New Data: Nearly Half of Schools Providing Home Internet Access to Students Who Need It This School Year

• By Kristal Kuykendall
• 09/27/22

Survey results released today by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics shows that as of the start of the 2022–23 school year, almost half of K–12 public schools reported providing internet access to students who need it at their homes, and almost three quarters are providing training on digital literacy for their students.

"These data released today on schools offering additional digital literacy training to English learners and students with IEPs and 504 plans suggest schools are aware of digital disparities and are working to reduce them," NCES Associate Commissioner Chris Chapman said in a news release. "We are appreciative to the schools that participated in the School Pulse Panel and have shared their experiences responding to the pandemic."

The August survey, part of the monthly polling project by the School Pulse Panel included 900 participating schools, NCES said.

Key K–12 Technology Findings for 2022–23

• Entering the 2022–23 school year, nearly half of public schools surveyed, or 45% of respondents, reported that they are providing internet access to the students who need it at their homes.
  • 41% said they were not providing internet access to students at home, and 13% said they didn’t know.
• More than half of public schools surveyed, 56%, reported providing internet access to the students who need it at a location other than their home, such as in a library or parking lot.
  • 27% said they were not providing internet access to students who need it at a location other than their home, and 17% said they didn’t know.
• An overwhelming majority — 94% — of public schools surveyed reported they are providing digital devices, such as laptops or tablets, to students who need them for the 2022–23 school year.
  • Just 4% of respondents said they were not providing digital devices this school year.
• When asked whether students are being provided IT or technical support for problems with their internet or computers this school year, 87% said yes and 9% answered no.
• When asked whether teachers or non-teaching staff are being provided IT or technical support for problems with their internet or computers, 97% said yes and 2% answered no.
• Nearly three-quarters of respondents, or 72%, said their school offers training on digital literacy for students.
  • Among schools providing digital literacy training to students, 68% reported providing additional training to students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans, and 62% reported providing additional training to English learners, beyond the training offered to all students.
  • 23% said they are not offering students training on digital literacy, and 5% responded “don’t know.”

View the full report and past survey findings on the School Pulse Panel website.