Dear Chairman Pai, You have always claimed that your top priority is to close the digital divide. Right now you have a historic opportunity. IT ONLY TAKES A COUPLE OF CLICKS! SEND YOUR LETTER HERE. Low-income, rural, Black, Latinx and Native students have always been victims of the digital divide, but the COVID pandemic has turned that injustice into an…
Tag: virtual learning

The Erasure of Black Students in the Digital Divide
Black Americans know all too well that social change in America doesn’t come as fast as the injustices we endure. Black teachers have always been on the frontlines for children; from Brown vs Board of Education, to teacher sit-ins and even recently through teacher protests. Even in using our voices to speak out against the racial injustices in public education,…

Ethos Classical Charter School Finds Virtual Learning Success in Atlanta
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, juggling work schedules, child care, and virtual learning becomes a new reality for families, and teachers and administrators are working overtime to support distance-learning. But in Southwest Atlanta, an inspiring success story is emerging. Ethos Classical Charter School scholars are thriving in their new virtual environment. Born from a clear need to support neighborhood educational…
It Is Absolutely Necessary for Black Kids in Public Schools to Have Free, Reliable Internet Access!
Earlier this week one of my friends posted a Facebook status that said her daughter started distance learning and during one of the class sessions she heard another parent say, “How long does this Zoom thing last? I need my phone back.” I hollered after reading that, but as I sit here thinking about it now, it’s a sad reality…

We Simply Cannot Go Back to School As Usual!
Although President Trump and Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos have made it very clear that they are not concerned about disenfranchised and lower income communities returning to overcrowded schools, we must care. We simply can’t ignore the impacts of COVID-19 because the weather is getting warmer or the fact that government officials in high offices aren’t taking it seriously. We…

Social Distancing in Overcrowded Public Schools Is a Recipe for Disaster!
Discussions across America are happening on virtual platforms regarding what school will look like in the fall for K-12 and higher education. Social distancing is needed to support health measures related to COVID-19. We have to stop and consider the fear of not only parents and students but also teachers and their families when returning to school. As a 16…

Virtual Learning Won’t Survive without Family Engagement
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been able to spend more time with my family. It makes me think about the new normal for my scholars. Many of them would often share stories about not being able to spend the time they would like with their parents. Well, we certainly have this time now. The offset of having…