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Michigan hits goal of high-speed internet in nearly every classroom

kids at computers
U.S. Department of Education
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Creative Commons

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Tuesday that almost every school in Michigan has access to reliable, high-speed internet service.

She says there are still 10 school districts, mostly in rural areas, that don’t have high-speed internet in every classroom.

Whitmer says the next step is to make sure residential high-speed service is available in every corner of Michigan. She says that’s as vital to students as internet at school.

“Absence of internet affects their ability to complete their homework and to learn in this economy where we’re all evolving in,” Whitmer says. “Digital learning opens up a new world of educational opportunities to prepare our students for high-wage careers.”

Whitmer says there are still 450,000 households across the state that don’t have access to reliable high-speed internet.

She says that slows down the creation of start-ups and home-based-businesses, and make parts of the state less-attractive places to live.

“We have a responsibility, an opportunity, to build off the progress made around our schools, and to partner with experts not only to ensure that our kids have access when they’re at school, but that they can go home in the afternoon and go online and complete their work,” Whitmer says.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987.
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