The typical school day has changed dramatically since March 2020. COVID-19 necessitated remote learning across the country, which created strains on teachers, students, and families. But some students have lost essential school-based resources, such as food, a supportive environment, and a quiet place to learn, or even the opportunity to learn altogether.
The decline in school attendance and enrollment during remote learning has further exposed the massive digital divide. Estimates suggest millions of students face barriers to online learning and have not had consistent access to formal education since the pandemic hit. Absence translates to learning losses in the near term, and in the long term, students may not recover from learning gaps or reenroll (PDF) in school at all. Already, learning losses in school districts across the country are exacerbating learning and achievement gaps among students and further harming students with limited technology and students of color.
For students experiencing homelessness, this issue is particularly acute. Since March, their attendance rates have dropped significantly. Not all students experiencing homelessness have access to the same resources or face the same obstacles, but a majority of students named the lack of internet access as a key barrier. Some school districts have shared laptops and tablets with all students. But even with devices in hand, not all students have access to the Wi-Fi they need. Some shelters have Wi-Fi and quiet places to learn, but more often than not, shelter clients do not have access to Wi-Fi, and at times, shelters can be cellular dead zones.
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