ERIC Number: ED672841
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 24
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Unfinished Business: Understanding the Digital Access Divide in American Schools. Special Report 1
Project Tomorrow
Project Tomorrow's Speak Up® Research reports have advocated for a broader definition of the digital divide to include access challenges at home and the obstacles K-12 students face in gaining access to high quality digital tools and resources to support classroom learning. Project Tomorrow, in collaboration with Spectrum Business, is creating a new series of reports that examine each of the three digital divides (the access, design and use divides) through the lens of the Speak Up Research findings. In this first report in the special series, the authors examine the state of the digital access divide in America's classrooms through the eyes and experiences of K-12 teachers and students. While other reports including from Project Tomorrow document the homework gap realities with home access that persist today, this report focuses on the inequities that still exist regarding access to technology and Internet access in the classroom despite significant investments in digital learning devices, online curriculum and content and Internet connectivity within schools. Where appropriate, the report references longitudinal data from the Speak Up Research dataset from 2003-2023 to provide additional context. School level demographic analysis of the research findings enables greater clarity to understand where gaps and unfinished business still exist relative to technology access. [This report was created in partnership with Spectrum Enterprise, a part of Charter Communications, Inc.]
Descriptors: Access to Computers, Disadvantaged, Elementary Secondary Education, Access to Internet, Electronic Learning, Barriers, Laptop Computers, Tablet Computers, 21st Century Skills, Educational Technology, Urban Schools, Suburban Schools, Rural Schools, Disadvantaged Schools, Teacher Attitudes, Student Attitudes, Handheld Devices
Project Tomorrow. 15707 Rockfield Boulevard Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92618. Tel: 949-609-4660; Fax: 949-609-4665; e-mail: speakup@tomorrow.org; Web site: http://www.tomorrow.org
Related Records: ED672842
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Project Tomorrow
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A