Back-to-school preparations look different this year, as many schools have chosen to start virtually, and as a result the most-needed school supply may be internet connectivity. Many school-age children lack the necessary devices or connectivity, however, leading to fears that this digital divide may widen existing disparities in academic performance. In an op-ed for InsideSources, AAF’s Director of Technology and Innovation Policy Jennifer Huddleston discusses different policy options that can help bridge the digital divide both during the pandemic and beyond.

An excerpt:

To help teachers, students and families in this unique back-to-school situation, policymakers should seek solutions that do not erect further barriers to accessing technology and build on the successful internet infrastructure that America’s hands-off approach has fostered.

The right policy choices made in the coming months can help bridge the digital divide both during the pandemic and the years to come.

Read the full op-ed.