2020 Back to School Supplement

2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

Reading, (W)riting and Resources: Distance and Digital Learning Under COVID-19

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Charting the Course of a New Adventure

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF D. Kevin McNeir, Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Dr. Charles Vincent, Social Sightings columnist Tatiana Moten, Social Media Specialist Angie Johnson, Circulation REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Timothy Cox, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Writer), Jacqueline Fuller, Hamil Harris, D. Kevin McNeir, Kui Mwai, Lee Ross, Dorothy Rowley, Brenda Siler, Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright, PHOTOGRAPHERS John E. DeFreitas, Ja’Mon Jackson, Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman

One of the things that I’ve loved since girlhood was the close of summer and the return to school. Even then, I believe there was something about stimulating my mind – learning new things, creat5 Dr. Shantella Sherman (Photo by India Kea) ing ideas, and experimenting through problems for workable solutions – that made education an adventure. Well, this year, unlike any in recent history, educational systems are being challenged to find new and innovative ways to strengthen young minds. And like any other school year, I believe parents, educators and students will rise to the occasion of this new adventure.

While it is true that the pandemic and social unrest that have come to define 2020 also impact quite strongly how the academic year begins, it does not have to become an educational albatross weighted about the shoulders of the nation.

This is, after all, America – a nation founded upon the principle of relying less on resources than on resourcefulness.

And in the same manner that once-poorly funded (or defunded) school districts across the nation created streams of educational capital to fill in the gaps, our obligation to young minds is to pitch in where needed.

Be clear, I am not speaking of money, necessarily, but of assisting households that need a bit of extra help to ensure children and young adults matriculate successfully. For instance, a 2019-2020 Point-in-Time count of homelessness in the District found 2,433 homeless families with 1,420 children documented as homeless.

During a virtual board meeting of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments on June 10, the issue of homelessness was addressed in relation to the city’s recovery from COVID-19. “Homelessness was a serious challenge in our region pre-pandemic, but the COVID-19 impact brings new urgency to addressing the crisis,” Tony Turnage, assistant director of the Prince William Homeless Services Division and co-chair of the COG Homeless Services Committee noted. “It’s clear, housing must be central to the conversations about the region’s recovery plans.”

Likewise, education must be equally central. Students are still required to perform, learn, and master information irrespective of their domiciles or lack thereof. Consider sponsoring a homeless or financially strapped family this school year so that basic supplies – including hygiene kits of masks, hand sanitizers, deodorant, and feminine products – are readily available and do not hinder young minds from focusing on their coursework.

Many households in the DMV are also led by senior citizens caring for their grandchildren which means technology may be somewhat confusing to navigate. Mask up and volunteer to help demonstrate modems, laptops, the Blackboard system, and emails for your elderly neighbors. Additionally, DCPS accepts donations of school supplies, schoolbooks for students’ coursework and home libraries, interactive white boards, computers, and hygiene kits. Check their website for additional information, https://dcps.dc.gov/service/make-donation-dcps As Gladys Knight once sang, “as bad as these days may be for you, they will be the ‘good old days’ for your children and grandchildren.” We owe it to young people to make these uncertain times as enriching and bountiful as possible. Let them grow into adults that remember how the communities around them pulled together to make the 2020-2021 school year a great, (though challenging) adventure. In this Informer supplement, Reading, (W) riting and Resources: Distance and Digital Learning Under COVID-19, we invite you to examine the tools necessary for a winning school year.

Many households in the DMV are also led by senior citizens caring for their grandchildren which means technology may be somewhat confusing to navigate. Mask up and volunteer to help demonstrate modems, laptops, the Blackboard system, and emails for your elderly neighbors.

Read, Learn, Grow.

www.washingtoninformer.com / 2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

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Power Tools: Necessary Equipment for New Learning Environments

By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer

This year’s Back-to-School shopping season has taken a major hit with retailers scrambling to offer sales on items that may be of no particular use – or of limited value under remote learning. In a season defined by the COVID-19 global pandemic, many parents have found that while they may not be shopping for school uniforms or book bags, they do have investments to make in their kids’ academic success and much of it is technologically driven.

According to an online study of 600 college students and 1,200 K-12 parents in July 2020, commissioned

by PayPal and conducted by Netfluential, parents will actually spend more this year on school necessities than in previous years.

Forty percent of parents and 35 percent of college students plan to spend more this year than last. Of note, first-year college students will spend $732 on average, compared to $444 among K-12 parents. Additionally, 70 percent are doing more online shopping than before because of the pandemic and nearly three-quarters will be doing their back-to-school shopping online.

“We are ordering almost everything our children need online this year and there are a few things that are ‘big ticket items’ that we are having to purchase like different modems, desks, and chairs,” Northeast resident Wayman Dow told the Informer. “We want to recreate the classroom setting as much as possible and that costs a pretty penny.”

Dow can be counted among the 63 percent of Americans surveyed that said they plan to spend more on remote learning furniture and home goods and 59 percent indicating spending increase on remote learning and tech.

Other investments include tech tools for enhanced virtual learning, including headphones, laptops and tablets, monitors, bookcases, desks, and arts and crafts materials.

“We don’t know how long this quarantine will continue and so we have to outfit our homes to meet the needs of our children. It’s kind of exciting, actually,” Patricia Kelly-Patterson told the Informer. “It was one thing to have my three at different spots at the dining room table when the quarantine first began, but this is becoming a ‘new norm’ and so this

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environment needs to be as comfortable and conducive to learning as the classroom.”

For those parents whose children will return to the classroom, shopping lists include items like masks, gloves, and hand sanitizers.

Board-certified pediatrician Dr. Candice W. Jones told CNN that the goal is to reduce sharing in the classroom as much as possible and to ward off any bacteria with proper disinfectants.

“Kids should have a 60 percent or higher alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which kills most types of bacteria, viruses and fungi. I recommend everyone having their own, not just to avoid handwashing in communal bathrooms, but also for other situations like on the bus,” Jones said.

“And it’s important to practice using these items with your child before sending them off to school.”

And since many parents have kept their children from enclosed spaces like grocery stores and restaurants since the pandemic began, the children have not had to wear face masks at all – and certainly not for long periods of time. Experts believe it is crucial that parents not only purchase regulation masks that are proper fitting, but also that they practice having their children wear them about the house in order to get used to them.

“Parents should gradually build up face covering ‘endurance’ in their children by having them wear a face covering for longer and longer periods of time,” Michael LaSusa, superintendent of schools in Chatham, New Jersey advised. “If a child spends zero time during the day right now in a face covering, then that child will have a tough time spending four hours wearing one when September rolls around. We need to build up this endurance gradually.”

Retailers like Old Navy and Target offer children’s masks in stylish colors and patterns that may keep them from feeling anxious about wearing them. Parents are advised to also use permanent marker to label all masks with their child’s name, as well as to indicate the mask’s top, bottom, front and back, provide their child with a resealable bag or container for masks so that it remains clean when they are required to remove them for meals, and pack one or two spare masks with their child in a separate resealable bag or container, in case the initial mask breaks or gets dirty. BTS

5The right back-to-school equipment is a must whether students learn in the classroom or by remote. (Courtesy photo)

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2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

By the Numbers: Virtual Learning

By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer SurveyMonkey Audience survey was conducted March 24 - April 1, 2020 among 849 teenagers ages 13-17 in the United States. Respondents for this survey were selected from more than two million people who take surveys on the SurveyMonkey platform each day. The modeled error estimate for the full sample is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points. Data have been weighted for age and sex using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to reflect the demographic composition of the United States age 13-17.

95%

The spread of the coronavirus has upended school for teens, with 95 percent of 13-to 17-year-olds in the U.S. reporting the cancellation of in-person classes at their schools.

Slightly more than half of teens who no longer attend school in person say they are worried about not being able to keep up with their schoolwork (56 percent) and their extracurricular activities (55 percent) while in-person school activities are canceled.

Black and Hispanic/Latino teens are significantly more likely than White teens to be worried about keeping up with schoolwork.

The DC Charter School Alliance is dedicated to supporting and representing the robust charter school sector in our nation’s capital.

Many teens aren’t connecting with their teachers. Almost one in four teens (24 percent) say they’re connecting with their teachers less than once a week.

www.dccharters.org | info@dccharters.org | (202) 387-0405

Girls are more likely than boys to say they’re worried about keeping up with both schoolwork and extracurriculars.

Forty-one percent haven’t attended an online or virtual class since in-person school was cancelled.

Finding space to do schoolwork is a challenge for many teens. More than a quarter of teens (28 percent) say they lack a dedicated space where they can do schoolwork at home.

www.washingtoninformer.com / 2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

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2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

PGCPS Supporting Strong Home and School Connections During Distance Learning Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) is gearing up to begin the 2020-21 academic year on Monday, Aug. 31 with distance learning for all grades. Distance learning will continue through the first and second quarters with a goal to return to school buildings in February to begin the third quarter.

Although this back-to-school season undoubtedly looks and feels different amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, one thing remains the

PGCPS PrekinderGarten SeatS available!

same: the PGCPS commitment to maintaining a strong connection between home and school. Here are key ways the school system will support families throughout distance learning.

week of Aug. 24 to those in need. The Connect PGCPS initiative through the Excellence in Education Foundation will continue to cover the cost of Internet access to families.

NEW PARENT SUPPORT CENTERS

SUPPORT FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS (ELLS) AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, parents who need assistance navigating aspects of distance learning, such as technology support, accessing instructional packets or other needs, can visit Parent Support Centers on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at nine schools across the county: Benjamin Tasker Middle School 4901 Collington Road, Bowie Charles Carroll Middle School 6130 Lamont Drive, New Carrollton

FUll-day PrOGram SiteS (limited to families living

Drew-Freeman Middle School 2600 Brooks Drive, Suitland

ACADEMIES Andrew Jackson William W. Hall

G. James Gholson Middle School 900 Nalley Road, Landover Gwynn Park High School 13800 Brandywine Road, Brandywine

within the school boundary area)

reGiStratiON • ALL families can apply for prekindergarten at your boundary school.

• Open to children who turn four years old on or before September 1, 2020.

• Listed full-day program sites are open to those living within the school boundary area ONLY. • Listed half-day program sites are open to all families – you do not have to live in the school boundary area.

• Parents/Guardians may apply for Prekindergarten at their boundary school (for in-boundary students) or selected program school (for half-day programs) using the following link: pgcpsmdc.scriborder.com • Parents/Guardians must upload your child’s birth certificate and immunization records, proof of residency (current lease or deed and two important pieces of mail) and two latest paystubs (for parents/guardians in the household).

• Over-income families will be placed on a wait list and considered for a seat after September 8th based on space availability.

ClaSS SiZe & StrUCtUre Class size is limited to 20 students.

Prekindergarten will participate in distance learning from August 31 through January 29.

CONtaCt iNFO

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS Chapel Forge H. Winship Wheatley Frances Fuchs Kenmoor ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Allenwood Apple Grove Ardmore Arrowhead Avalon Baden Barack Obama Barnaby Manor Beacon Heights Bladensburg Bradbury Heights Capitol Heights Dual Language Carmody Hills Carole Highlands Catherine T. Reed Chillum Clinton Grove Columbia Park Concord Cool Spring Cooper Lane Cora Rice District Heights Dodge Park Doswell E. Brooks Edward M. Felegy Flintstone Forest Heights Fort Foote Fort Washington Forest

Francis Scott Key Francis T. Evans Gladys Noon Spellman Highland Park Hillcrest Heights Hyattsville Indian Queen J. Frank Dent James H. Harrison James R. Randall John H. Bayne Judge S. Woods Kettering Kingsford Lake Arbor Langley Park - McCormick Longfields Marlton Montpelier Mount Rainer North Forestville Northview Overlook Dual Language Oxon Hill Paint Branch Panorama Patuxent Port Towns Potomac Landing Princeton

Early Childhood Office 240-724-1924

OTHER SITES Greenbelt Children’s Center Largo Park Early Learning Center

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

Adelphi Beltsville Calverton Carrollton Deerfield Run Gaywood

High Point High School - 3601 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville

Ridgecrest Riverdale Robert R. Gray Rockledge Rogers Heights Rosa L. Parks Rosaryville Rose Valley Samuel Chase Samuel P. Massie Scotchtown Hills Seabrook Seat Pleasant Suitland Tayac Templeton Thomas S. Stone Valley View Vansville Waldon Woods William Beanes William Paca Woodmore Woodridge

HalF-day PrOGram elemeNtary SCHOOl SiteS (open to all families) Glenridge Greenbelt Hollywood James McHenry Lamont Laurel

Lewisdale Magnolia Mary Harris “Mother” Jones Oaklands University Park

Mount Rainier Elementary School 4011 32nd St., Mount Rainier Port Towns Elementary School 4351 58th Avenue, Bladensburg Thurgood Marshall Middle School 4909 Brinkley Road, Temple Hills

STUDENT MEAL SERVICE

All schools will offer multi-day, pre-packaged breakfast and lunch on Mondays and Thursdays. Students who are not eligible for free and reduced-priced meals will have to pay for breakfast and lunch, preferably through their student account. Families can apply online for free and reduced-price meals at www.pgcps.org.

TECHNOLOGY AND ACCESS

All students will be equipped with their own digital devices for learning at home. Students who received devices in the spring should continue to use them. Chromebooks, iPads and wifi hotspots will be distributed during the

www.washingtoninformer.com / 2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

Teachers and certified specialists will support English Language Learners (ELLs) and students with disabilities on a regular schedule.

Additionally, small group instruction for enrichment or intervention will be provided as needed or outlined in student learning and support plans.

All Individualized Education Plan and 504 meetings will be held virtually with parents.

Parents, guardians and caregivers of special education students can also take advantage of an interactive virtual workshop series designed to equip families with ideas, tips and strategies in preparation for online learning.

Workshops will cover strategies for creating an effective learning environment at home; planning, organization, and self-advocacy; distance learning information for non-public school students and more. For more information, visit www.pgcps.org.

KEY DATES

Aug. 31– First Day of School Distance learning will begin for all grade levels through the end of second quarter in January.

Dec. 1-18 If conditions are safe, PGCPS will offer families the option to continue distance learning for the remainder of the school year or to begin hybrid instruction in the spring.

February to June 2021 – Second Semester Depending on conditions, PGCPS will implement a hybrid staggered schedule with two days of in-person learning and three days of distance learning. Full-time distance learning will continue students who opt in.

Please visit the PGCPS website for the full Reopen PGCPS plan, more information and distance learning updates. BTS

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Comcast Launches New “Internet Essentials Partnership Program” for Cities, Schools, and Students as Nation Gears Up for the Academic Year

Adds Free xFi Platform for Parents to Protect Children’s Devices and Monitor Online Activities Continues to Offer 60 Days of Free Internet Service for New Internet Essentials Customers With distance learning plans rolling out across the country due to the coronavirus, Comcast has announced a new program for cities, schools, and nonprofits to connect large numbers of low-income K-12 students to the Internet at home. The “Internet Essentials Partnership Program” is designed to help accelerate Internet adoption at a critical time. In nearly ten years, Internet Essentials has become the nation’s largest and most successful low-income Internet adoption program and has connected millions of people to the Internet. It offers households low-cost, broadband Internet service for $9.95/ month, the option to purchase a heavily subsidized computer, and multiple options for digital literacy training.

Comcast also announced it is giving all Internet Essentials customers its innovative xFi platform, which enables parents to control and manage their

children’s WiFi connected devices.

Accelerating Internet Adoption: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the “Internet Essentials Partnership Program” has already collaborated with more than 70 schools across the country. The program relies on public-private partnerships and enables entire communities to work together to coordinate funding to help connect K-12 students. The program also includes two months of free Internet service for new Internet Essentials customers. Recent partnerships with schools in Chicago, Atlanta, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Portland, and Arlington, VA mean more than 200,000 qualified students now have a greater opportunity to get connected. Visit: www.comcastcorporation.com/IEPP for more information.

“We’ve seen firsthand that low-cost Internet access is an important part of

improving digital equity and creating positive opportunities for low-income students and families,” said Dana Strong, President of Xfinity Consumer Services. “Through this new partnership program, we are accelerating the efforts of cities, schools, philanthropies, nonprofits, and private citizens to collaborate and open the doors of Internet access for more families in need.”

The initiative builds on Comcast’s recent announcement that it will continue to offer, through the end of 2020, all new Internet Essentials customers two months of free Internet service and it will forgive back debt due so more families can apply.

Putting Home WiFi Controls into Parents’ Hands and Keeping Families Safe Online: With so many families at home, parents and caregivers need controls to manage their home WiFi connection

and their children’s devices. So, Comcast is providing all Internet Essentials customers free access to xFi, which is a simple, digital dashboard that enables customers to set up and manage their home WiFi. With it, they can see what devices are connected, set safe-browsing modes so children can only access age-appropriate content, get notifications about activity on their home WiFi, and have the ability to pause devices for dinner or bedtime.

Partnering to Accelerate Internet Adoption and Address Digital and Media Literacy: As research shows, barriers to broadband adoption are more complex than having access to an Internet connection, even when it’s heavily discounted or free. It’s also clear that no single entity can solve the digital divide alone. As a result, the success of Internet Essentials is due to partnerships

2 Months of Free High-Speed Internet from Comcast Internet Essentials from Comcast brings you affordable, high-speed home Internet. You may be eligible for 2 months of free Internet Essentials service. Available for new Internet Essentials customers only. Apply by December 31, 2020.

2

Are eligible for public assistance programs like the National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others.

Live in an area where Comcast Internet Service is available.

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after promotional pricing

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with more than 10,000 government and elected officials, school districts, libraries, nonprofits, community-based organizations, and others. Collectively, they help to address the full range of barriers to broadband adoption.

Comcast also announced plans that it will convene a series of virtual national and regional summits this fall. Each one will focus on several issues including: education, broadband adoption, digital and media literacy and training, and Internet safety. In addition, this fall Comcast will publish its annual Internet Essentials progress report and relaunch its Internet Essentials Partner Portal, located at www.internetessentials.com/partner, to include case studies, research, and links to creative broadband adoption solutions. Resources there will be made free for anyone to access, including other Internet Service Providers and nonprofits. BTS

3

Have not subscribed to Comcast Internet within the last 90 days.

4

Have no outstanding debt to Comcast that is less than one year old.*

InternetEssentials.com 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376)

*Households with outstanding debt may still be eligible if approved by 12/31/20.

Offer ends December 31, 2020. Restrictions apply. Limited to Internet Essentials (“IE”) service from Comcast for new residential customers meeting certain eligibility criteria. Offer limited to 2 months of complimentary Internet Essentials service. Taxes, home drop-off, and professional install extra. After promotion, regular rates apply. Comcast’s current rate is $9.95/mo. (subject to change). Advertised price applies to a single outlet. Actual speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed visit www.xfinity.com/networkmanagement. If a customer is determined to be no longer eligible for the IE program, regular rates will apply to the selected Internet service. Subject to Internet Essentials program terms and conditions. May not be combined with other offers. Call 1-855-846-8376 for restrictions and complete details or visit InternetEssentials.com. © 2020 Comcast. All rights reserved.

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2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

8/5/20 6:23 PM

STAY ON TRACK! Now more than ever, it’s important that your child receives their immunizations on time.

SCHEDULE YOUR ANNUAL PHYSICAL TODAY! All DC students must have up-to-date immunizations and submit a completed immunization record to attend school.

dchealth.dc.gov/immunizations

Entry Revoked?

International College Students Face Visa Uncertainties

By Lee Ross and Shantella Sherman WI Staff Writer The Trump administration agreed to rescind a directive that would have barred international college students from the U.S. if their colleges offered classes entirely online in the fall semester. Still, those students remain reticent about how their future college and career plans may be impacted by a seemingly hostile position over their visas.

According to the nonprofit Institute of International Education, more than 1 million higher education students in the U.S. — about 5 percent of the total student body — come from overseas. Emerging market countries showed some of the strongest growth year over year, especially Bangladesh (an increase of 10.0 percent), Brazil (an increase of 9.8 percent), Nigeria ( an increase of 5.8 percent), and Pakistan ( an increase of 5.6 percent).

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released a notice July 6, prohibiting foreign students from entering or remaining in the country to take fully online course loads. Many colleges and universities began implementing plans weeks earlier to offer online-only classes because of the coronavirus pandemic. This measure left international students scrambling to determine not only if they would be in violation of their visas, but also if their home countries would allow them to return since many nations have closed their borders to those traveling from the U.S. Fortunately, there was immediate backlash to the announcement.

Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) sued the U.S. government in federal court two days later, calling the directive “arbitrary and capricious” and petitioning the court to have the decision reversed and declared unlawful.

In an agreement with ICE and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, the government rescinded the policy.

Olamide Abubakar, a junior engineering student from Nigeria said

www.washingtoninformer.com / 2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

5International students faced visa revocation and deportation recently, but are now able to learn by remote from the States or in their home countries.

(Courtesy photo)

the notice has left her relieved for the moment, but extremely anxious about her ongoing status under COVID-19.

“There has been a lot of confusion for me as to whether it was time to go home or transfer to another school holding courses in-person rather than by remote. I had to think about my fears of becoming ill in a classroom setting because I could not work virtually and if it was worth the risk,” Abubakar told the Informer. “The decision seemed particularly heavy-handed, as if the government was saying ‘get out, you’ve lost your value to us’ when international students often make up the bulk of their science and technology departments.”

Abubakar, a University of Texas-Austin student, said the administrators of the university have been extremely helpful in assisting her with necessary documentation, and ensuring she is able to manage online classes.

Still others like HBCU Jackson State University reportedly advised all international students to stay home until January 2021 and continue their studies online.

“Some of my friends who lived on campus have been advised that the dorms will be closed because there is no way of combatting the coronavirus with us living on top of each other in communal spaces,” Abubakar said.

International students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $41 billion during the 20182019 academic year and supported more than 458,200 jobs. BTS

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Students Thrive Through DCTAG

WI Staff Report Since it was enacted in 1999, D.C. Tuition Assistance Program (DCTAG) funding has assisted more than twenty thousand students in achieving their educational goals. DCTAG is a program that provides college-bound residents living in D.C. up to $10,000 to help offset the cost of attending public colleges and universities.

“Approximately 5,000 D.C. students are attending college today with DCTAG, two-thirds of whom are from low-income families. To demonstrate the importance of the funding, the number of students applying for DCTAG has increased every year, yet no eligible student has ever been denied funding to attend a DCTAG-eligible institution,” Kenneth McGhee, DCTAG Director, told the Informer.

Under the pandemic, this work continues. McGhee said that despite the move to hybrid or remote learning environments under the current pandemic, DCTAG funding remains accessible.

“If a student is attending an approved DCTAG college or university, taking online classes is permitted. Also, because we recognize that some students will opt to sit out the fall 2019 semester due to COVID-19 concerns, any student planning to not attend college for fall 2019 but enroll for spring 2020, simply needs to complete the 2020-2021 application by the deadline.”

DCTAG, managed by the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, affords high school graduates from the District of Columbia the benefits of in-State tuition at State colleges and universities outside the District of Columbia.

“Although most use DCTAG to attend college outside of the District, in 49 states, almost all return home to enrich the local workforce and the economy of this city in today’s increasingly competitive job market,” D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton said in a 2014 roundtable featuring parents and students utilizing DCTAG. “DCTAG continues to draw stu-

dents in large numbers from across the city at a time when some at the national level have raised questions about the value of a college education. Most of these views have been based on the cost of higher education, but we are fortunate in D.C. to have the only federal program that picks up the largest cost of college – tuition – at no cost to local taxpayers.”

Students need to apply each year to be considered for funding and assistance is provided for those who require it in completing applications.

If a student meets the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) eligibility standards, the parent is domiciled as a Washington, D.C. resident, and the student meets all additional program requirements, they can apply.

“Sometimes applying for financial aid can be complicated. If families need help filling out the forms, and for those who need language assistance, OSSE counselors are available,” McGhee said.

“We can schedule appointments to provide one-on-one services

Additional Things You Should Know: Eligibility: Please see the below web link. https://osse.dc.gov/page/dctag-prepare#supportingdocs Income Guidelines: https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/ page_content/attachments/Information%20on%20 DCTAG%20Maximum%20Income%201.30.20.pdf Applications / Apply online at: https://dconeapp.dc.gov/

with application completion. Our staff can be reached at the following web link: https://osse.dc.gov/ dctag” The deadline to complete the

online application and submit all needed documents has been extended again to Friday, Nov. 13, 2020.

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DCTAG

Apply Now. Go Fall or Spring.

If you’re a DC resident, have a son or daughter 26 or younger with a high school diploma or GED and meet a few other requirements, the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) can help by providing up to $10,000 a year to participating colleges and universities, nationwide.

Students can take online classes this fall at one of DCTAG’s eligible institutions or wait and start classes in spring 2021.

For more information and to apply, visit dconeapp.dc.gov

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2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Teachers and Students Discuss the Benefits and Challenges of Virtual Instruction

By Jordan Colquitt WI Contributing Writer With the start of the next school year just around the corner, many school districts are releasing their plans for reopening. Some will be in person, some will be virtual, some hybrid, and some will have tiered phases. There is certainly a great divide on the implementation of distance learning. School districts had a test run with this, after the last quarter of the school year was abruptly cut off due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Teachers quickly rose to the challenge, turning to unconventional methods to deliver instruction to students, communicate with parents, and strengthen their classroom community.

Despite this period for growth and research, many students, teachers, and parents are unsure if this model will work in the new year. Distance learning has been plagued with a negative outlook, with a widespread feeling of uncertainty and distrust in the model.

On the contrary, there are some advantages to online learning, with students describing this time as one for “personal growth and motivation,” University of Maryland College Park student, Naomi Bilesanmi said.

The Informer spoke with Prince George’s County Student Member of the Board of Education, Ninah Jackson, and educator, Kristin Camper to better understand what students and teachers may experience with the transition.

WI: What can you do as an educator to ensure that the new school year runs smoothly for parents, students, and yourself?

Camper: I will definitely be utilizing the exercises I learned during my Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) training this school year, which includes check-ins, one-on-one conferences for student wellbeing, and meditative and breathing exercises (which students can also use with the rest of their family members). One thing that will really help is the combination of asynchronous learning (meaning students can complete this work at any time) and small group sessions to meet the needs of all my students. There are also tools like Remind that will help me keep parents up to date on assignments. Finally, I will stick to the schedule I’ve created to maintain a better work-life balance

www.washingtoninformer.com / 2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

5Jordan Colquitt (Courtesy photo)

(again, asynchronous learning will help with this a lot).

WI: As a student, what tools, resources, or habits helped you in making the transition into online learning?

Jackson: As a student, I tried to focus on maintaining a consistent schedule to work on my time management.

With virtual learning, there’s so much more freedom - and for some students, that is great, but for others, that can be used as a means for procrastination. I set a schedule for myself and set aside specific times for studying, reviewing material, organizing my space, and getting work done. My greatest tools and resources were my agenda planner, my wall calendar and whiteboard, and my digital calendars.

WI: Did you have any barriers to learning online? If so, how did you overcome them?

Jackson: My biggest barrier with online learning was getting used to not having in-person assistance with topics that I’m struggling to understand. One of the ways I worked to overcome this is by forming study groups with my peers. We would occasionally host a group Zoom to assist each other with work we were having trouble with, or even just to check in with each other academically.”

So, distance learning may not be perfect, and as with many things has flaws, but if your school district will hold classes remotely it is important to be prepared for a successful year.

BTS

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Recent & Recommended Books About Remote / Distance Learning

By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer Across the globe educational institutions are faced with a new or increased challenge of teaching by remote or through distance learning. The new challenges are shared by students, parents, and educators – who must adjust to a new (temporary) normal. Virtual learning, while not new, requires all involved to engage differently, which means they also need tools to successful matriculation. These texts on virtual learning may be of benefit.

The Most Important Factor in Your Family’s Education is

YOU

Paper to Screen-The Future of Education: Tips for Teacher, Students & Parents During Coronavirus Times

By Vikas Singh This book is written in Plain English help find answer to these questions and more. This Global pandemic has forced people to stay indoors and social distancing is the new norm. All the schools, colleges, and universities are seeing suspension of all academic activities on the campuses. However, the teaching-learning process must continue and there is a need that the learning process gets shifted to the online platform. Only a few teachers were involved in online teaching in both K12 and higher education before this pandemic. Teachers who have only taught in the classrooms using chalk and talk method are now finding this transition to online teaching to be a daunting task. Academic administrators and university leaders are finding it difficult to assure quality of teaching and use online assessment tools to measure learning attainment. Parents are also on the same boat of discomfort and anxiety as they have never experienced their kids to study at home for hours using screen and not papers.

This book has tips and actionable points for smooth transition to online teaching from regular brick and mortar classrooms.

Taking Colleges Online: How Smart Institutions and Their Leaders Can Approach Online Education Now and in a Post Coronavirus World

By Lindsay McKenzie, Doug Lederman From showcasing how some institutions were preparing to grow online before the pandemic hit to how schools will now continue to expand online learning in light of the pandemic and potentially for the long term, this report lays out the pros and cons of different approaches to online instruction. Learn how to design the virtual programs that will fit your institution’s budget, mission and enrollment goals. Inside Higher Ed is the leading digital media company serving the higher education space. Since their founding in 2004, they have become the go-to online source for higher education news, thought leadership, careers and resources.

The COVID-19 Solutions Guide

By Ronald Baecker, Gary Feldman COVID-19 upended life as we knew it. To navigate the “new normal”, our guide examines the adoption and adaptation of technology in response to the global pandemic. The COVID-19 Solutions Guide provides an easy-to-follow overview of what’s going on in the world and relevant resources and tools to respond to the changing global circumstances.

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Give your family the best chance for success by supporting their education at home and school.

Sticking to a schedule, partnering with teachers and administrators, and tapping into local resources are just a few of the ways that you can support distance learning at home and keep your family on track for educational success.

LEARN MORE AT WWW.NNPA.ORG/EDUCATION © 2020 NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

After COVID-19: Moving Forward in the Secondary Classroom

By William Morris After COVID-19: Moving Forward in the Secondary Classroom is about addressing the challenges you and your students are facing now in a virtual learning environment and will be facing once you return to the brick and mortar classroom. Some of the material herein is familiar ground, reinforced by suggestions on how you and your classroom can adapt to a post-dystopian world. Included are suggestions on how to modify the physical classroom environment and teaching itself in order to maximize learning in your students. Having taught in the aftermaths of several natural disasters, I know that returning to the classroom and to the normal flow of teaching and learning requires structure, creativity, and patience. With determination, careful preparation, and the belief that all kids can learn, your return to the classroom will be a catharsis, a moment to celebrate.

BTS

2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

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