Congressional fight over funding for digital learning could leave behind as many as 15 million kids

As the coronavirus pandemic keeps many schools at least partially online, educators are scrambling to ensure both students and teachers can connect to the Internet. But so far the two parties can't agree on how to make that happen, potentially leaving more than 15 million children without a way to learn this fall.

Educators hope the next coronavirus relief package, which is still mired in partisan sniping, will provide funding specifically earmarked for helping students and teachers get online. Democratic lawmakers want to include $4 billion in funding specifically dedicated to virtual learning needs. Funds in their plan would be distributed through the Federal Communications Commission's E-Rate program that helps schools and libraries obtain affordable broadband access. The House version of the next relief package was approved with $1.5 billion in funding for WiFi hotspots, connected devices and other telecommunications services to schools and libraries.

Republican lawmakers have proposed $70 billion in overall funding for K-12 education, a pot of money they say recipients could also use for virtual learning. “However, the bill misses the mark and falls far short of the needs facing our nation's schools,” 16 education groups including the School Superintendents Association and National Education Association wrote in a letter to Senate leadership on July 30. The groups also expressed concern with GOP plans to tie that funding to the physical reopening of schools, which some educators have pushed back against as cases of the virus spike across the country.