Coalition Letter to the US Senate Regarding the Emergency Connectivity Fund and Addressing the Homework Gap ; Coalition Letter on the Homework Gap During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The undersigned 58 education and related national associations support the $7 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund, contained in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, H.R. 1319, that would allow the Federal Communications Commission to provide one-time emergency support for schools and libraries to purchase technology and devices needed to provide home Internet connectivity through the E-rate program. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and schools continue to adapt to in school, hybrid and remote learning, students and educators lacking Internet access are at great disadvantage, or worse, shut out of teaching and learning. According to a recent study, 12 million K-12 students continue to lack the Internet connectivity at home needed to complete schoolwork nearly a year into this pandemic.1 They are caught in the cruelest aspect of the digital divide – the “homework gap” – because they are unable to participate in online learning, after-school enrichment, and programs that help address loss of opportunities to learn during this difficult time. Also, a disproportionate number of students lacking Internet access are Black, Brown or Indigenous, come from low-income households, and rural areas. These students are depending on schools and libraries to help bridge the homework gap. ; AASA, The School Superintendents Association Advance CTE Alliance for Excellent Education American Federation of School Administrators American Federation of Teachers American Library Association American Psychological Association American School Counselor Association ASCD Association for Career and Technical Education Association of Educational Service Agencies Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) Children's Health Fund Code.org Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Committee for Children Common Sense CoSN - Consortium for School Networking Council for Exceptional Children Council of Administrators of Special Education Council of ...