Bridging the Digital Divide in Education

What is the digital divide in education? Put simply, some students have regular access to high-quality digital resources, and others don’t. This gap impacts everything from basic schoolwork to future job readiness. Where students live, their family’s income, and the resources available at their schools all play a huge role in whether they have access to things like fast internet, reliable devices, and digital skills training. The COVID-19 pandemic only highlighted these differences. When remote learning became the norm overnight, we saw just how tough it is for many students to keep up without the right tools.¹

The digital divide in education isn’t just about whether students have devices; it’s about everything that makes online learning possible and effective. According to Pew Research, 35% of low-income families with school-aged kids lack access to high-speed internet at home.² Wealthier households rarely face this problem. Poorer households often struggle due to “underdeveloped infrastructure” and limited income. This is especially prevalent in rural areas that don’t have widespread broadband options. In the U.S., around 22% of rural students have no reliable internet—a big problem when schools increasingly rely on digital tools and resources.³

What’s Causing the Digital Divide in Education?

Many factors contribute to the digital divide in education. The main drivers to the widening gap are differences in household income, the regional infrastructure. These two primary factors unfortunately often overlap with socioeconomic disparities, meaning minority and low-income communities are impacted more strongly.

Income Differences 

Their family’s income is one of the biggest indicators of whether a student will have reliable access to digital resources. During the pandemic, many schools shifted to online-only, leaving low-income students scrambling to find any available device. Even today, 1 in 4 students from low-income families rely on a smartphone as their only internet device.⁴ The small screens and applications limitations make it challenging to complete assignments or participate in online classes.

Where You Live Matters

Living in a rural area often means slower internet—if it’s even available at all. This affects entire communities. When not on school grounds, students may have to find an alternative internet source. Some resort to using Wi-Fi in public parking lots, coffee shops, or local libraries just to keep up with homework. The FCC estimates that about 14.5 million rural Americans lack broadband—meaning rural schools struggle to offer the same online resources that urban schools can.⁵

Racial and Ethnic Gaps 

Unfortunately, race and ethnicity also play a role in digital access. Black and Hispanic students, for example, are 1.3 times more likely than their white peers to lack high-speed internet at home.⁶ Structural inequalities in society have a direct impact on these communities, putting minority students at a bigger disadvantage in our increasingly tech-driven world.

How Does the Digital Divide Affect Students?

When students can’t rely on having internet or a device, it’s easy to fall behind. The National Bureau of Economic Research reported that students without digital access lost about nine months of learning during the pandemic compared to their more connected peers.⁷ These students miss out on daily assignments, feedback from teachers, and interactive activities that deepen learning.

On top of academic impacts, the digital divide can affect a student’s mental health. Here are just a few examples:

• Increased stress from having to find reliable Wi-Fi daily to keep up with class assignments.
• Feeling left out because they can’t join class Zoom calls.
• Feeling disconnected from their peers and teachers, which can lead to isolation and lower motivation.⁸
• Educators working harder to bridge access gaps (often without additional resources or support), leading to burnout.

The lack of digital access can lead to decreased college readiness as students struggle with both learning and technology. While a number of factors contribute to the trend of college enrollment decline, the lack of digital access does leave many students feeling underprepared for higher education.

As the workplace becomes more tech-oriented, lacking digital skills can hurt career prospects. In fact, the World Economic Forum says that about 50% of current jobs require digital skills—a number that’s only going to increase.⁹ If students don’t have access to technology during their school years, they miss out on building these skills, putting them at a disadvantage when they enter the job market. (Check out our deep dive into career readiness for more on this.)

Bridging the Digital Divide in Education

Government Funding and Policy Changes 

Closing the digital divide in education requires a real investment in infrastructure and digital tools. Government programs can be effective, especially when they target underserved areas.¹⁰ In the U.S., the FCC’s E-Rate program offers discounted internet for schools in low-income areas. The EU has similar initiatives, such as the “Connecting Europe Facility,” which funds broadband expansion to rural communities. This is just one example of how comprehensive education reform can help ensure equitable access to resources across all demographics.

Community and Private Initiatives

Public and private partnerships have been stepping up, too. Google and Microsoft have donated devices to underserved communities, and companies like Comcast have offered low-cost internet options to families in need. In Philadelphia, a partnership between Comcast and the city provided internet to thousands of low-income households.¹¹ These programs help fill the gap but need to scale up to meet the needs of all students.

Equipping Schools with Technology 

In many areas, schools are implementing 1:1 device programs, where every student gets their own device for learning. Districts can use federal relief funds to make this happen, ensuring that students have what they need both at home and in the classroom. When students have consistent access to technology, they’re in a better position to succeed.

Addressing the digital divide also aligns with efforts to foster holistic education. The emphasis on providing access to technology and digital literacy is just one part of supporting the full spectrum of student needs.

Teaching Digital Skills 

Simply having a device isn’t enough if students don’t know how to use it effectively. Teaching digital skills and literacy needs to be a priority, starting early in a student’s education. According to the World Economic Forum, digital skills are already a foundation for many jobs, making it critical that students build them as they progress through school.¹²

Conclusion

The digital divide in education is about much more than just access to technology—it’s about leveling the playing field so every student can thrive. Solutions need to be multi-faceted, focusing on not just providing devices but also on digital literacy, expanding internet infrastructure, and ongoing support for students who need it most. Policymakers, educators, and communities must commit to addressing these gaps, creating a future where all students, no matter their background, have equal opportunities.

At ERA, we envision a future where all students are equipped to be the best possible version of themselves. If you know of a program that’s helping to close this gap for students, please let us know!

References

1. Smith, R. F. (2024, May 13). Understanding the digital divide in Education. Robert F. Smith. https://robertsmith.com/blog/digital-divide-in-education/ ↩︎
2. Vogels, E. A. (2021, August 19). Some digital divides persist between rural, urban and Suburban America. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/08/19/some-digital-divides-persist-between-rural-urban-and-suburban-america/ ↩︎
3. Smith, R. F. (2024, May 13). Understanding the digital divide in Education. Robert F. Smith. https://robertsmith.com/blog/digital-divide-in-education/ ↩︎
4. Broadband Deployment Advisory Council. (2020, December). Increasing broadband investment in low-income communities working group. https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/bdac-low-income-communities-approved-rec-12172020.pdf ↩︎
5. Broadband Deployment Advisory Council. (2020, December). Increasing broadband investment in low-income communities working group. https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/bdac-low-income-communities-approved-rec-12172020.pdf ↩︎
6. New analysis shows students of color far more likely to be cut off from online learning. All4Ed. (2021, November 1). https://all4ed.org/press_release/new-analysis-shows-students-of-color-far-more-likely-to-be-cut-off-from-online-learning/ ↩︎
7. Strunk, K. O., Hopkins, B. G., Kilbride, T., Imberman, S. A., & Yu, D. (2023, May 1). The path of student learning delay during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Michigan. NBER. https://www.nber.org/papers/w31188 ↩︎
8. Smith, R. F. (2024, May 13). Understanding the digital divide in Education. Robert F. Smith. https://robertsmith.com/blog/digital-divide-in-education/ ↩︎
9. van Eerd, R., & Guo, J. (n.d.). Jobs will be very different in 10 years. here’s how to prepare. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2020/01/future-of-work/ ↩︎
10. E-rate – schools & libraries USF Program. Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). https://www.fcc.gov/general/e-rate-schools-libraries-usf-program ↩︎
11. Internet essentials partnership program. Comcast Corporation. (2023, August 9). https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/digital-equity/internet-essentials-partnership-program ↩︎
12. The rise of Global Digital Jobs. World Economic Forum. (n.d.). https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-rise-of-global-digital-jobs/ ↩︎