Davids Announces $1.5 Million in Funding to Close the Digital Divide for Students in the Kansas Third District

Today, Representative Sharice Davids, Vice Chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, announced the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Emergency Connectivity Fund Program (ECF) awarded $1,511,039 to help students in the Kansas Third District access the internet while attending school from home. This federal funding, created as part of the American Rescue Plan, will help cover costs of laptop and tablet computers, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connectivity purchases for students and school staff.

Currently, 173,000 Kansans lack home broadband service and 307,000 don't have access to reliable internet. In total, Kansas will receive $27,055,209 million to help close that digital divide through the ECF program. Davids was the only member of the Kansas delegation to vote for the American Rescue Plan.

Davids reading to students at Growing Futures Early Education Center in Overland Park last month. (Credit: Blue Valley Post)

Last summer, Davids asked schools and libraries to apply for funding from the ECF program. Now, five schools in the Third District received this funding:

• Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School: $7,971
• Kansas City Unified School District 500: $846,640
• Olathe Unified School District 233: $155,136
• Piper Unified School District 203: $261,293
• Turner Unified School District 202: $240,000

"Over the past two years, I have heard from many Kansas parents and teachers about children struggling in school due to unreliable or unavailable internet access," said Davids. "As our community continues to rebound from the pandemic, and as technology becomes increasingly important to education, we must ensure every student has the tools to succeed. I am proud to have voted for the American Rescue Plan and will continue advocating for our schools and our students."

"Technology and internet access has become increasingly important in our everyday lives. Lack of high-speed Internet access can negatively impact so many areas of our lives - economic growth, household income, educational performance, healthcare access and employment opportunities. As such, having access to high-speed, reliable internet is key for our students' success" said Dr. Anna Stubblefield, Superintendent for Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. "The digital divide affects children's education in ways that extend far beyond the classroom experience. Our students and families are grateful for the additional funding to help ensure they have access to technological devices and internet connectivity that keep them engaged and connected in and out the classroom."

"The pandemic and subsequent onset of remote learning brought to the forefront what an important and powerful tool up-to-date technology is in the education of our students," said Dr. Jessica Dain, Superintendent of Piper USD 203. "Maintaining the technology needed for our students comes with a large price tag which makes staying up-to-date a financial challenge for a district of our size. We are appreciative of the financial support to ensure that our students have the resources they need to be successful in the classroom."

"During the pandemic, teachers worked tirelessly to bring outstanding instruction into the home of each child. Providing high-quality devices to each student was a necessary step to ensure that all children had access to the content created by their teachers," said Dr. Jason Dandoy, Superintendent of Turner Unified School District 202. "Going forward, many of these classroom resources will continue to be used to intervene and enrich the educational experiences of our students. Funds provided through the FCC ECF program will allow children to continue to take learning home as a supplement to the brick-and-mortar classroom environment."

Davids has been a strong advocate for schools and students during the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting El Centro Academy for Children and Johnson County Community College to highlight American Rescue Plan support. This support included:

• Voting to send $831 million to Kansas schools to help keep schools open safely, keep teachers on payroll, and support students through the pandemic;
• Allocating $325 million for Kansas Higher Education institutions, at least half of which must be distributed to students in the form of emergency grants to prevent hunger, homelessness, and other hardships caused by COVID-19;
• Providing $349 million in supplemental funding for child care in Kansas to help child care providers keep their doors open and reduce costs for struggling families;
• Distributing $8 million in emergency funding for Kansas Head Start to maintain access to services for children and families.

Background:

The ECF program helps schools and libraries ensure that students can connect to the internet at home, allowing them to take advantage of online learning and do their homework. Known as the "homework gap," students who lack access to the internet at home often fall behind their peers as curriculums and educational opportunities rely more and more on the ability to conduct online research and connect to the web.

Through the ECF program, the FCC is awarding $7.1 billion to schools and libraries across the country so that students can connect to the internet at home. The funding sent to Kansas will help the state reach its stated goal of being in the top 10 of all 50 states for broadband access by 2030.

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools plans to use this federal funding to purchase 150 MacBook Airs and 200 Wi-Fi Hotspots for school buses.