In one of the world’s great technology hubs, housing tech giants Amazon and Microsoft, how do efforts to invest in technology needed for student learning find consistent roadblocks? Because school districts are set up as centralized bureaucratic institutions. The system leads to a large number of people being employed and little work getting done that actually advances the education of students.

The various sectors of our economy are linked together. As one cog moves, the rest begin to turn. However, one state may be ready for the shift while others have longer to wait. Therefore, states need to consider their local conditions in how and when they reopen to reduce the possibility of a rebound of the virus.

After this coronavirus crisis passes, the United States has the unique opportunity to confront our technological shortfalls within rural areas. Ignoring this segment of our society will leave millions far behind.

Even with the copious amount of information we can access, our schools continue to emphasize uniformity and restrict out-of-the-box thinking, leaving little room for new technological teaching techniques and innovation.