four students speak a different language?” We’ve experimented with Microsoft Translator, which provides translation on the students’ Chromebooks when the teacher is talking. We’ve played with it, and it’s remarkable. Technology can make a difference, and in this case it’s a good fit.

MORE FROM EDTECH: Learn how mobile apps might help close the “homework gap.”

EDTECH: How are you solving the digital-equity problem?

Smith: For us, the fix is a combination of purchasing Kajeet hotspots and working with EveryoneOn, a nonprofit that partners with service providers to offer low-cost internet for qualifying parents. We also work with our community library to make sure they are a resource.

We have about 75 Kajeet hotspots, and they’re a great solution. Students can have them for about two weeks. If students need something longer term, EveryoneOn is a solution. If that’s not affordable, we work with students, and in some cases we will extend their use of the Kajeet hotspots.