Homework Gap
16.9 million children remain logged out because they don’t have internet at home.
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For Release: March 10, 2021
Contact: Dorie Turner Nolt, 404.861.1127, dturnernolt@all4ed.org
This statement was updated on March 11 to remove a reference to a set-aside for educational technology, which was removed from the final bill.
“As we approach the one-year anniversary of nationwide COVID-19 school closures, Washington is finally stepping up in support of our children. The American Rescue Plan Act is the most important piece of legislation for education since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools 12 months ago and offers the relief that schools need to begin helping all students, particularly the most vulnerable, recover from this crisis. The bill provides $126 billion in much-needed resources for school districts—eight times what the federal government spends on Title I each year—including a requirement that 20% be set aside for learning loss. The legislation also includes $7.2 billion to help close the digital divide for the 17 million children living in homes without internet access. In addition, $800 million of the bill will support the educational needs of children experiencing homelessness, our most vulnerable population of students so far in this pandemic. We are grateful to President Biden for setting the vision for this bill and to the House and Senate for passing this critical funding. We call on the U.S. Department of Education to implement this legislation immediately so that schools can begin receiving this money as quickly as possible.”
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Deborah S. Delisle is the president and CEO of the Alliance for Excellent Education and served as assistant secretary of elementary and secondary education from 2012 to 2015.Â
The Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed) is a Washington, DC–based national policy, practice, and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all students, particularly those underperforming and those historically underserved, graduate from high school ready for success in college, work, and citizenship. all4ed.org
