The COVID crisis has affected everyone, around the world, no matter what their background or income. But there are some people who have been affected more than others. Minority students have been heavily impacted by the lack of sufficient broadband, qualified teachers; access to age-appropriate curricula; and the lack of broadband (NAACP).

The Changes to Education in a COVID World

COVID has changed the way that schooling takes place throughout the country, and while many debate the safety of sending students to school versus the quality of online education, there are other things that aren’t being looked at. The most important of these is just how online education will work for those who are most in need and disadvantaged.

Most parts of the country have determined that attending in-person schooling is unsafe at this point in the pandemic (source). Sending children to buildings, even with social distancing procedures in place will only increase the spread and therefore, it’s important for children to remain home. But what does that mean for students without access?

The Problem of Online Education for Children

Staying home and completing classes sounds like a great idea because it gives children the opportunity to still get the education they need without the potential risk of going to a physical school, but many children may not have the ability to participate in this type of education at the level they need.

Access to technology is a barrier but is necessary in order to complete online education (source). That means a mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer that they can use to complete their homework or ‘attend’ classes from home. In fact, it’s believed that 1 in 10 children in the US has little or no access to technology that can be used for learning (source). But that’s not the only problem.

Wireless internet or any form of internet in their home is another barrier. As a result, they are less likely to be able to log onto the website needed to ‘attend’ courses or to research the information they need to complete assignments. This is especially apparent for children who have unemployed caregivers, and parents who lack the knowledge themselves to share content information (source).

Conclusion

While we can all agree that keeping children out of schools is important at this time, it’s essential that we look at the toll this will take on the education that students receive. Luckily schools are working hard to get it right by deploying hotspots in community spaces that will allow students to connect, providing needs-based funding for students who may need access to wifi in their homes, and fundraising to provide 1:1 access so everyone is gifted a computer. Minority students are at the highest risk because of this change in education, and making decisions and implementing policies that will help them receive access to the curriculum is crucial as we move forward.

References:

Collis, Victoria, and Emiliana Vegas. “Unequally Disconnected: Access to Online Learning in the US.” Brookings, Brookings, 23 June 2020, www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2020/06/22/unequally-disconnected-access-to-online-learning-in-the-us/.

Strauss, Valerie. “Analysis | An Old Story Made New Again: Why Students of Color Are Primed to Be Left behind in the Coronavirus Crisis.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 24 Apr. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/04/24/an-old-story-made-new-again-why-students-color-are-primed-be-left-behind-covid-19-crisis/.

“NAACP | Coronavirus Impact on Students and Education Systems.” NAACP, naacp.org/coronavirus/coronavirus-impact-on-students-and-education-systems/.

Vogels, E., Perrin, A., Rainie, L., & Anderson, M. (2020, May 31). 53% of Americans Say the Internet Has Been Essential During the COVID-19 Outbreak. Retrieved November 18, 2020, from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/04/30/53-of-americans-say-the-internet-has-been-essential-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/