Soaring internet use poses challenge for K-12 school networks
Although 99% of kindergarten through K-12 schools in the US have internet access, most do not have sufficient bandwidth to accommodate current online learning needs. Thus, schools have been urged to upgrade their networks as well as implement other measures such as filtering content to ensure the internet is only used for academic purposes.

Dive Brief:

As mobile devices become omnipresent, student internet use is up and IT leaders are being forced to ensure network infrastructure can handle the traffic.

EdTech: Focus on K-12 reports Chattanooga’s private Baylor School has adapted to surging traffic at the end of the school day, as students coordinate parent pickups, and during sporting events, when spectators tap into the wireless network.

IT leaders have taken advantage of traffic monitoring tools to identify and prepare for peak periods, prioritizing traffic accordingly.

Dive Insight:

Teachers and students must have access to the internet to do their work in the same way they need access to classrooms to meet. Many districts still struggle to achieve the level of network strength they would like for teachers to take advantage of new digital technologies, but the federal government has stepped in to help bridge this gap.

The E-Rate program has a great deal more money to give away than in years past and it is increasingly being used by schools expanding their wireless networks and increasing bandwidth. While the application can be arduous, access to hugely discounted hardware should be a strong enough incentive to power through.