New bill would support innovative Internet pilots for students

New legislation introduced in the US Senate would support innovative methods to give students access to the Internet and digital tools outside of classrooms. The Digital Learning Equity Act of 2015, introduced by Sen Angus King (I-ME) and Sen Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), would support pilot initiatives that increase student access to digital resources, increase student, parent, and educator engagement, and improve students’ chances to participate in new learning models. It also provides for a national study of data related to the digital divide, including barriers to students’ home Internet access, how educators confront that reality in their classrooms, and how no at-home Internet access can impact student engagement.

The bill would let states and districts pilot new programs that address the problem head-on. Districts or states might collaborate with libraries or other community partners to beef up Internet access outside school for students. Part of the legislation’s inspiration comes from a public library’s portable Wi-Fi initiative that lets students check out mobile Wi-Fi devices to access the Internet outside of school.