Giving Compass' Take:

• Studies indicate that rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged students who have limited digital access are less likely to do well on standardized tests and less likely to attend college or university. 

• What can donors do to help increase digital access in rural areas? How can the community play a role in improving this issue? 

• Students face these challenges every day, and now educators must consider students' digital access. 

The educational setbacks can have significant impacts on academic success, college admissions, and career opportunities.

“We were surprised with how powerful the findings were,” says Keith Hampton, associate director for research at the Quello Center and a professor at Michigan State University.

“Students without internet access and those who depend on a cell phone for their only access are half a grade point below those with fast access. This gap has ripple effects that may last an entire life.”

Conducted in partnership with Merit Network and 15 Michigan school districts, the first-of-its-kind report underscores the need for improved infrastructure in rural communities. The report is based on data collected from fifteen school districts covering Mecosta County, St. Clair County, and the eastern region of the Upper Peninsula, spanning from the Tahquamenon area to St. Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie.

Results showed that the most rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged students are least likely to have broadband internet access at home. Only 47% of students who live in rural areas have high-speed internet access at home compared to 77% of those in suburban areas. Of those who do not have home access, 36% live in a home with no computer and 58% live on a farm or other rural setting.

Students with no high-speed internet access at home are also less likely to plan to attend a college or university. On the other hand, students with internet access have substantially higher digital skills, which are a strong predictor of performance on standardized tests.

Gaps in student performance related to home internet access exist regardless of differences in socioeconomic status, such as student race and ethnicity, family income, or parental education, according to the findings.

Read the full article about rural kids with less digital access by Caroline Brooks at Futurity.