Homework gap

The homework gap refers to the difficulty students experience completing homework when they lack internet access at home, compared to those who have access. According to the Pew Research Center, there are approximately 5 million households with school-age children in the United States who are subject to the homework gap because they do not have access to high-speed Internet service.[1] Low-income households and minority households made up a “disproportionate” share of these 5 million households,[1] with 31.4% of households with school-age children whose incomes fall below $50,000 were subject to the homework gap.[1] According to Pew, this group makes up about 40% of all families with school-age children in the United States.[1]

Policymakers in the United States have highlighted the homework gap as an issue of national importance. President Barack Obama cited the homework gap in launching the ConnectHome initiative in July 2015.[2] Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced legislation on the topic.[3] FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, who is credited with coining the term the “homework gap,”[4] has encouraged changes to U.S. broadband internet and wi-fi policies to address this problem.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Pew Research Center, The Numbers Behind the Broadband Homework Gap, Last Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ The White House, FACT Sheet: ConnectHome: Coming Together to Ensure Digital Opportunity for All Americans, Last Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  3. ↑ Press Release, King, Capito Introduce Bill to Give Low-Income, Rural Students Educational Tools Needed to Succeed, Last Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  4. ↑ FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, “How to Close the Homework Gap”, Miami Herald, Last Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  5. ↑ FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Bridging the Homework Gap, Huffington Post, Last Retrieved July 16, 2015, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Remarks at Hispanic Heritage Foundation, Last Retrieved July 16, 2015.
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