What Trump’s Education Dept. Shutdown Might Mean for Students’ Internet Access

There’s a significant contrast between our age of internet connectivity and the growing feeling of disconnection, isolation, and solitude experienced by certain K-12 school students.

On March 20, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to shut down the US Department of Education. And restore educational supervision to state and local communities. A signed executive order won’t result in an instant closure unless Congress agrees. Nonetheless, once this executive order is implemented, it’s just a matter of time before it paves the way for a possibleshutdown. homework gap more severe than what we went through during the pandemic.

For many years, the US Department of Education has been crucial in providing educational resources and chances to students across the country. Nonetheless, an executive directive aimed at abolishing this department might alter this scenario. Doing away with the department would probably lead to detrimental effects on students' access to high-speed internet.

The department oversees the allocation of federal monies that educational institutions may utilize for broadband initiatives. In its absence, there would be minimal regulation regarding the utilization of these resources to close the connectivity gap for pupils. Access to high-speed internet is essential for student success both academically and professionally.

Lack of internet access can pose challenges when completing schoolwork, staying connected with friends and overall interest in school activities. According to Pew Research Center Data from 2018 Approximately 17% of children across the country were unable to finish their homework because of restricted internet availability. Additionally, study In 2020, data indicated that half of all low-income households and 42% of minority families reported not having access to the necessary technology for participating in online education.

On March 19, I went to the Renaissance at Rand Middle School in Montclair, New Jersey, which is a magnet school serving more than 197 pupils across sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.

I talked to eight students between the ages of 11 and 13. Two out of these eight mentioned facing problems with their home internet previously because of power outages caused by storms. Nearly all of them brought up utilizing their home internet for both academic tasks and recreational activities like streaming , online gaming and browsing through social media.

"Definitely, there are numerous online resources that can assist me in completing my tasks. When I'm stuck on a math problem, I can simply search for answers, or if I need to review, I can make a Quizlet," stated Jacob, a 13-year-old eighth-grader.

Many students mentioned depending on their home internet to finish weekly tasks via online learning platforms like ALEKS and IXL .

If you can't manage it at home, you'll end up doing it during class time, which means missing part of the lesson, and as a result, you’ll frequently find yourself playing catch-up.

Rose, 12, a sixth-grader.

Founded in 1979, the Department of Education has multiple roles, including managing the federal student loan system and tracking educational advancements via the national report card. However, an aspect frequently ignored is how crucial this department is for ensuring students have online access.

Funding from the Department of Education: What information should students be aware of?

Beyond promoting education and gathering information about the country’s educational institutions, the Department of Education also manages federal student loan programs. over 46.2 million borrowers across the country.

Regarding public school financing, the department plays a role in distributing funds to these institutions via allocations sourced from both state and federal governmental bodies. according to NPR Federal funding constitutes merely 6% to 13% of the overall amount, with state and other resources covering the remainder, as stated in a 2018 report from the US Government Accountability Office Public schools may use part of this funding to set up Wi-Fi internet hotspots within their facilities or collaborate with libraries to provide hotspots for community members.

The mission of the Department of Education doesn’t involve generating funds; instead, it’s about directing them to necessary areas. It’s important to recognize that although this department oversees various initiatives set up by federal entities, those programs aren't specifically designed to enhance broadband connectivity in educational settings. Nonetheless, these programs can still assist both school districts and colleges. Title I, Part A Funding, for instance, can help improve broadband accessibility in K-12 educational institutions.

Various additional funding programs managed by different departments that could potentially be utilized for enhancing broadband accessibility in schools include:

The English-Language Acquisition State Grant Program: The Office of English Language Acquisition created this initiative to assist children in learning English and achieving the state's academic performance benchmarks.
The Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER Fund) The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act allotted almost $3 billion to the Education Stabilization Fund.
Funding for States to Educate Children With Disabilities The initiative offers subsidies to each of the 50 states aimed at alleviating the expenses associated with special education services for disabled children.
The Program for Rural, Low-Income Schools: According to a 2022 study Published by the Quello Center at Michigan State University, more than 93% of rural students in Michigan lacked reliable home internet access and often relied solely on smartphones for connectivity. Rural residents encounter numerous challenges related to broadband availability, such as restricted choices among Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and elevated service fees. To address this issue, the initiative provides financial support specifically aimed at helping smaller rural Local Educational Agencies (LEAs).
The Program for Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions This initiative offers grants to qualifying colleges and universities aiming to enhance their ability to support Native American and economically disadvantaged students.
Enhancing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) : Over 82% of HBCUs fall within a broadband desert or regions significantly deficient in broadband access. This initiative offers financial support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to enhance their fiscal administration and educational resources.

Take a look at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's funding guide To discover additional information regarding the other federal monies managed by the Department of Education.

In the absence of the Department of Education, funds directed toward schools and educational institutions would not find their proper channels, halting essential administrative procedures. Currently, nobody has been designated to take over the role this department played in supporting students' needs.

The effect of high-speed internet accessibility on student's societal influence

Long after the pandemic compelled students to participate in classes through platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, many educational institutions have incorporated these tools into their regular routines. blended and/or virtual education program for students. Providing broadband access for these students is just part of their need for high-speed internet connectivity.

Nahum Prasarn teaches technology at the Renaissance at Rand Middle School and highlights the importance of broadband accessibility for his students.

"When I started teaching technology, it was getting the kids used to keyboarding and understanding how word processing works. Then it became making sure they understood that we have Google Suite, Google Classroom and emailing," he said.

Prasarn has taught at the school for 20 years and is the only technology teacher. He describes how today's children can continue learning outside school by accessing online platforms at home.

Students will contact me via Google Classroom, and I will endeavor to respond to their queries promptly once they submit them.

"As each person’s timing for learning varies, this might be the sole moment they get to dedicate themselves fully to their tasks," Prasarn stated.

For students to thrive both in their academic journey and later in life, they must acquire digital competencies ranging from conducting research to engaging socially. A sluggish internet connection can impede this progress; thus, reliable broadband access is essential for nurturing such abilities. These capabilities generally divide into two main areas: fundamental online proficiency and understanding of social platforms. The advancement of these skills correlates directly with increased chances of success in schooling and furthering one’s education, potentially leading to opportunities in STEM fields as well.

Johannes Bauer, who previously served as the FCC’s lead economist, along with his team from Michigan State University, conducted research among students living in rural areas of Michigan. Their objective was to examine these students' digital abilities. A particular investigation focused on this topic. Broadband Access and Disparities in Student Achievement (PDF), highlighted the critical nature of developing digital skills. Bauer's colleague Keith Hampton, a professor at Michigan State shared that broadband access in schools is not enough; there also needs to be an adequate broadband connection in the home. A lack of digital skills can hamper student outcomes.

Hampton points out that many children do not acquire these abilities at school since they consider digital tasks too basic.

As Hampton pointed out, most of our digital abilities develop through casual activities like playing online games and using social media at home.

Studying online from home can likewise encourage a child’s investigation into science, technology, engineering, and math subjects.

When asked about the enthusiasm for STEM among these kids, Hampton states, "The greater your interest in STEM grows, the more chances you get to delve into STEM-related subjects."

Kelly Weatherby, a seasoned school psychologist with over ten years of experience in educational program management at a K-8 school in Syracuse, suggests that kids should avoid social media until they reach at least eighth grade. numerous research efforts indicate that extended engagement with social media can adversely affect children. However, regarding online learning platforms used from home, she thinks that enhancing broadband accessibility could boost students' online education experiences, primarily to address the personalized needs of children not being fulfilled in traditional classroom settings.

"Parents who may not know how to instruct their kids in Common Core math, for instance, could enroll their children in an online educational program that tailors itself based on each child’s progress,” explained Weatherby. “This system adapts to the student's performance levels, providing tasks suited to whatever difficulty aligns with the individual child’s achievements.”

A 2021 study From Bauer, Hampton, and their fellow researchers at Michigan State University, it was discovered that rural students equipped with broadband access tended to finish their homework more frequently and exhibited a heightened enthusiasm for schooling, which led to improved academic outcomes. On the flip side, those lacking internet connectivity altogether, having sluggish connections, or relying solely on mobile phones could struggle with completing assignments and might become less engaged academically, thereby impacting both their GPA and SAT scores—a situation referred to as the homework gap .

The Montclair school district offers free Internet access to students and families who require it.

Prasarn mentioned that when dealing with students who experience inconsistent internet access at home or those who only have it at one residence but not both, their level of productivity noticeably differs.

The incoming administration and the prospects for students' broadband accessibility

Under the new administration, there has been significant discussion about the future of broadband accessibility across the nation. Affordable Connectivity Program disappeared, there is a significant worry regarding the potential cancellation of an additional FCC initiative aimed at helping schools get connected. high-speed internet .

A Supreme Court hearing occurred in late March, focusing on a question about the legality of the FCC's Universal Service Fund , an $8 billion annual broadband subsidy initiative that supports programs such as the E-Rate program The Supreme Court is cautious about discontinuing the initiative. Nevertheless, additional discussions are anticipated, culminating in a definitive ruling by late June. This scheme offers qualifying educational institutions and public libraries discounted telecom services along with complimentary Wi-Fi access points. As such, the fate of the E-Rate program hangs in the balance.

In December 2024, Bauer concluded his role as the FCC’s chief economist. He highlighted the significance of adopting a bipartisan, practical, and feasible strategy that stands apart from political leanings, characterizing this as one of the FCC's primary strengths as an organization.

When tackling the broadband disparity, the FCC “does not mandate aRepublican or Democratic approach; they simply demand a solutionthat benefits the public good,” Bauer stated.

In contrast, the Biden administration concentrated on implementing policies to bridge the divide. Nonetheless, the fresh Trump administration might opt for allowing market forces to address the broadband disparity, even as they continue advocating for change. additional BEAD funds will be allocated to satellite internet networks such as SpaceX's Starlink So far, we haven't seen much from the White House or the new FCC agenda indicating how they plan to address this matter.

Bauer suggests we can gain significant insights from the factors contributing to the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program. His primary concern was that an excessive number of agencies were involved, which made the administrative procedures overly complex.

Bauer stated, "There were numerous conflicts over jurisdiction among those agencies. We can only assume that the combined impact of these disjointed initiatives is not as effective as what we would likely achieve with better-coordinated efforts."

However, despite the absence of significant federal agency supervision and no alternate federal department taking over responsibilities from what was previously managed by the Department of Education, there remains hope: State legislatures are rising to the challenge by attempting to secure federal funds independently in their endeavors to bridge the broadband access divide.

For example, in New York , where I'm based, ConnectAll's Proposal for Digital Equality Initiative in New York State received more than $2.2 million in funding in 2023 under the Digital Equity Act, which is part of $90 billion for connectivity financing allocated from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to broaden its digital equity initiative across the state.

According to a representative from ConnectAll, both federal and state funds support their programs, such as the New York State Digital Equity Plan.

"Due to federal limitations, public schools cannot receive Digital Equity funds. Nonetheless, nonprofits — which include nonprofit schools — may submit applications for funding aimed at enhancing broadband accessibility and promoting digital inclusivity," explained the spokesperson.

Before another department takes over the role of the Department of Education, state legislatures have the opportunity to collaborate on providing and establishing funding options for student broadband access.

"Certainly, some states might utilize their own-state level funds to bridge these gaps," Bauer stated.

This was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when numerous schools were compelled to shift to remote learning environments. In response, state legislatures along with various stakeholders initiated efforts to secure funds aimed at broadening broadband access initiatives for students.

Kristen Gonzalez, New York State Senator and head of the Internet and Technology Committee, reveals her intentions to broaden broadband access and digital equality programs across the state, such as expanding ConnectAll initiatives.

"Providing the essentials goes beyond what we're aiming for. Our objective is to make sure that educational institutions receive all necessary tools to establish enduring and sustainable technological initiatives — since having access to technology should be considered a fundamental right rather than an added privilege," Gonzalez stated.

A A 2020 survey released by the New York State Education Department indicated that between 11% and 13% of students in each borough of New York City do not have adequate internet access at home. The New York City Council backs this up by stating that insufficient broadband access is prevalent throughout the boroughs, affecting more than 74% of all students citywide. New York City attending schools in Brooklyn , Queens and the Bronx experiencing problems related to high-speed internet availability.

Concerning the expansion of broadband programs, Gonzalez aims to put into action the Affordable Broadband Act (ABA) with the objective of delivering high-speed internet access to underprivileged regions, particularly to those from lower-income families.

She is likewise co-sponsoring the S3343 Bill , this would necessitate broadband companies providing high-speed services to low-income customers at a maximum cost of $5 per month.

Looking ahead

Without home internet access, more students feeling isolated and separated from their peers could become the new norm.

"Many of our after-school activities require using the internet and working on our Chromebooks for research purposes. Therefore, without access to these tools, you might feel left out," explained Mary, a 13-year-old seventh-grader.

Stella, a 13-year-old eighth-grader who serves as the president of the student council, talked about the significance of having internet access at home.

"She mentioned that they use a group chat where most of the information is shared, including details about meetings and task assignments. Without access to Wi-Fi, participants find it much more difficult to stay engaged," she explained.

Students might usher in a fresh chapter as they leave behind the Department of Education. Following an executed executive order, it’s just a matter of when this department will cease to exist. While the Trump administration devises another approach for distributing federal funds aimed at getting students connected online, the period during which these funds won’t be managed by the Department of Education may result in increased numbers of students lacking proper—or any—internet access.

Until the Trump administration provides practical and straightforward solutions for addressing the broadband divide, students will face adverse effects. The responsibility might fall on state legislatures and local communities to champion broadband accessibility for all American students.