COVID-19

Report: Remote learning leaves poor and rural students behind

A report shows that students in rural areas and low-income districts don't have adequate access to internet service.

As schools shift toward more remote learning as a way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, many students in rural and low-income districts may suffer.

That’s one of the findings of a report by the Education Trust-Midwest, a Royal Oak-based nonprofit research and advocacy organization.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

A weekday morning email roundup of Kalamazoo stories and events.

Nearly 8% of students in the Kalamazoo Public Schools district lack digital access, meaning they don’t have internet access or a computer in the home. Other districts have it much worse: More than half of students in Mio-AuSable Schools in the northern lower peninnsula lack digital access.

Kalamazoo has recently taken steps to close the digital divide by providing free Wi-Fi to low-income households in Kalamazoo Public Schools.

You can read more at Bridge Magazine.

Independent journalism is essential to a healthy democracy. Make a donation today.