The overwhelming majority of states – 73 percent – will struggle to maintain K-12 digital access as key Federal programs supporting those efforts come to a close, according to a new report from the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA).
The report – Universal Connectivity Imperative: Sustaining Progress to Close the Digital Access Divide in K-12 Education – found that only 27 percent of states have plans to sustain K-12 digital access as Federal programs lapse.
Several Federal programs that supported student connectivity during and after the pandemic – including the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) – have either recently ended or will soon do so.
For the report, SETDA gathered information from Federal, state, and local government leaders, researchers, nonprofit organizations, industry representatives, and K-12 students and teachers.
In a press release, the organization highlighted key findings including:
- Funding sustainability is a major challenge: Only 27 percent of states have plans to sustain funding for technology initiatives previously supported by Federal relief programs, despite 92 percent of school districts having used ESSER funds for educational technology.
- Digital skills gap persists: While 72 percent of students receive digital skills development support, just 24 percent of families receive similar assistance. SETDA said this creates barriers to reinforcing critical skills at home.
- Cybersecurity remains top priority: With K-12 schools facing increasing cyber threats and costs ranging from $50,000 to $1 million per incident, state leaders consistently rank cybersecurity as their top technology concern.
- Affordability barriers continue: Nearly three million households risk losing internet service with the ACP’s sunset, while 8.3 million may need to downgrade to slower plans.
“States have made remarkable progress in connecting students to learning opportunities, but we’re at a critical juncture,” said Doug Casey, Executive Director of the Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology and SETDA board member. “This report provides a clear roadmap for maintaining momentum through policy solutions that address not just access, but the full spectrum of digital inclusion.”
In the report, SETDA also provides policy recommendations to close the digital divide in K-12 education.
The report calls for reliable internet access for all K-12 students that meets updated FCC broadband benchmarks and stresses the need for individual, regularly updated internet-enabled devices. The report also discusses the importance of developing digital skills aligned with community-developed learning standards.
SETDA said that digital skills need to be focused on ensuring robust student privacy and data security, and creating inclusive, accessible digital tools and platforms to support all learning opportunities.
