Becky Pringle President of National Education Association | Official Website
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 in the case of Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers’ Research, affirming the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund and preserving the federal E-Rate program. This decision is considered a significant victory for students and educators, as it supports access to online learning through affordable high-speed broadband and telecommunications services.
Research indicates that approximately 25% of school-aged children reside in households without broadband access or a web-enabled device such as a computer or tablet. The National Education Association (NEA) participated in a coalition of education groups by filing an amicus brief, urging the court to maintain this crucial funding source for programs essential to students.
NEA President Becky Pringle stated: "No matter where students live, connectivity is critical to conducting research, doing homework, and attending virtual classes. For some, the internet, tablets, and computers like Chromebooks or laptops are simply too expensive. Oftentimes, multiple people in the same household have to share one or two devices with limited access and time to do homework, research, and refine skills essential to learning. Others lack access to sufficient broadband infrastructure. Federal programs like E-Rate help schools purchase and provide Wi-Fi hotspots, connected devices, and other necessary technology all our students need to learn, grow, and thrive. The Supreme Court’s decision today protects Congress’s commitment through the federal E-Rate program to provide students with these vital educational resources."
The NEA represents over 3 million members including teachers at various educational levels, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, aspiring teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees.
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