State Education Department ID’s priority areas for digital equity

The New York State Education Department released “Achieving Digital Equity in New York: An Outline for Collaborative Change,” a report that compiles priorities identified during Digital Equity Summits held earlier this year.

The Board of Regents and State Education Department convened two Digital Equity Summits to establish a shared understanding of digital inequity and create a joint vision toward achieving digital equity in New York State. A third Summit is scheduled for June 15 and will focus on digital equity issues in P-12 education.

NYSED’s digital equity surveys found that there are still people across the state without access to the internet in their places of residence and that cost remains the most significant barrier to internet adoption. Summit participants indicated that building infrastructure for access without implementing policy to provide support and engagement will fail to achieve digital equity goals.