House Passes Keeping Students Connected Bill in Washington State, Moves to Senate
The COVID-19 pandemic has shed additional light on the digital divide. Students and families without personal computers or internet access are struggling to attend online school or access vital governmental and healthcare resources from home. According to recent Census data, about 6.2% of U.S households (or 7. 6 million households) do not have a computer at home. The closures of library and school computer labs have only exacerbated the issue among underserved communities that relied on them for connectivity.
In response to this worsening divide, Washington State representatives worked to develop HB1365, or the Keeping Students Connected bill, which is intended to address the need for devices among public schools in the state. This bill relates to procuring and supporting appropriate computers and devices for public school students and instructional staff. It also includes digital literacy training for students and families who would need additional support adopting the technology at home. If enacted, HB1365 will require school districts to provide learning devices to all students and instructional staff. The bill will also enable ‘Digital Navigator’ programming, which would provide technical assistance in multiple languages, as well as device repair in each district. Proposed programs would be funded by taxes earned on the sales of wireless devices.
As a nonprofit organization that provides low-income families with access to technology, InterConnection supports this bill. It would help bridge the digital divide among underserved groups across Washington.
HB1365 passed the Washington House Chamber on March 1st, 2021. To track this bill’s movement and find out when it will be introduced to the Washington State Senate, visit the Washington State Legislature.
Please ask Washington State Senators to support HB1365 so all Washington public school students can continue their education during these times of uncertainty.