Not all kids have computers – and they’re being left behind with schools closed by the coronavirus
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
The big idea
Since 2014, the Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research, located at the University of Southern California, has been tracking trends in health economic well-being, attitudes and behaviors through a nationwide survey for its Understanding America Study, asking the same individuals questions over time.
The nationally representative survey is now assessing how COVID-19 is affecting U.S. families. This includes their health, economic status and, for the first time, educational experiences. With two other education researchers Amie Rapaport and Marshall Garland, we analyzed the educational experience data that have recently been added to the study.What we did
We worked with the broader Understanding America Study team to ask Americans about the effects the pandemic is having on students and their families.
About 1,450 families with children answered these questions between April 1 and April 15.
We found that nearly all – about 85% – of families with at least one child between kindergarten and their senior year of high school have internet access and a computer they can use for distance learning while school buildings are shuttered.
However, we found large disparities in technology access based on family income. Among the 20% of American households who make US$25,000 or less a year, just 63% of schoolchildren have access to a computer and the internet. In comparison, essentially all students from the most affluent families – those whose parents make $150,000 annually or more – do. CONTINUE READING: Not all kids have computers – and they’re being left behind with schools closed by the coronavirus – Raw Story