On July 14, 2022, the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) released its 2022 Student Home Connectivity Study, a report highlighting “at-home internet connectivity, with a special focus on the home-to-school experience.” In its second year, the study “aims to address how internet speeds compare during school hours settings versus outside of school hours, whether students are still logging in to school devices and applications outside of school hours, and which focused improvements have been made to ensure greater internet access and connectivity for all students.”
The 2022 study found that while more than 60% of schools’ total internet traffic occurred outside school hours, the network speeds accessible to students during after-school periods were approximately one third of the speeds accessible while in school. Study results also suggest that students in grades 9-12 are disproportionally affected by poor off-campus network performance.
CoSN’s study provides a unique look at the off-campus connectivity challenges faced by schools across the country. Even as students return to more traditional in-person classroom settings, it is clear that connectivity beyond school walls continues to be more important than ever before. In light of this increasing need, the FCC should act fast to ensure that our communities’ students have access to the learning resources they require, wherever and whenever they are needed.
The CoSN 2022 Student Home Connectivity Study may be viewed here.
