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Today we highlight our examination of efforts in Wisconsin’s rural school districts to bridge the digital divide as some prepare for online-only learning during the pandemic.
The story by reporter Peter Cameron of The Badger Project, writing for Wisconsin Watch, highlights two rural families with different views on the safety of in-person instruction as many Wisconsin schools reopen on Sept. 1. Cameron details how school districts are compensating for poor internet and cellphone service in rural areas of Wisconsin.
Districts have used federal pandemic relief funds to buy hotspots for students’ homes and to subsidize the cost of internet subscriptions, Cameron reports. Some of these rural areas also have created hotspots in school and library parking lots.
This piece is part of a national collaborative reporting project called Lesson Plans: Rural schools grapple with COVID.
Top Stories

Wisconsin’s rural students face a digital divide as some return to screens instead of school — Wisconsin Watch
Conservatives sue to knock down Tony Evers’ health emergency, mask mandate — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Private schools push back against Dane County schools order; legal challenges expected — Wisconsin State Journal
258 inmates, 20 employees test positive for COVID-19 at Green Bay Correctional Institution — Green Bay Press Gazette
Madison elected officials ask: Why bring UW-Madison students back when outbreak is inevitable? — Wisconsin State Journal
Sawyer County sees more COVID-19 cases in August than all prior months since the pandemic began — WPR
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Quotable
“I can’t thank all of our families enough for their continued support, patience, and flexibility … We know they have carried some additional burdens and challenges over the past several months. As we start the school year, we now need parents to help promote healthy practices, commit to daily wellness checks, and talk with your child each about how they are doing.”
Beaver Dam Unified School District Superintendent Mark DiStefano, as quoted by the Beaver Dam Daily Citizen
Data to note
Here are the latest visualizations of COVID-19 cases and deaths from our partners at WisContext.
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A special delivery – getting food to families in need during COVID-19 — WMTV
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The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.