Bridge the Digital Divide in Education
Education shapes earning potential and opens the door to lasting economic stability. Yet across the country, many students face setbacks due to limited access to reliable technology. The growing gap between well-resourced and under-resourced schools restricts opportunities for millions of learners.
Nonprofits play a critical role in closing the technology gap. By joining forces with schools and community partners, these organizations move beyond short-term fixes and create lasting solutions. Real progress begins by organizing resources and coordinating distribution so that technology reaches those who are most in need. The work does not stop there: sustainable support systems, hands-on training for educators and students, and integration of technology into everyday learning are essential. When these efforts are aligned and purposeful, digital access becomes a lever for greater equity, ensuring that every student is prepared to participate and achieve.
To Get Started:
Assess School and Community Needs: Work directly with schools in areas with a high number of low-income families to understand their complete technology needs. Identify specific gaps in bandwidth, internet speed, hardware, and digital literacy.
Forge Strategic Partnerships: Identify stakeholders in the business and philanthropic sectors who can donate funds or provide in-kind technology. Build a coalition to pool resources and meet the identified needs of the schools.
Provide Essential Tech Devices: Launch an initiative to provide tech devices, such as laptops or tablets, to students who lack access. Partner with schools to create a plan for distributing the devices and integrating them into the curriculum.
Build Capacity and Offer Training: Establish or expand computer labs for students, faculty, and staff. Offer digital literacy workshops or one-on-one training sessions to help students and educators build essential computer skills. Plan for the long-term support and upkeep of the technology.
Best Practices / Innovative Programs:
Computer CORE equips underserved adults across Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland with digital literacy and professional skills needed for today’s workforce. Students receive refurbished laptops, individualized computer training, and guidance on next steps in education and employment. Their successful program advances economic opportunity and digital inclusion.
Digital Promise works to close the digital learning gap by providing schools with resources, research, and innovative solutions that support student achievement and learning. Their initiatives include professional development for educators and strategies for integrating technology.
Computers for Kids refurbishes donated computers and provides them to students in need, ensuring they have the tools required for academic success.
Tech Goes Home, based in Boston, provides training, devices, and internet access to underserved communities, helping families and students gain essential digital skills.
