Technology is now at the forefront in many school districts such as Manatee County.

With textbooks going digital, and many students needing internet access to complete homework assignments, some students are being left behind.

  • More than 25 percent of households don't have internet
  • In Manatee, schools regulate what resources are used for homework
  • District serves nearly 50,000 students K-12

For Marie Collins, who started caring full-time for her grandchildren three years ago, this is a stressful time of year.

"I try to help them out as much as I can," Collins said. "I have books at home that you can get at the dollar store that help with their math."

Her oldest grandchild is entering 11th grade, which means essays and research are part of day-to-day homework assignments.

With just one income, Collins said having a computer and internet access in the house isn't in the cards right now.

"Sometimes it gets a little hard, and the pressure does get you down because you want them to have what the other kids have," she said.

More than 25 percent of households across the country don't have internet access.

RELATED:

Manatee County Superintendent Diana Greene says it's up to each school to decide how they regulate what resources are used for home.

"They're the ones who know which students can turn in a typed paper, or which students need to turn in a handwritten paper," she said.

With smart phones more prevalent than computers, the district is working to make more assignments "cell phone friendly."

"We need to provide opportunities that, 'I can do an assignment, and I can do it on my phone and email that to my teacher,'" Greene said.

Although many of the district's textbooks are now available online, it has an equal number of hard copies to make sure every student has access to the books needed.

Each student also has daily access to a computer lab should they need to use one.

Manatee County Schools has nearly 50,000 students from K-12 and  about 2,900 teachers.