School divisions across Virginia are struggling to make sure they have the kind of broadband connections necessary for distance learning.
Schools in Virginia are understandably wary of sending home a flier from Comcast or any other private provider alerting parents to affordable broadband programs. Promoting private industry on the public dime always raises red flags, so Senator Jennifer Boysko of Herndon has a bill to make it clear that schools have that authority.
"In Roanoke, over 100,000 students are receiving deep discounts on their broadband bills," Boysko says. "But there are some schools in other areas where the schools don't feel confident that they have the ability to work with the providers."
Her bill opens the door for school officials to use stimulus money for sponsored-service agreements helping low-income families get access, and for private providers to hand out brochures at school events.
Jenna Alexander at the Virginia PTA says the pandemic has put existing problems with broadband access into the spotlight.
"As recently as last year, we had entire school buildings with mediocre access," Alexander explains. "And as we shifted to distance learning we found thousands of students and teachers instantly left behind; sitting in parking lots, on the sides of roads, in gyms and in cafeterias."
Advocates say allowing school boards to partner with private internet service providers won’t solve all the problems with broadband access. But, they say, it is one more tool in the toolbox.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
