We must Accelerate Digital Equity for our students

When schools closed this spring, we jumped into action to ensure all students had meals, and we saw an incredible response with over 2,200 individuals and businesses contributing. Now, we’re calling on the community to rally again so that every student has access to digital instruction.

We know that DPS is working hard to plan for scenarios for returning to school this fall. This monumental task will require our whole community’s support. Without significant community investment, students could lose as much as an entire school year’s worth of learning, according to a recent report. Our Black and Latinx students are the most likely to experience no or low-quality remote instruction if we don’t make deep investments now. 

The consequences of this learning loss will harm our students and the economic well-being of our entire community for decades to come, but they are not inevitable. Our community must achieve digital equity to ensure every student experiences quality digital instruction. 

That’s why I’m incredibly excited to announce Accelerating Digital Equity, a community campaign to raise at least $1.5 million to accelerate our school district’s shift to a new learning environment and catapult DPS to the next level of learning.

With this campaign, we are not only patching a hole that’s been ripped open by the pandemic  – we are accelerating a long-overdue response to inequities in schools. This campaign goes beyond devices, investing in professional development for educators, resources for building students’ and families’ digital literacy skills, and support to ensure all students are equipped to thrive.

Three Durham leaders, all parents of current DPS students, have stepped forward to lead the Accelerating Digital Equity campaign as co-chairs:

  • Geoff Durham, CEO for the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce

  • Rep. Zack Hawkins, NC State Legislator and UNC development officer

  • Laura Helms Reece, CEO of Rho

Mayor Schewel, Superintendent Mubenga, County Commission Chair Jacobs and School Board Chair Lee are also serving as Honorary Committee members.

Realizing digital equity for every student is possible - we need you to help accelerate the vision. Please visit the campaign website, share it with your friends and neighbors, and consider contributing to the campaign. In the coming weeks, we will share more information about other ways you can be involved.

Katie Wright