Digital Inclusion

Disparities in access to adequate broadband, devices, and digital literacy create conditions of inequity for Minnesota’s children and their families. The Minnesota Department of Education divisions of Academic Standards and Instructional Effectiveness, Career and College Success, Equity and Inclusion, and State Library Services are leading work within the agency and collaborating with external partners so that every Minnesotan can fully participate in education and social, economic, and civic life.

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) – Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) recipients fully enrolled as of December 31, 2021 will automatically receive their monthly benefit until March 1, 2022. The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.  

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) resources for schools and districts – ACP is a new long term $114 billion program that will replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program. This resource provides materials for schools, districts, libraries, and other community-based organizations to share information about the Affordable Connectivity Program including an outreach toolkit.

Learn about internet access

This video for families explains how to get connected to the Internet at home, including information on connection type, speeds and tips for basic troubleshooting.


video image Digital Inclusion

Translated Videos:  Hmong   Karen   Nepali   Oromo   Somali   Spanish
 

Northstar Digital Module Literacy Supporting K-12 Distance Learning

Parents and caregivers who support students can use this online module to improve their ability to interact with digital learning platforms and communicate with teachers.

Digital Equity Community Needs Assessment Report

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) selected Literacy Minnesota to create a Community Needs Assessment Report (the Report) that identifies and assesses actions taken to close the digital divide across the state since March 2020. The Report was funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and completed in December 2020.