NYS Digital Equity Survey

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) asks families to complete a brief Digital Equity Survey to help districts better understand students’ access to technology and internet connectivity at home.

Your feedback will help us identify needs and inform future planning and resources to ensure all students have equitable access to the technology they need for learning.

Thank you for helping us better understand and support the needs of our students and families.

See below for help to answer the questions in the survey.

Important Information for K–5 Families

Our K–5 students have a district-assigned device available for use at school. These devices are not automatically sent home with students. When a student needs a device for home use, one may be provided based on the student’s learning needs and teacher discretion.

When completing the NYS Digital Equity Survey, please answer the questions based on the device and internet access your child has available at home for learning, rather than simply whether your child has a district device assigned at school.

NYSED Digital Equity Survey Question Guidance

Question 1: Did the school district issue your child a dedicated school or district owned device for their use during the school year?

Question 2: What is the device your child uses most often to complete learning activities away from school?

(This can be a school-provided device or another device, whichever the student is most often using to complete their schoolwork.)

Choice can be a school-provided device or another device, whichever the student is most often using to complete their schoolwork.

DESKTOP LAPTOP TABLET CHROMEBOOK SMARTPHONE NO DEVICE

Please select a response other than “No Device” if you previously responded “Yes” to Question 1.

Question 3: Who is the provider of the primary learning device identified in question 2?

(This can be a school-provided device or another device, whichever the student is most often using to complete their schoolwork.)

“School” means that the school district provided the device for the student to use.

“Personal” means that the student uses a device not provided by the school district.

“No Device” means the student does not have a device to use.

You should answer “No Device” if you previously responded “No Device” to Question 2.

Question 4: Is the primary learning device (identified in question 2) shared with anyone else in the household?

“Shared” means multiple students/people share the device for school or work. This can be a school provided device or another device, whichever the student is most often using to complete their schoolwork.

“Not Shared” means dedicated to one student. This can be a school provided device or another device, whichever the student is most often using to complete their schoolwork.

“No Device” means the student does not have a device to use.

You should answer “No Device” if you previously responded “No Device” to Questions 2 and 3 respectively.

Question 5: Is the primary learning device (identified in question 2) sufficient for your child to fully participate in all learning activities away from school?

“Yes” means the student has a sufficient device (a computer or computing device such as a laptop, desktop, Chromebook, or full-sized iPad or other tablet), that is able to connect to the internet (even if an internet connection is not always available); has a screen size of at least 9.7”; has a keyboard (on-screen or external) and a mouse, touchscreen, or touchpad; and can run all applications, allowing for full participation in learning without or with very limited issues.

“No” means that the student does not have a device that meets the criteria above.

You should answer “No” if you previously responded “No Device” to Questions 2, 3, and 4 respectively.

Question 6: Is your child able to access the internet in their primary place of residence?

Question 7: What is the primary type of internet service used in your child’s primary place of residence?

“Residential Broadband” means a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet at your home by using a cable (fiber or coaxial) connected to an Internet service provider such as Spectrum, AT+T, Frontier, etc.

“Cellular” means wireless Internet access delivered through cellular towers to computers and other devices. Uses your cell phone provider for internet access.

“Mobile Hotspot” means a wireless access point created by a dedicated hardware device or a smartphone feature that shares the phone's cellular data. For example, a cellphone or a device like a Kajeet, Verizon Jetpack, Netgear Nighthawk or MiFi.

“Community WiFi” means allowing Internet connection to visitors and guests using an existing Wi-Fi infrastructure in the community such as a library, café, hotel, etc.

“Satellite” means a wireless connection through the use of a satellite dish located on your property.

“Dial up” means a service that allows connectivity to the Internet by using a modem and a standard telephone line.

“DSL” Digital Subscriber Line means a high-speed bandwidth connection from a phone wall jack on an existing telephone network that works within the frequencies so you can use the Internet while making phone calls.

“Other” means none of the other choices apply.

“None” means that you do not have Internet access in your home.

You should answer “None” if you previously responded “No” to Question 6.

Question 8: In their primary residence, can your child complete the full range of learning activities, including video streaming and assignment upload, without interruptions caused by slow or poor internet performance?

“Yes” means the student experiences very few or no interruptions in learning activities caused by poor internet performance in their primary place of residence.

“No” means the student regularly experiences interruptions and is unable to complete all learning activities due to poor internet performance in their primary place of residence or lack of internet access.

You should answer “No” if you previously responded “No” and “None” to Questions 6 and 7 respectively.

Question 9: What, if any, is the primary barrier to having sufficient and reliable internet access in your child’s primary place of residence?

“Availability” means you cannot actually get fiber (or satellite or cell service) at your home.

“Cost” means the service available to your neighborhood is cost prohibitive.

“None” means that your child has sufficient and reliable access to the internet.

“Other” means none of the other choices apply.

You should answer “None” if you previously responded “Yes” to Question 8.

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