Coronavirus lockdown, lack of broadband could lead to 'education breakdown'

The coronavirus pandemic has forced a lockdown of millions of people around the world, and New York, where schools have been shut down since March 16, and teachers and students have resorted to distance learning with online classes. But Larissa Rosa, an English-as-a-second-language teacher at Public School 7 Samuel Stern in the East Harlem neighborhood of New York, said at least 45 of the roughly 400 students at her school haven't logged on once. There are many reasons why students may not be showing up, such as parents working or families that are dealing with the virus, but one of the biggest issues she hears from families is a lack of broadband access. This is happening everywhere from big cities to rural parts of the country. Some schools have been taking matters into their own hands and have found creative ways to bring broadband to their students. Some think the Federal Communications Commission should be doing more to ensure that the people who aren't connected have a way to get online.