Page 14 - AASBO EDGE Summer 2023 WEB
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Why Digital Equity Is So Important.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
It has now become necessary for schools to to address digital equity, but it has now become
work with outside agencies to address digital an important aspect that all districts and
equity issues, and most important is access to information technology departments are now
reliable high-speed internet service. As more addressing in order to ensure that our students
and more educational resources and instruction have access to the tools they need to succeed.
are delivered online, access to reliable and This is a far cry front where I started and our
affordable internet is becoming essential for only concerns were keeping our 20mb internet
students to fully participate in their education. connection online, our exchange server running,
Additionally, with the COVID-19 pandemic, and staff/student desktops connected to the
distance learning has become an important district network. Even then some of the student
option for education, so it is more important desktops did not have access to the internet,
than ever to ensure that all students have and wireless technology was not even close to
reliable access to the internet. Districts have what it is today. The past 24 years have brought
partnered with local government agencies, about technological changes we could only have
nonprofits, or community organizations to help dreamed about. Our charge is to make sure our
students have the ability to access all the tools
“Our charge is to make they need to succeed in every aspect of their
educational careers.
sure our students have
the ability to access all
the tools they need to Albert Magallanez, Director of Information
Technologies - Sunnyside Unified School
succeed in every aspect District #12, can be reached at: albertm@
susd12.org
of their educational
careers.”
provide internet access to families in need. It
is a challenging task, but working with these
agencies and organizations can help to ensure
that all students have the access they need to
succeed in school and in life.
There is not a single perfect answer for districts
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14 THE EDGE SUMMER 2023
