Bridging the Digital Divide in the American Educational System

New York-based equities and research professional Janina Casey has supported several endeavors to reduce digital inequity. As a member of the The National Urban Technology Center, Janina Casey has helped raise funds to purchase computers for students attending under-resourced schools.

The digital divide refers to the disparity in access to high-speed internet and modern software experienced by students in underserved school districts. The divide goes along racial and socio-economic lines — children from households with an annual income of less than $36,000 are five times more likely to only have one smart device at home than their peers from higher-income households.

This lack of access to technology can make it difficult for children to complete homework assignments and for their parents to access online educational resources to supplement their child’s education.

To combat this, school districts and nonprofit organizations around the US are launching programs to increase internet access in the home and provide technology education courses to children and their parents. A Charlotte, North Carolina initiative, Project Lift, was able to increase high school graduation rates by 40 percent after implementing this type of digital equity program.