The Realities of Remote Education during COVID-19

The 2020-2021 school year has been unlike any other. With Boston Public Schools’ switching to a fully remote learning model in October to minimize the spread of COVID-19, students and their teachers have had to quickly adjust to challenging circumstances. For children whose families may lack the financial bandwidth to secure childcare and private tutoring, or might benefit from a more structured learning environment, the transition has been particularly difficult. A growing reliance on technology has also meant that underfunded schools, disproportionately located in Black and Brown communities, cannot supply their students with the devices necessary to attend class or complete assignments. With an awareness of these obstacles and disparities, USES has supported the critical development of 50 youth ages 5-12 through full-day, on-site Learning Pods. The pods, which are an extension of USES’s club48 afterschool program, serve as a safe and motivating space for children to gain access to technology, internet, and group leaders who provide homework help and encouragement.

In addition to individualized tutoring, USES’s adaptable team of teachers have found creative ways to spark curiosity and fun despite COVID-19 limitations. In the fall, youth in our club48 program had the opportunity to paint beautiful scenes in the Southwest Corridor Park and gain an appreciation for natural spaces as part of an annual Paint Out project. Today, USES’s ongoing Connections Project has introduced weekly installments of STEAM-based activities intended to make connections between people and places. While tailored to accommodate different age-groups, the lessons all fit together to create a unified finished project. As children head into the second half of this unconventional school year, USES remains committed to serving as a supportive space for them to learn and feel connected to a community of peers and mentors.