Minnesota schools are facing a chasm between the haves and have-nots over equal broadband access

Minnesota's schools increasingly turn to the Internet for everything from science testing to foreign language classes. That's why Minnesota needs to heed a new study suggesting that disparities in Internet access are leaving some students far behind their peers in learning opportunities.

There are wide gaps in the broadband speeds that are available from district to district, according to the study by the Center for Rural Policy and Development in St. Peter. Beyond questions of fairness, the findings raise cause for concern about the state's economic prospects. Too many Minnesota students lack full access to technological tools that are essential components of the training for jobs of the future.