Blog Juice for Educational Technology

The University of California Santa Cruz has published a press release describing the results of a study conducted by Robert Fairlie, associate professor of economics at UCSC. Analyzing data from the Computer and Internet Use Supplement to the October 2003 Current Population Survey (CPS), Fairlie concluded that the digital divide "is large and does not appear to be disappearing soon." A portion of the evidence:

• Blacks and Latinos are much less likely to have access to home computers than are white, non-Latinos (50.6 and 48.7 percent compared to 74.6 percent). They are also less likely to have Internet access at home (40.5 and 38.1 percent compared to 67.3 percent).
• Asians have home computer and Internet access rates that are higher than white, non-Latino rates (77.7 and 70.3 percent), and Native Americans have lower rates (51.6 and 40.9 percent).
• Among Latino groups, Mexicans have the lowest home computer and Internet access rates followed by Central and South Americans who have the next lowest rates. Although Cubans, Puerto Ricans and Other Latinos have higher rates, all Latino groups are less likely to own a computer or have Internet access at home than are white, non-Latinos.

The report includes several figures, including a graph displaying the differences in home hi-speed internet access that really shows the disparities (p. 22). Read the entire report.

(Thanks to the National School Board Association’s Technology Leadership Network Newsletter for the tip.)