About the Data - Digital Equity

Location on WISEdash Public Portal

Digital Equity > Digital Equity

Overview

Schools and LEAs conduct the annual Digital Equity Survey to collect voluntary responses from families regarding questions on access to digital devices and the internet where they live. The goal and purpose of this survey is to better understand the digital equity gap and target initiatives to help get access to those that need it. Closing the digital equity gap is a priority to ensure high-quality learning for all children in Wisconsin through access to robust broadband and digital learning resources, especially in rural areas and other groups lacking internet access.

There will be some minor updates to the Digital Equity survey for the 2023-24 school year so as to provide clearer results of the targeted data elements.

Using Dashboards to Improve Learning

The Department of Public Instruction continues to support schools as they work to get students access to the internet and devices they need through initiatives including:

• DPI provides secure reporting tools in the WISE application suite. These tools allow schools to collect, use, and analyze data about internet and device access for students in their district.
• The Digital Learning Bridge allows schools and libraries to purchase discounted hardware and software, as well as bulk subscriptions for discounted internet through a partnership between the DPI and CESA Purchasing.
• DPI also provides the Digital Equity Mapping Tool, that Wisconsin residents can use to learn more about the state of digital learning equity for individual school districts.
• DPI provides information for schools and other partners about replicable models of collaborating and pooling resources for fiber expansion projects.
• Schools can collaborate with their local broadband task force and use the Digital Equity Data to provide letters of support for broadband expansion grant applications.