An unprecedented lawsuit filed by students of color on November 30 exposes once again California’s failure to provide for its Black and Latinx students in a digital divide propagated by COVID-19 era online learning. This lawsuit is the first of its kind in the US, as it sues a state for failure to meet the educational needs of students during the pandemic. The demographic of the students are from age K-12, all situated in public schools in Oakland and Los Angeles, with most being Black or Latinx. "These conditions would be unacceptable in wealthier, whiter communities and do not meet the minimum standards set by the California legislature for the 2020-2021 school year," the suit writes, "which the state has done nothing to enforce." The lawsuit names defendants to be the state, Superintendent Tony Thurmond, California Department of Education, and the Board of Education. Plaintiffs include the students involved, as well as Oakland REACH- an organization currently providing online learning to about 350 students since the start of the school year. These groups cite their ability to “provide ‘high-quality remote learning’ for underserved students, but these successes cost money, which they argue the state of California should pay for.” While the suit does demand access to devices, adequate remote learning, the fulfillment of minimum instruction time, and support for students, it also provides solutions that incorporate community organizations that have already been striving to bridge the digital divide for low income students. 
    Responses from defendants thus far have been noncommittal; a spokesperson for the governor stated that “Throughout the pandemic this administration has taken important actions to protect student learning while also taking necessary steps to protect public health. We will defend our position in court.” Another spokesperson for the Department of Education wrote that because they had not yet reviewed the lawsuit in full, they had no comment. 
    Ultimately, regardless of how the lawsuit plays out in court, a joint effort is required to support low-income, Black, and Latinx students left behind by inadequate access to technology and a subsequent failing at school and teaching levels to effectively reach students academically and emotionally.

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Photo by Healthline

It has been nine months since US schools have closed down in March. During the 2019-2020 school year, schools did not resume in-person instruction and continued to navigate through remote learning. However, after observation and learning what works best, administrators have formulated more structured and advanced plans for the 2020-2021 school year. Many schools are trying their best to create plans that focus on providing and utilizing the best resources for students to be able to continue distance learning, while also receiving a quality education. Several schools have been moving forward as far as integrating back to in-person instruction. But with the rise of COVID-19 cases and the lack of resources some schools provide to their students, the remainder of the school year remains uncertain and will be planned out cautiously.

Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, announced this Sunday that he plans on reopening public elementary schools. However, he plans to keep middle schools and high schools closed. As of now, students will be returning to campus on December 7, abandoning the 3 percent test positivity threshold that was implemented before this new system. The positivity rate has reached 3.9% as of Sunday, yet he says he wants “this to be the plan going forward” as they work hard to bring them back safely. Both Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and de Blasio have faced criticism from parents who are worried about their children. But, as de Blasio mentions, “we know what works from actual experience”, and New York City is making their best efforts to bring back their students as safe as possible. 

In the Bay Area, the transition back to in-person instruction has been slower in order to ensure the safest way for children to attend school. Although many schools in the Bay Area are not returning back to campus, some are practicing in-person instruction and implementing precautions and regulations. This includes wearing masks, social distancing, setting up hand washing stations, installing good ventilation, and creating pod groups to limit the exposure to others. Even some are holding conditioning for athletics after school a few times a week. Although some schools in the Bay Area are reopening, mainly private schools, most schools are not. In San Francisco specifically, “The district’s answer is that it is not ready to reopen.” 

In Baltimore, Maryland, Ms. Hellman, a 26 year old kindergarten teacher, talks about her experience returning to in-person instruction. With “More than 70,000 schoolchildren” who “left Baltimore classrooms in March”, this reopening leaves both families and staff unsure about what is to come. Ms. Hellman explains that her students for the most part are fairly good at remembering to keep their mask on as to stay away from the “bad germ” - as one student calls it. Assessment rooms are cleaned every day on the hour, every hour. She mentions that “Her only concern was that her remote learners were missing the banter and nonverbal cues her students were getting in the classroom.” But, after the first day of returning to campus with only 6 students, the next day there were an extra 19 students who were previously learning virtually. 

The spike in the number of COVID-19 cases due to holiday gatherings creates a blocking figure for educators and families, influencing their plans to return. With the coming few weeks, the plans will become a little clearer, but will still remain very uncertain as we dive into an unknown future. As schools are returning, they are implementing rules like wearing a mask, doing frequent and rigorous COVID testing, installing good ventilation systems, maintaining 6 feet apart, washing hands and sanitizing often, cleaning areas daily, staying in pods, and attending in-person instruction only a few times a week. The main drives to return to campus are the social interaction and the more accessibility and availability of resources, both for receiving help on classwork/homework and for students who don’t have access to online learning devices, that are just not obtainable at home. 

If the spike in COVID cases results in schools being forced to shut down again or schools remaining to be closed, this could leave a devastating impact on students who do not have access to online learning devices. As Maria Su, executive director of San Francisco’s Department of Children, says, “We have children who are missing 90 assignments”, which unquestionably demonstrates the need to provide an equitable education to all students, first starting off with giving them online learning devices to continue school virtually. 

This year to come, we will be venturing into something very new, just as we have been in the past few months. But from experience, learning how to take advantage of resources, and finding solutions to issues blocking students and staff from receiving and providing quality education, we can take our first few steps in moving forward.

Photo by USA.gov

The 2020 United States Presidential election is on November 3! All over the media, there is a continuous buzz over this election. But why is it such a big deal and what exactly does it mean for our country, our communities, and our personal lives? We encourage you to read this article to learn more about the election and do further research on your own if you are still uncertain about any of the topics regarding the 2020 US presidential election. We recommend checking out the official US election website.

So what exactly is a presidential election and what does my vote do? The U.S presidential election is where “citizens of the United States who are registered to vote in one of the fifty U.S. states or in Washington, D.C., cast ballots not directly for those offices, but instead for members of the Electoral College.” This means that citizens are not directly voting for the president, but a group of people who are appointed by each state to then elect the president and vice president. This process is called the Electoral College. There are 538 electors in total, each representing a member of the House of Representatives and the Senate, plus 3 electors from the District of Columbia. The population of each state influences the number of electoral votes they get. The candidate with a higher percentage of votes in a specific state gets all of the electoral votes for that state(this all-or-nothing process does not apply to two of the fifty states), and the other candidate gets 0 electoral votes from that state, even if it was a close call. Sometimes, a candidate can win the popular vote, but not gain at least 270 electoral votes. The candidate that gains at least 270 electoral votes wins the presidency.

Now we know how votes are counted, but how do we choose who to vote for? This year, our two candidates are Donald Trump and Joe Biden. “The US political system is dominated by just two parties,” the Republicans, the conservative political party, and the Democrats, the liberal political party. The basic difference between the two parties is that Republicans believe in a “smaller”, weaker federal government where the federal government plays less of a role in our lives, while Democrats believe in a stronger, “bigger” federal government that plays a bigger role in the lives of its people. We highly recommend you do more research on what these two parties, and more specifically these two candidates, stand for if you do not already have a solid understanding. 

Where can I vote? First, make sure that you are registered to vote. Visit this link to register to vote if you haven’t already. Due to COVID-19, there may not be as many polling places near you and they won’t be the same as they have been in the previous years(for safety precautions). As a result, many people are voting by mail-in absentee ballots. Note that in California, all citizens registered to vote will be mailed a ballot(no later than 29 days prior to November 3). Click this link to learn more about how you can vote this year. 

Why should I vote? Voting is one of the most important rights granted to U.S citizens because it allows them to play a role in the type of leaders, representatives, and government they want to see in their country. Voting allows you to choose leaders who stand for things that are important to you and make the changes you want to see in your personal life, community, and country. Every single vote counts! In 2000, “Bush won Florida by 0.009 percent of the votes cast in the state, or 537 votes.” This example shows how close elections can get and how just a couple of votes can change the president that serves for the next four years and the course of history.

At Bridging Tech, educational equity is one of our core values. We strongly believe that every child should have access to a quality education that allows them to achieve their academic dreams. In order to fight the educational inequities prevalent in our society, we have to make changes to the education system at a nationwide level. This means that by evaluating our candidates’ values, policies, plans, and what they stand for, we can put our votes towards making the changes we want to see in our country.

The more people that vote, the more change that is created. #VotingMatters

Visit https://www.usa.gov/voting for all the information on the presidential election.

Photo from CNBC.com

Amidst a global pandemic and mail in voting, this upcoming election has already proven to be unprecedented. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s recent announcement that his running mate will be Sen. Kamala Harris is undoubtedly a historical one, Harris being the first ever South Asian American woman to ever be a vice presidential nominee. 

Coming from humble backgrounds, Kamala Harris is the daughter of both Indian and Jamaican immigrants who came to the United States in search of higher education. Harris’s mother, Shyamala Gopalan, immigrated to the United States to attend UC Berkeley to fulfill her dreams of pursuing a scientific major. There, Gopalan met Donald Harris, an enthusiastic economics major, at an Afro American association meeting. Their connection was instant, leading them to ultimately marry and have kids. Both Gopalan and Mr. Harris’s stories resonate with many, who also identify with having immigrant parents who came to the United States in pursuit of education and opportunity. Harris’s supporters view her political career as a testament to the American Dream, proving that anyone from any background can thrive and achieve their dreams in America. 

With her diverse origins, Harris’s nomination has been a groundbreaking milestone, inspiring an emotional response from activists and people of color worldwide. Many commend her nomination, stressing the importance of having a nominee that “looked like them.” Brittany Oliver, a women’s rights activist and communications director, echoed the same sentiment, saying “She’s paved the way for women like me.” Harris’s nomination has also resonated with the African American community, particularly during the ongoing movement for racial justice, coined “Black Lives Matter.” Several Democratic African Americans celebrated Harris’s nomination, claiming that her rise to political power was a reflection of the overwhelming support they’ve given to the Democratic Party. While the outcome of our upcoming election is still unclear, it is definite that Sen. Kamala Harris’s nomination has been a historic achievement for many people of color, providing the representation they have so earnestly fought for. 

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A triple digit heat wave, wildfires, and choking smoke: these are all things that California has experienced within the past week. Residents woke up on Wednesday to an apocalyptic landscape as smoke from the wildfires blotted out the sun and tinted the skies an eerie shade of orange. Currently, the state is battling more than two dozen wildfires in a season that has already scorched more than 2.5 million acres of land—a record figure—and the fire season runs for another four months.

Winds have blown smoke and ash into the Bay Area, lowering air quality to very unhealthy levels. The health effects of wildfire smoke aren’t fully understood, and the particles differ from other air pollution in that it contains a mix of gases and particles from burning vegetation, buildings, and other materials that can cause health problems. Studies have shown that when waves of smoke hit, the rate of hospital visits rises and many additional patients experience respiratory problems, heart attacks, and strokes. Wildfire smoke is especially dangerous during the pandemic, as smoke makes lungs more susceptible to diseases like COVID-19.

The risks are greater for people of color, who tend to live in areas already exposed to high levels of particulate pollution. According to a 2017 study, older Black people are three times more likely to be hospitalized for respiratory conditions because of smoke. Francesca Dominici, a biostatistics professor at Harvard and an author of the study, says, “Underrepresented minorities are experiencing a much higher health burden from pollution and wildfire smoke, and, now, COVID.”

So how can you protect yourself from the smoke? The CDC recommends limiting exposure to smoke by staying indoors with windows and doors closed and running air-conditioners in recirculation mode so that outside air isn’t drawn into your home. When outside, wearing N95 respirators are recommended, although these are in short supply. An alternative: wearing a mask made from different layers of fabrics, in particular tightly woven cotton and silk together, which can provide good filtration if the mask is closely fitted to your face. Ultimately, there’s only so much an individual can do to protect themselves. And unfortunately, as warming temperatures due to climate change have led to longer and more devastating fire seasons in California, these smoky conditions may become the new normal.

Over the past six months, COVID-19 has upended all of our lives, but low-income individuals and families are the ones who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. One area where effects are being felt the most: the digital divide. According to the Pew Research Center, 53% of Americans say that the Internet has been essential during the COVID-19 outbreak. Unfortunately, many parents with lower incomes say it’s likely their child will face digital obstacles when trying to do their schoolwork at home due to lack of Internet connection or lack of access to a device. Here at Bridging Tech, our mission is to help provide access to technology by donating laptops for learning to children in homeless shelters. But what are other nonprofits across the nation doing to help?

EveryoneOn, a nonprofit dedicated to creating social and economic opportunity, is helping to bridge the digital divide by connecting low-income families to affordable internet service and computers. Since 2012, it has helped connect more than 784,000 people to the Internet and donated thousands of computers. Connect2Complete, their flagship program for K-12 students, provides affordable internet service to qualifying families, and is offered in partnership with leading cable companies including Cox Communications and Mediacom. In response to COVID-19, EveryoneOn has provided updates on their website on what Internet service providers have done to ensure that low-income families can stay connected, and offered a service to find low-cost internet service and computers in one’s area.

Another nonprofit, National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), has taken a different approach to bridging the digital divide. A unified voice for home and public broadband access, personal devices, and support programs, NDIA combines grassroots community engagement with knowledge of tech to work for digital equity. Rather than donating devices or Internet services, NDIA hopes to bridge the digital divide through legislative change. The nonprofit supports digital inclusion practitioners and advocates, advocates for local, state, and federal policies to promote digital equity, works to educate lawmakers, media, and potential partners about the need for digital equity, and conducts, supports, and promotes data-gathering and research that can inform the public of the urgency of the digital divide. During the pandemic, NDIA has facilitated virtual community meetings to share information, acted as a messenger to relay digital needs to the media, advocated fiercely for more local, state, and federal resources, and provided a list of free and low-cost internet.

Now more than ever, it is so important to donate to these causes. Students are already back in school, and some still don’t have an adequate device or connection to the Internet, and these things that are needed in order just to have an opportunity to succeed.

​Photo by Willie B. Thomas

As cases of Covid-19 continue to climb, it is inevitable that distance learning will be the new norm for students and teachers. “With the closure of schools in March 2020, more than nine million students did not have the high-speed home internet required for online learning.” The expanding digital divide is prompting many people to find new ways and ideas for students to get the help they need in order to succeed in school and their future work.

While giving students tech devices helps to bridge the digital divide, this also includes giving kids access to multiple ways in which they can learn and practice computational thinking. Students will need to be trained in necessary computational thinking in order to address future tasks with their technological skills. Recently, Apple “announced updates to its Everyone Can Code curriculum, which introduces students to the world of coding through interactive activities.” This program will be able to guide students all the way from writing their first lines of Swift codes to building their first apps. They teach kids to code that will enhance their math, creativity, communication, and imagination. This can build onto their technological skills and will help them be able to connect with others digitally. 

Not only has Apple updated Everyone can Code curriculum, but they have recently launched the website, Learning from Home, “where educators and parents can access on-demand videos and virtual conferences on remote learning plus schedule free one-on-one virtual coaching sessions, all hosted by educators at Apple.” This can be very beneficial for both students and teachers to gain the technological skills to succeed and to better their learning experience.
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With the next generation having to face the possibility of self-paced online learning, they will need the coding skills to meet new connections and computational skills. Through coding and learning computational thinking skills, this will help kids “develop digital literacies, including connections between issues and finding solutions” for the future benefit of our world.

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The beginning of school has arrived for many kids in California, and many others are getting ready for it. This year, about 97% of children are going to be starting the year online due to COVID-19 restrictions and safety precautions. 

If schools reopen, they must have a waiver which involves a lengthy application process. However, since school has already started for some kids, that makes getting a waiver harder. Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered that any schools within the counties on a COVID-19 watchlist are not allowed to open up. Unfortunately in recent times it wasn’t updated and had additional data system errors, so 300,000 additional cases were not added. 
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Tony Thurmond, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, made the prediction that 700,000 kids don’t have access to devices. He also estimated that 300,000 don’t have access to the internet. This makes going to school impossible. On the bright side, 73,000 devices have been given out to those children. $5.3 billion in COVID-19 relief funds are also being used to help schools, such as purchasing technology for the students. 

Even though some kids now have access to devices, many are still struggling and will likely fall behind during this upcoming school year. The effort to bridge the digital divide is stronger than ever, and especially pressing with the arrival of the school year. ​Check out the source linked below for more information.

Source: https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2020/08/14/california-schools-scrambling-for-info-tech-as-year-begins/. 

Mail-in voting has become the center of controversy among Democrats and Republicans, with concerns being raised over the funding of the United States Postal Service and potential voter fraud. To understand the current dissension, we must first go back to May, when Louis DeJoy, a Trump ally and Republican donor, took over as Postmaster General and has been implementing cost-cutting measures in response to the USPS’ financial problems (which resulted in a $9 billion loss last year). These measures, including “slowed delivery, removed high-speed letter sorters from commission and a stark warning to election officials that mail-in ballots will no longer automatically be moved as priority mail,” have prompted Democrat criticism, who fear changes that could disrupt the November election. In a letter sent to DeJoy, Democrats assert that the “sweeping operational changes” he is making “could degrade delivery standards, slow the mail, jeopardize crucial deliveries such as prescription medicines and essential goods, and potentially impair the rights of eligible Americans to cast their votes through the mail in the upcoming November elections.” True to their concerns, on August 14, the USPS “warned almost all of the 50 states and Washington, DC, that voters could be at risk of not getting their ballots back to election offices in time to be counted because election rules are not compatible with the time needed for delivery and return of absentee ballots through the mail.” In response, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now calling for voting on a bill to block the USPS from making any changes that could result in delayed service. Additionally, an oversight hearing for DeJoy scheduled for September has been moved up to next week. 

Sticking to his attack on voter ballots, Trump has stated within the past week that mail-in voting results in voter fraud, despite no evidence that this is a widespread problem. He has also tweeted that voting by mail “doesn’t work out well for Republicans,” which many believe is why he opposes the $25 billion request for funding the USPS through a COVID-19 stimulus bill. As the situation develops, it is imperative we maintain the right to a safe and fair election, regardless of what changes must be taken to ensure that.

Photo by LA Times

The 2020 election will shape America’s policy for the next four years, solidifying the ideals and beliefs we as a nation hold to be true. In such a tumultuous time, candidates must prove to their people that they are best equipped to run a country that is divided on many pivotal topics. The Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, and the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, have been campaigning for months amidst ignited race relations and a global pandemic that the US is undoubtedly struggling in. With these issues on the table, who is best suited to lead Americans in coming years? 

​One important aspect being discussed in terms of Biden’s candidacy is who he will choose to be a vice president. This process and selection will “indirectly influence voter choice by changing perceptions of the presidential candidate — which, in turn, changes votes” (Devine and Kopko). In Biden’s case this might mean a young VP to counter perceptions of his age, a progressive one like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, or a Black one that speaks to his value of diversity. Nichols of Axios writes that “The way Biden is searching for a vice president suggests a careful and methodical approach, the opposite of Trump's style. But it also reveals a strong fear of the consequences of making the wrong choice.” Biden has stated that all of his potential running mates are women and at least four are Black. Some of those Black women are believed to be “Sen. Kamala Harris, Rep. Val Demings, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rep. Karen Bass, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and former national security adviser Susan Rice” (McCammond). Biden’s final decision was slated to be announced the first week of August, but sources say this is unlikely- if not the first week, Biden has confirmed that his choice will be made at least before the Democratic convention. Regardless of which woman he chooses, the results will be historic. Americans will ultimately decide in the voting polls if this selection will result in Biden’s win over Trump. 

Homelessness has long afflicted the American population, specifically in San Francisco, California - hotspot to some of the most widespread poverty in America. However, some groups have been immensely affected by unemployment and severe poverty during this pandemic. The LGBTQ community has long faced discrimination and increased hardships but the tangible effects of this bias has only been proven in recent studies. Estimates from the National HRC show that “LGBTQ youth comprise up to 40 percent of the total unaccompanied homeless youth population.” Unfortunately, they are not the only minority group facing increased homelessness rates - “other young adult populations experiencing disproportionate rates of homelessness include Black and African American youth, Hispanic non-white youth, unmarried parenting youth, youth with less than a high school diploma or GED certificate and youth reporting annual household income of less than $24,000.” 
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When minority groups are the foremost victims of poverty and homelessness, it creates a cycle of poverty and hardship for people of those ethnicities and socioeconomic statuses. Homelessness can have a lifelong effect on these groups’ mental and physical health. Those experiencing severe poverty are exposed to higher rates of sexual abuse, drug dependency, and social discrimination. When faced with situations as dire as homelessness, it is hard for this population to rise out of their circumstances especially with societal stigmas about hiring low-income, minority youth. 

Fortunately, several projects and initiatives have been striving to remedy the scourge of homelessness facing LGBTQ minorities. On par with these motives, the Trevor Project works to de-stigmatize the LGBTQ community by contacting policymakers and funding programs that encourage inclusiveness. They ensure that foster care systems have a strong, non-discriminatory code of ethics that accommodates youth despite sexual orientation or racial identity. In addition to this, the Covenant House, one of the largest providers of care for youth experiencing homelessness in America, has a mission statement ensuring that all their houses are safe and welcoming for minority youth experiencing homelessness. Kevin Ryan, CEO of Covenant House International, stated “This is not complicated: we are called to love unconditionally and with absolute respect all young people facing homelessness.” Although it is a devastating truth, LGBTQ and minority youth disproportionately experience homelessness, and we should all work to support and de-stigmatize these groups to stop the cyclical abuse they face. 

Photo taken by Melia Robinson/Business Insider.