Statement: Oklahoma needs to account for all students as schools move to distance learning

As Oklahoma schools are pivoting to distance learning to complete the spring 2020 semester, education officials need to ensure all students have equal access. 

Media statement from Rebecca Fine, education analyst: 

Education is a civil rights issue. State officials should be exploring all options that provide equitable education solutions to all Oklahoma students, regardless of the resources that they have available.

There are significant concerns that online learning excludes students who do not have access to the internet or technological devices. It also excludes many special education students and English learners who need special accommodations that are currently unavailable remotely. 

Now is not the time to deepen the divide between classmates who have vastly different resources available to them. We need to identify and provide solutions that ensure all of Oklahoma students are able to move forward together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A fourth generation Oklahoman from Pawhuska, Dave Hamby has more than three decades of award-winning communications experience, including for Oklahoma higher education institutions and business organizations. Before joining OK Policy, he oversaw external communications for Rogers State University and The University of Tulsa. He also has worked for Oklahoma State University and the Chamber of Commerce in Fort Smith, Arkansas. A graduate of OSU's journalism program, he was a newspaper reporter at the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith. Dave joined OK Policy in October 2019.

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