ERIC Number: ED615686
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Jun
Pages: 50
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Keeping Students Connected and Learning: Strategies for Deploying School District Wireless Networks as a Sustainable Solution to Connect Students at Home
Office of Educational Technology, US Department of Education
In spring 2020, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the shift to hybrid and remote learning for most schools turned what was once a "homework gap" into a "learning opportunity gap" as devices and internet access became necessary in order to keep students connected and learning. The purpose of this brief is to present strategies for deploying off-campus wireless networks as a sustainable solution to provide home connectivity to all students and educators. This brief shows how school districts have taken diverse approaches to build off-campus wireless networks. Off-campus wireless networks offer a possible long-term approach to solving the home connectivity gap. They may not be a viable solution in all districts; however, we hope the examples highlighted in this brief contribute to the discussion of sustainable, long-term solutions for providing equitable access to high-quality education. The six models highlighted in the brief include: (1) ACPS@Home, Albemarle County Public Schools, Albemarle, VA; (2) Northeast Nebraska Tribal Education Broadband Service, Nebraska Indian Community College (NICC), Northeast NE; (3) ICOE BorderLink Infrastructure Initiative, Imperial County Office of Education, Imperial County, CA; (4) LUSD Community Wi-Fi Network, Lindsay Unified School District, Lindsay, CA; (5) Livewire ConnectME Program, Boulder Valley School District, Boulder, CO; and (6) FUSD Personalized Learning Initiative, Fresno Unified School District, Fresno, CA.
Descriptors: Educational Technology, Technology Uses in Education, Access to Computers, COVID-19, Pandemics, School Closing, Distance Education, School Districts, Telecommunications, Internet, American Indian Education, American Indian Students, Partnerships in Education, Low Income Students, Barriers, English Language Learners, Undocumented Immigrants, Homeless People, Minority Group Students, Needs Assessment, Legislation, Financial Support, Elementary Secondary Education, Postsecondary Education, Networks, Equal Education
Office of Educational Technology, US Department of Education. Available from: ED Pubs. P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Tel: 202-401-1444; Fax: 202-401-3941; Web site: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/index.html
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Manhattan Strategy Group (MSG)
Authoring Institution: Department of Education (ED), Office of Educational Technology; Department of Education (ED), Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development
Identifiers - Location: Virginia; Nebraska; California; Colorado (Boulder); California (Fresno)
Grant or Contract Numbers: EDESE15A0012/91990019F0395
Author Affiliations: N/A