A recent The Hill article that despite colleges seeing a rise in computer science majors, students from rural high schools are being left out. Small differences in high-speed access in rural areas remain, but the main issue appears to be school experiences, courses, and trained personnel. The article goes further that in a competitive market for personnel with the appropriate background, rural schools find it difficult to attract these individuals.
Politicians are trying. A program titled “Online for All” provides 20 million dollars provides subsidies for those needing help with home access and close to 19 million families have already enrolled. However, many eligible households have yet to take advantage of this program and the Biden Administration is reaching out to school administrators to make certain families are made aware of the support they might receive.
The “Rural Technology Fund” provides small grants that rural schools can use to implement projects, but this is not a solution for the issue of well qualified personnel.