Equality Education and Closing the Homework Gap

Before the world would adapt to the pandemic, around 15% of students were already unable to do their homework because of the lack of reliable computers and/or internet connection at home.1 As the learning environment for students has shifted from traditional classrooms to virtual classrooms, it has exponentially widened that gap. According to a study from Common Sense Media, there are 15 to 16 million children in the U.S. who lack adequate home internet access,2 which means 30% of all public K–12 students fall into the homework gap.

With the rapid shift to virtual classrooms, schools’ constrained IT teams became overwhelmed with needed tools and apps for students’ continuous access to curriculum and remote learning. The number of insecure remote access points (APs) left schools vulnerable and exposed to security risks. According to research, the 2020 calendar year showed a record-breaking number of publicly disclosed school cyber incidents.

Fortinet and Linksys have partnered to offer a solution, Linksys HomeWRK for Education | Secured by Fortinet, designed to help close the homework gap by empowering school districts in the U.S. to provide underprivileged students with equal access to education through a secure, reliable, and affordable broadband connection.

Download the Solution Brief to learn more.

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