June 5, 2020
California School Technology Bill Weakened When Distance Learning is Needed Most
What’s a Rich Text element?
What’s a Rich Text element?
What’s a Rich Text element?
What’s a Rich Text element?
What’s a Rich Text element?
What’s a Rich Text element?
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
- testing number bullets
- and two
- and now threeee
Static and dynamic content editing
A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!
- Testnig one bullet
- two bullets
- and now three
How to customize formatting for each rich text
Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.
As schools across the country moved online this spring due to COVID-19 concerns, it revealed just how vast the digital divide runs in some of our poorest communities.
Many students do not have access to a computer or the Internet, and school districts have been working to provide them with the technology they need to complete their lessons. But, many districts simply cannot meet the demand. In California, for example, the state’s Department of Education estimates districts are short more than 400,000 devices.
In an effort to close the state’s digital divide, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) introduced a bill that would have exempted school districts from paying state sales taxes when purchasing laptops and other equipment necessary for distance learning.
Unfortunately, lawmakers weakened the bill due to pressure from the California Teachers Association (CTA). Rather than making technology more accessible when its needed most, the bill will create yet another study committee, forcing California’s poorest students to wait on the sidelines.
As school districts plan how to safely reopen schools in the fall due to COVID-19, many schools are considering hybrid or online-only curriculum. This legislation in its original form would have made it much easier—and cheaper—for school districts to purchase the equipment students need to ensure every student can receive a high-quality education from the safety of their home.
CTA claims they opposed the legislation in its original form because they wanted more money to go to schools. But, that argument doesn’t make sense. How does taking more money out of school districts by forcing them to pay sales tax on equipment help?
We’re in the middle of a pandemic, and it’s clear a significant number of families and teachers do not feel safe returning to “business as usual” at a brick and mortar school in the fall. Distance learning in some capacity will be the norm next year. And, without action, the digital divide that exists today will grow even deeper next year as our poorest students get left behind their peers.
This isn’t the time to play games. This is the time for policymakers to embrace policies that ensure each and every student has access to the tools they need to stay safe and receive a quality education.