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Research and guidelines on schools' use of the Internet |
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Schools bridging the digital divide
Education leaders recognize that schools can help bridge the digital divide. Nearly half (49 percent) of the districts surveyed provide formal technology training to all students. More than 35 percent offer computers to families at free or reduced prices.
Large districts are significantly more interested in technology equity than small districts; 88 percent of large districts rated their interest as "very" or "extremely" high, compared to 57 percent of small districts.
Funding is still a barrier to equity. Some 72 percent of large school districts say they face barriers in providing their schools with access to the Internet. About one-third of all districts cite hardware as a barrier, while 16 percent report that software is a barrier. Urban school districts are more likely to report barriers to Internet access than suburban or rural districts. Equally telling, 16 percent of all school districts surveyed report that lack of time for staff training is a barrier to providing school access to the Internet.
Still, school leaders believe federal funding has been instrumental in helping to bridge the digital divide. Seventy-one percent of district leaders cited the E-rate program and 17 percent cited the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund with funding technology and influencing Internet use in schools. (E-rate is a federal program that provides discounted telecommunications services to schools. The Technology Literacy Challenge Fund, a competitive federal program, helps states and school districts develop and implement technology plans.)
Schools help families get computers
| Are there barriers to providing Internet access to all students and teachers? |
Percentage of respondents |
| None: No barriers to Internet access |
45% |
| Lack of funding for hardware |
33% |
| Lack of funding for software |
16% |
| Lack of time to train staff |
16% |
| Lack of existing networking infrastructure |
12% |
| Other (Lack of state/community support, hidden Maintenance, need for increased bandwidth) |
6% |
| Multiple responses permitted |
| Source: Grunwald Associates |
| How important are tech equity issues in your district |
Not/
somewhat important |
Important |
Very/
extremely important |
| |
Percentage of respondents |
| Large districts |
4% |
8% |
88% |
| Medium districts |
14% |
10% |
76% |
| Small districts |
20% |
23% |
57% |
| Source: Grunwald Associates |
| What steps, if any, are your schools taking to address equity issues? |
Percentage of respondents |
| Community |
|
| Sell used/reduced/free price equipment |
36% |
| Provide adult training |
42% |
| School implementation |
|
| Provide technical training for all students |
49% |
| Equal funds and access at each school within district |
2% |
| Source: Grunwald Associates |
| Where do you think the primary source money for technology will be coming from in the next three years? |
Large Districts |
Medium Districts |
Small Districts |
| |
Percentage of Respondents |
| Federal |
29% |
20% |
20% |
| Local |
32% |
41% |
36% |
| State |
23% |
24% |
28% |
| More than one response was sometimes offered by respondents |
| Source: Grunwald Associates |
| Please name the two most important outside initiatives. |
Percentage of respondents |
| E-rate |
71% |
| State-funded initiatives |
34% |
| Technology Literacy Challenge Fund |
17% |
| State Ed. Telecommunications Networks |
10% |
| Title I |
10% |
| Multiple responses permitted
|
| Source: Grunwald Associates |
| How have the E-rate savings been used? |
Percentage of respondents |
| Networking |
42% |
| General technology fund |
20% |
| Hardware/software |
21% |
| Other (general fund, professional development) |
16% |
| N/A (unsure, no savings, not eligible) |
11% |
| Telephone service |
10% |
| Percentages of those who identified E-rate funding as an important outside initiative |
| Source: Grunwald Associates |
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