During the COVID-19 pandemic many students are learning remotely, which has prompted statewide efforts to close the digital gap by providing devices and internet for students that need them.
'Connecting Kids', a statewide community coalition, uses a mixture of state funds, donations, and community partnerships in an effort to ensure that all students across the state of Nevada have equitable access to virtual learning for the 2020-2021 school year.
Connecting Kids said the Silver State has reached a milestone, after receiving confirmation that 96.6 percent of students engaged in distance learning have access to reliable internet, 96.4 percent have a device, and that 94.2 percent responded to the roll call. The Nevada Department of Education and the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation & Technology have been working in close coordination to track technology needs and support solutions in communities across Nevada. As a result of those efforts, ten county school districts have achieved green status which indicates that that all students in the district who are participating in distance learning have access to a device and the internet. Green districts include Carson City, Churchill, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lincoln, Nye, Pershing, Storey, and White Pine. Currently, Esmeralda, Eureka, Lincoln, Pershing, and White Pine County School Districts are providing in-person instruction for all students, while the remaining districts are offering hybrid learning models that combine in-person and virtual instruction. ‘Connecting Kids’ continues to work in tandem with each school district and community organizations to ensure that all students are accounted for. “We are grateful that the philanthropic and business communities have come together to urgently support efforts to connect every student with high-quality learning opportunities,” says Jhone Ebert, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Our district and school leaders have been working tirelessly to meet the needs of all students and families and have made tremendous strides since Connecting Kids launched on August 10. However, we still have more work to do to reach our goal of ensuring that all students are properly equipped to participate in virtual learning.” As of September 9, 2020, there were 489,817 students enrolled in schools across the state. 28,585 have not yet responded to the roll call, 15,836 have an expressed need for reliable internet connectivity and 16,506 have an expressed need for a device. In the Washoe County School District, about 4,000 students need devices according to the local organization, Education Alliance. Education Alliance has been holding a fundraiser for laptops since April. When the COVID-19 pandemic first prompted schools to close, about 16,000 students in Washoe County needed a device. Through generous donations Education Alliance has since served thousands of students, but there is still a dire need to make sure all students have equitable access to technology. "It's very important that we keep these students on the right path to education because many of them are already dealing with poverty and paling with so many struggles on top of this," said Brittani Haggarty, the collaborative coordinator for Education Alliance. "We don't want them to fall behind." With the help of a national vendor, Education Alliance can get a laptop to a student within tow weeks after a donation is received. Laptops cost about $360 a piece and are distributed based on need. If you would like to request a device or WiFi for your student you can click
here.To donate click
here.Families are also encouraged to call their school or the the Family Support Center at (888)-616-2476 for help accessing subsidized connectivity or a device. (Connecting Kids and Education Alliance of Washoe County contributed to this report).
