Prior to the pandemic, some districts were already allowing students to hang onto school-issued devices over the summer in hopes of staving off the “summer slide.” Devices not only assist students during summer school, they let them apply for scholarships and college. Stakeholders think of device lending in the summer as one piece of the equity puzzle that helps even out the educational playing field.
This year, the summer learning slide is expected to widen the learning gap after extended school closures. New research predicts differences in at-home learning will drive students’ grasp of concepts further apart, as some parents will be better positioned than others to actively homeschool their children.
