Worcester is leaving low-income students behind

Full and original article posted on CommonWealth Magazine

THE COVID-19 CRISIS has thrown into relief the need for us to reassess the use of technology in education, public access to digital devices, and robust, reliable broadband as we make the shift from face-to-face to remote solutions for teaching and learning. In the months since the pandemic forced school closures, we have accelerated what had been an evolutionary approach to increased opportunities for student-centered, project-based learning with online features, to an immediate implementation of remote engagement as a foundation for all education.

Unfortunately, in Worcester, this shift has been stymied by uneven and inequitable access to these essential tools for learning.  According to the Worcester Regional Research Bureau study, Broadening Broadband, only 67 percent of city households had a broadband internet subscription, and 18 percent had no internet access.

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