State efforts to close the K-12 digital divide may come up short

Students and teachers alike struggle with digital connectivity – but education is just one area in which technology matters. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

In 2021, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced that education officials in his state had “closed” the digital divide by ensuring that every public school student had a laptop or tablet and internet access.

“Closing the digital divide wasn’t just about meeting the challenges of remote learning,” Murphy, a Democrat, said at the time. “It’s been about ensuring every student has the tools they need to excel in a 21st century educational environment.”