ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN TEXAS: INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS.

The purpose of this study was to describe computer access rates of elementary school students in the state of Texas. Specifically, the ratio of students to computers among Texas elementary schools was analyzed for two school years at 2,716 elementary schools for the 2009-2010 school year and 2,525 elementary schools for the 2010-2011 school year. Student to computer access was examined as a function of school poverty, school demographics, and school accountability rating. School computer access was based on number of students per computer as reported to the Texas Education Agency by school principals through the STaR Chart survey. Disparities in school computer access were noted among Texas elementary schools disaggregated by poverty level, majority ethnic population, and state accountability rating. Computer access at High Poverty schools was less than computer access at Low Poverty schools. Both Hispanic Majority schools and Black Majority schools experienced lower than the mean level of access for all elementary schools in each year examined. Exemplary rated schools were characterized by a higher access levels than schools with lower ratings in both years of study. Implications of our findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN TEXAS: INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS. Academic Article