As charter public schools turn to distance learning during this pandemic, leaders and staff are working overtime to ensure that equity is a core part of their online schooling efforts.
The transition to an online-based education is not an easy one. Many charter school students do not have proper devices or access to reliable Internet to sustain weeks of online schooling—the result of a persistent digital divide in California.
Even still, charter schools are taking on this challenge across our state. Facing an indefinite period of closure that could last through the remainder of the school year, many are providing students with the devices and Internet access they need to continue learning.
The Fortune School, founded by our board chair Margaret Fortune, distributed Chromebooks at various sites in Sacramento. As Margaret noted in her announcement of the distribution, the Chromebooks were specifically for students without a single device at home and in jeopardy of learning loss.
Photo credit: Fortune School of Education
Meanwhile, the East Bay Innovation Academy in Oakland closed its school on March 13 and moved quickly to distribute over 70 Chromebooks to students who needed them most. The school also purchased Zoom accounts for their teachers to more easily move all instruction online.
Photo credit: East Bay Innovation Academy
In Southern California, KIPP So Cal Public Schools gathered, prepped, wiped, and distributed close to 2,000 remote learning devices to provide every student with the opportunity for distance learning. And ICEF Public Schools, a Los Angeles-based charter school network, delivered nearly 1,400 Chromebooks.
Photo credit: KIPP SoCal Public Schools
Photo credit: ICEF Public Schools
We applaud charter school leaders, teachers, and staff for working quickly to break down the digital divide and help students most in need. In this time of crisis, they are all demonstrating that our movement’s commitment to educational equity is stronger than ever.
Let us know how your school is tackling the digital divide by tagging @calcharters on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
