Katherine Munal, ExcelinEd in Action Legislative Affairs Director, issued the following statement on the Texas House unanimously passing House Bill 5 to close the digital divide.
“To succeed in 21st-century learning, every student must have access to devices, connectivity and skills training. Through House Bill 5, Texas is helping students overcome challenges with affordability and access to broadband and digital learning.
“Low-income and rural students are more likely to have difficulty accessing grade-level appropriate devices and broadband connections for at-home learning. Prioritizing funding for digital connectivity and devices for these families will ensure students have the tools to keep learning and reach their full potential.
“ExcelinEd in Action applauds Speaker Dade Phelan, Representative Trent Ashby and the Texas House for prioritizing students’ learning needs.”
The Governor’s Broadband Development Council was established to research how broadband development and deployment affects students and educators. As part of its efforts, the Council will study and monitor the progress of broadband deployment in underserved areas, the deployment of broadband statewide and the purchasing patterns of broadband by consumers statewide.
Highlights of HB 5:
ExcelinEd in Action applauds the Council’s inclusion of education, technology, broadband and other voices to participate on the council. These are key stakeholders who can work together to produce innovative solutions to close the digital divide. It would be beneficial for the Council to include, as a part of its objectives, an annual K-12 digital connectivity needs assessment to track student and educator access to virtual learning.
For more information on digital access and equity, visit ExcelinEd’s policy library.
