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• 1 2020-11-04T21:03:24+00:00 New Educational Challenges due to Covid-19 53 plain 2020-11-18T21:44:15+00:00 To prevent the spread of Covid-19, many school districts have opted to transfer to remote learning. Common video communication platforms used for virtual learning include Zoom, Google Classroom, and Microsoft Teams. Other districts have opted to return to the classroom full-time or have implemented hybrid models of instruction. Social distancing and mask regulations must be followed for any in-person activities. 
  
  Unfortunately, the transition to remote learning and new social distancing guidelines have posed many students and education nonprofits with new challenges: 
  
  

  1. Free and Reduced Lunches

  According to NPR, the thirty million K-12 students who previously relied on their schools free or reduced lunch programs are at an especially high risk during this pandemic. While most school districts have begun to offer a designated pick-up time when students can grab a to-go meal, there is one major flaw with this model. 

  "This food pickup model still requires families to come to a designated site at a designated time. And many can't. Often, parents and caregivers have to work and can't get away in the middle of the day. Or they don't have a way to get to the designated pickup site. Or they're not comfortable making daily food runs in a pandemic" (Turner).

  For some, school lunches were the only meal that they received throughout the day. But only fifteen percent of students have been able to continue getting the meals that they need (Turner).
  
  
  

  2. Internet Access

  According to USAFacts, over nine million K-12 students do not have internet access at home, which makes participation in online classes and the completion of coursework nearly impossible. These fourteen percent of families lack connection for a variety of reasons. 

  "34% reported not having internet because they were unable to afford it, 4% because they did not have a home computer, and 4% because an internet connection was not available in their area. This means at least 42% of children without home internet will face barriers to connectivity" ("4.4 Million Households with Children Don’t Have Consistent Access to Computers for Online Learning during the Pandemic").

  
  

  3. Academic Support

  Many students who received after-school tutoring from education nonprofit volunteers can no longer receive the help that they need due to social distancing regulations. In addition, community shared resources such as paper, pens, pencils, and books, pose a risk to the spread of Covid-19.   
   

  
  
  
  
  4. Funding

  Education nonprofits must cancel certain in-person fundraising events or ensure that these events meet CDC safety guidelines, which can take a toll on their annual budgets. In addition, the need for volunteer activity has shifted focus as programs change. Out of concern of Covid-19, many volunteers are hesitant to continue their help in ways that increase their risk of developing the virus. While volunteers may now be reluctant to participate in tasks that involve working closely with people, such as tutoring, they have welcomed other in-person jobs, such as delivering meals, which allow them to maintain proper social distancing regulations. Volunteers are also looking for virtual opportunities to assist these organizations.