Virtual victory? Hamilton County (TN) educators confident with connection to students during stay-at-home orders

Despite Hamilton County (TN) Schools' efforts to ensure students had technology and teachers had a game plan, many educators say academic engagement wasn't where they'd like it to be. In many cases, access to broadband internet or Wi-Fi was the biggest barrier for student learning. Despite Chattanooga (TN) recently being recognized as a 2020 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer for the city's efforts to promote broadband services, Hamilton County Schools officials estimate that at least 1 in 4 students lack access to the internet at home. Even though middle and high school students already had access to Chromebooks before schools closed — and the district gave out hundreds to elementary school students — some still had to sit in parking lots outside of schools or churches to get online. As of May 13, district officials confidently said that fewer than 300 of Hamilton County's nearly 45,000 students have not been able to be reached or contacted by a school official during this last week of school.