District Introduction

Collecting accurate data regarding digital resource access for our New York students will greatly help educators to better serve their students and families. In order to accomplish this, the New York State Education Department is asking parents or guardians to complete a Digital Equity survey (for each student in the family) in grades Kindergarten – Grade 6. This survey will provide information on student access to devices and internet access in their places of residence. To assist us in this process, please answer all the questions and follow any additional instructions provided for submitting the survey.

The Digital Equity Survey can be found in the Parent Portal Login once you are logged in successfully.  If you are not yet on the Parent Portal please contact your building’s main office. 

Please make every effort to complete and submit this survey.

Overall:

"Device" is defined as a computing device, such as a laptop, desktop, Chromebook, iPad,

or full-size tablet. "Device" for the purposes of this survey, is NOT a phone or mini

tablet, nor is it a mobile internet access point, such as a MIFI.

"Dedicated" devices are devices that are not shared, where the student is allowed to

take the device when they leave the school building to participate in learning outside of

school. They are for single student use and are not shared with other students or

household members.

"Sufficient" access means that the student does not regularly experience issues

(slowdowns, buffering, disconnections, unreliable connection, etc.) while participating in

required or assigned instruction and learning activities, as measured during peak

household usage.

"Reliable" access should be judged against the goal of "All the Time" access, as

indicated in the National Educational Technology Plan. The Plan states the expectation

that technology-enabled learning should be available for all students, everywhere, all

the time (NETP 2017).

Question 1: Did the school district issue your child a dedicated school or district owned device for their use during the school year?

"Yes" means the school district issued the student a dedicated device to use at home.

"No" means that the school district has not issued a dedicated device to the student to use at home.

Question 2: What is the device your child uses most often to complete learning activities away from school? (This can be a school-provided device or another device, whichever the student is most often using to complete their schoolwork.)

Choice can be a school-provided device or another device, whichever the student is most often using to complete their schoolwork.

DESKTOP

LAPTOP 

TABLET 

CHROMEBOOK 

SMARTPHONE

NO DEVICE

                  Please select a response other than "No Device" if you previously 

                  responded "Yes" to Question 1.

Question 3: Who is the provider of the primary learning device identified in question 2? (This

can be a school-provided device or another device, whichever the student is most often using to complete their schoolwork.)

"School" means that the school district provided the device for the student to use.

"Personal" means that the student uses a device not provided by the school district.

"No Device" means the student does not have a device to use.

You should answer "No Device” if you previously responded "No Device" to Question 2.

Question 4: Is the primary learning device (identified in question 2) shared with anyone else in the household?

"Shared" means multiple students/people share the device for school or work. This can be a school provided device or another device, whichever the student is most often using to complete their schoolwork.

"Not Shared" means dedicated to one student. This can be a school provided device or another device, whichever the student is most often using to complete their schoolwork.

"No Device" means the student does not have a device to use.  You should answer "No Device" if you previously responded "No Device" to Questions 2 and 3

Respectively.

Question 5: Is the primary learning device (identified in question 2) sufficient for your child to fully participate in all learning activities away from schòol?

"Yes" means the student has a sufficient device (a computer or computing device such as a laptop, desktop, Chromebook, or full-sized iPad or other tablet), that is able to connect

to the internet (even if an internet connection is not always available); has a screen size

of at least 9.7"; has a keyboard (on-screen or external) and a mouse, touchscreen, or

touchpad; and can run all applications, allowing for full participation in learning without

or with very limited issues.

"No" means that the student does not have a device that meets the criteria above.

Question 6: Is your child able to access the internet in their primary place of residence?

"Yes" means the student has internet access in their primary residence where the student typically resides.

"No" means the student does not have internet access in their primary residence.

Note: If student has multiple residences that share equal time, answer this question according to the residence that has the more limited access.

Question 7: What is the primary type of internet service used in your child's primary place of

residence?

"Residential Broadband" means a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet at your home by using a cable (fiber or coaxial) connected to an Internet service provider such as Spectrum, AT+T, Frontier, etc.

"Cellular" means wireless Internet access delivered through cellular towers to computers and other devices. Uses your cell phone provider for internet access.

"Mobile Hotspot" means a wireless access point created by a dedicated hardware device or a smartphone feature that shares the phone's cellular data. For example, a cellphone or a device like a Kajeet, Verizon Jetpack, Netgear Nighthawk or MiFi.

"Community WiFi" means allowing Internet connection to visitors and guests using an existing Wi-Fi infrastructure in the community such as a library, café, hotel, etc.

"Satellite" means a wireless connection through the use of a satellite dish located on your property.

"Dial up" means a service that allows connectivity to the Internet by using a modem and a standard telephone line.

"DSL" Digital Subscriber Line means a high-speed bandwidth connection from a phone wall jack on an existing telephone network that works within the frequencies so you can use the Internet while making phone calls.

"Other" means none of the other choices apply.

"None" means that you do not have internet access in your home.

You should answer "None" if you previously responded "No" to Question 6.

Question 8: In their primary residence, can your child complete the full range of leani

activities, including video streaming and assignment upload, without interruptions cal

slow or poor internet performance?

"Yes" means the student experiences very few or no interruptions in learning activities

by poor internet performance in their primary place of residence.

"No" means the student regularly experiences interruptions and unable to complete all

learning activities due to poor internet performance in their primary place of residence

of internet access.

You should answer "No" if you previously responded "No" and "None" to questions 6 and 7 respectively.

Question 9: What, if any, is the primary barrier to having sufficient and reliable internet ac

in your child's primary place of residence?

"Availability" means you cannot actually get fiber (satellite or cell service) at your home.

"Cost" means the service available to your neighborhood is cost prohibitive.

"None" means that your child has sufficient and reliable access to the internet.  "Other" means none of the choices apply.

You should answer "None" if you previously responded "Yes" to question 8.