There is still work to be done: 23.5 million students attend schools every day that still lack sufficient bandwidth to support digital learning in every classroom
WASHINGTON, November 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Connected Nation’s (CN) Connect K-12 program, in partnership with Funds For Learning (FFL), released its 2022 School Connectivity Report. The annual report, now in its third iteration, includes insights into the country’s progress towards meeting the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) bandwidth target of 1 Mbps per student in US schools.
The latest data shows that 67% of school districts across the country are now meeting this bandwidth goal. In addition, the median cost per megabit for schools meeting the FCC target has come down $1 for the first time.
“These are significant milestones for our nation’s school districts as they strive to ensure digital teaching and learning is possible for all students regardless of location,” he said Emily Jordan, CN Vice President for Educational Initiatives. “Just two years ago, the number of districts that met the FCC goal was less than half, at just 47%. The good news is that the cost of internet access is now lower than ever, allowing more districts to upgrade affordably.”
In fact, in less than 10 years, the median cost per megabit for schools meeting the FCC target has dropped significantly – from $11.73 in 2015 to $4.90 2017 to $0.97 in 2022. However, there is still a lot to do.
“Right now, a third of school districts are still not reaching the capacity threshold needed to enable digital learning in every classroom every day,” Jordan said. “That makes 23.5 million students The United States who still need improved access.”
Data in the 2022 School Connectivity Report was compiled and analyzed by CN in collaboration with FFL and is available to the public on the ConnectK12.org website.
The free site aggregates, analyzes and visualizes data from the federal E-Rate program and internet pricing for schools to provide state and district leaders with the critical information they need to negotiate better internet pricing packages and identify broadband solutions.
As a result, Connectk12.org provides both a national snapshot of school connectivity and a county-level look at the data. Key findings include:
- 67% of school districts across the country now meet or exceed 1 Mbps per student
- 21.3 million students have adequate bandwidth in their classrooms, an increase of more than 3 million students since 2021
- 4,304 districts across the country have Internet service contracts that are about to expire – presenting a significant opportunity to upgrade for less
- Districts that do not meet the FCC target pay a higher median price per megabit – $1.75 per Mbps, compared to $0.97 Mbps for those who reach the goal
- The States of Arkansas, Hawaiiand North Dakota have met or exceeded the FCC bandwidth target for 100% of their students
If you have any questions about CK12, please contact Emily Jordan at [email protected].
SOURCE Connected Nation
