by Alexis Gutierrez

Digital Equity in DC Education (Digital Equity DC), a coalition of DCPS parents from all 8 wards, is asking for parent feedback on how DCPS-issued devices and learning platforms are performing. Petworth News spoke with Grace Hu and Alexandra Simbana from Digital Equity DC about why they are putting together the survey, and how you can help.

Digital Equity DC was started two years ago by DCPS parents across the city who were frustrated at the digital divide that exists across the city, and the lack of a plan from DCPS and city officials to address it. So instead, two years ago they developed a plan to address that divide.

They have testified on the DCPS budget before the DC Council and had multiple meetings with city officials. As COVID-19 drastically forced schools to virtual learning in the spring, the work of the coalition became even more important. The parents that support the initiative have been talking to DCPS parents, teachers and officials, as well as the Mayor’s office and Councilmembers, about ways to address the technology gaps.

As they have been speaking with parents, they have heard stories of DCPS issued computers overheating or drivers not being installed correctly so that cameras do not work. They have heard that parents have had challenges with Canvas and Microsoft teams, as well as the DCPS tech support hotline. They asked DCPS to seek parental feedback on how the technology is performing for virtual learning and could not get a commitment that they would do it. Thus, they decided to create a survey to try to get as much information as possible before the October 2nd Council Oversight hearing on Virtual Learning.

How you can help — take their survey!

Digital Equity DC is asking all parents to share their good and bad experiences so that DCPS, Councilmembers and the Mayor’s office know where to apply additional resources. As Digital Equity is a volunteer organization of DCPS parents, they don’t have access to the email lists or the text blasts that DCPS has. They are asking parents via social media, parent teacher organizations and the education councils to share the survey broadly to get as large a representative picture as possible of how virtual learning platforms and devices are working. The survey takes less than five minutes. Without this information, city officials will be operating with anecdotal information at best.

In addition to sharing the synthesis of the survey at the October 2nd Council hearing, they will also share it with the Mayor’s office, DCPS and Councilmembers. Both Alexandra and Grace noted that improvements to the digital divide will not happen without parents continuing to hold city officials accountable. Both worry that the city continues to have short-term fixes for digital equity. As an example, the program to provide free internet is funded with CARES Act money that will only last one year. There is currently no plan for replacing DCPS-issued devices in future years. Without a firm commitment from city officials in the Mayor’s office, DCPS and Councilmembers, the rapid expansion of digital access of the last few months may slowly recede in the coming years.

We can all do our part to work towards digital equity by completing the survey by September 28, 2020 and sharing it broadly.

If you want to learn more about Digital Equity check out their Twitter account or email them at DigitalEquityDC@gmail.com to be added to their mailing list.