Equity
Another advantage of advanced telecommunications in the classroom is the potential of such technology to make education more equitable. In many cases, technology improves education for everyone, but the most disadvantaged benefit the most. (See Proven Improvements in Learning ) For example, distance learning can offer valuable resources to a broad range of people. However, if technology is not equitably distributed among schools, education could become even more uneven. Equity is an important issue between subjects, grades, schools, school districts and states. Currently, public schools with high levels of poverty are less likely to be connected to the Internet. Only 53% of schools that have 71% or more of students in the free lunch program are connected, while 78% of schools that have 11% or less of students in the free lunch program are connected.[1] Schools must strive to avoid creating technology "haves' and "have-nots." This fear of a technology dichotomy has led the Clinton Administration to guarantee that all public schools will be connected to the Internet by the turn of the century.
As long as technology is distributed fairly, advanced communications can help make education more equitable. Reed Hundt, Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission, expects the advanced telecommunications to lead to unprecedented equity in education. He says, "the dawning of the Information Age represents an opportunity for equality that we have not enjoyed since Horace Mann first championed the idea of free public school."[2]
[1] National Center for Education Statistics, "Advanced Telecommunications in U.S. Public Elementary and Secondary Schools, Fall 1996," February 1997.
[2] Steve Lohr, "Weighing Costs of Internet Access for Every School, Library," New York Times, October 21, 1996.