Rural Texas schools find trouble in connecting to internet for distance learning

As schools around the state make the switch to online learning to prevent the spread of COVID-19, school districts in rural Texas are experiencing challenges when accessing the Wi-Fi. 

Compared to metropolitan areas in the state, Wi-Fi in rural Texas has limited access, causing difficulties in remote education for public school districts. 

“Our rural school districts are still working,” Texas Rural Education Association Executive Director Bill Tarleton said to Reform Austin News. “We won’t let anyone fall through the cracks.”

He also said that giving students lunches and internet connections are the school district's biggest priorities. 

When Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all Texas schools to remain closed until mid-April, many suspected school closures will be extended again. Tarleton said to RA News that many districts are preparing for another extension. 

“We’re grateful for the leadership of superintendents across the state during this difficult time. We know you are making very difficult decisions with imperfect information. These decisions are based on local context and vary from one school system to the next. TEA wants to provide support to you all when making these difficult decisions, and help you communicate those decisions. We will do our best to support you but will undoubtedly make mistakes along the way. We’re all in this together," a statement on the Texas Education Association website said. 

But about 20% of students in rural Texas don't have internet access in their homes, Tarleton. To be able to do their school work, some of the students go to their schools and sit in the parking lot to do their homework because they are able to receive internet access there. 

“We will absolutely get through it,” Tarleton said to RA News. “Communities will rise up and help each other.”

Students without Wi-Fi or computers must continue to learn by picking up assignment packets from their schools, he said.

Urban school districts are following a similar model for students who don't have internet access by providing backpacks of materials for students to learn from. 

The Houston Independent School District (HISD), the largest school district in the state, launched HISD @ H.O.M.E., or Home-based Online Mobile Education, RA News reported. 

This new online learning program will have curriculum for every grade and subject and will have students using computers, laptops, iPads, tablet or smartphones to complete their education. Other school districts in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and El Paso are using similar models. 

The four members of the Texas Cable Association are also trying to help school districts by opening their Wi-FI hot spots to everyone to use, RA News reported. They said they will not be cutting off broadband or telephone services to anyone, even if customers can't afford to pay their bill during the financial crisis. 

Some cable providers are also giving free or reduced-price broadband and Wi-Fi to households with children in school, RA News reported. 

Tarleton said he hopes connectivity in rural Texas will improve, but Texas' legislature would need to approve more money for it first.

“Hopefully, they will now,” he said to RA News.