A new report estimates about a quarter of Louisiana students do not have access to the internet which is needed for participation in virtual classes. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says the findings are deeply concerning, adding that in her district, it’s about 46% who are without internet.
“It’s a huge example of pretty much a rural divide in what is happening with education. It’s going to take lots of solutions to make it move forward,” said Mizell.
Additionally, 42% of students are without high-speed broadband access that would allow for multiple users in a home to do virtual learning.
Among the ways school districts have attempted to patch the lack of internet access is through the distribution of Wi-Fi hotspots that work off of cellular data. Mizell says the hotspots puts the state in a much better position than it was at the beginning of the pandemic, but they aren’t a reliable long-term fix.
“We’ve moved down the field a little bit in getting some connection to students. Is it a long term solution? Absolutely not,” said Mizell.
Mizell says the lack of rural broadband has a much wider impact that stretches beyond its impact on virtual education.
“We need the public to say we’re not going to tolerate being left in the dark anymore. I know your reference point today is on education, but we are never going to have economic development in the rural areas if we have no broadband,” said Mizell.
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