Resource for teaching and learning amid COVID-19
We have compiled resources for educators, districts and states on topics including online teaching, district planning, students with disabilities, school counseling and more.
Resources from Virtual Schools
Virtual Schools in SREB States, links to the region’s statewide online learning sites
From Georgia Virtual Learning, student courses and teacher training, available free to all
- Course content by subject
- Webinars focused on using Georgia Virtual course content.
- Just in Time for Teachers: Digital Learning Days 1 to 2 hour course
- Effective Online Teaching 30-hour course
- Online Support for Special Needs (Open 3/25)
Georgia Department of Education digital learning resources
Strategies for Teaching Online
Helping teachers and students make the switch to remote learning, from Microsoft
Strategies for e-learning webinar recording from the State Educational Technology Directors Association (recorded on March 17)
The Technical College System of Georgia partnered with SkillsCommons and MERLOT to create a free online resource to help both teachers and students prepare to start teaching and learning online.
Teach Your Course Online is designed to help teachers quickly set up a home teaching space, select and set up a camera, microphone, lighting and all other gear they need to teach and to create a safe and effective online class culture.
Online Learning Resources
These websites provide free resources that can be accessed by teachers, parents and students. Many include specific guidance on ways to use their materials amid school closures caused by COVID-19.
WideOpenSchool.org brings together content from a diverse group of companies to help students, teachers and families find free and reliable educational resources. Developed by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit provides education and entertainment recommendations for kids and their parents, with help from dozens of partners.
Going 3-D with Gather, Reason, Communicate framework website. This site is a collection of vetted, three-dimensional lessons aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards and state standards developed from the Framework for K-12 Science Education. The lessons were developed by teachers across districts and states utilizing local phenomena.
Discounted or temporarily free remote learning resources:
Teaching Channel is currently offering teachers 30% off monthly or yearly subscriptions. Subscribers can get access to 1,400+ classroom videos and take any of Teaching Channel’s 20+ PD Express courses to earn a certificate of completion. Teachers can use code SUMMER to save 30% and then FREEPD to get access to the entire PD Express course library.
PowerUpEDU has a robust portfolio of solutions that include several offerings facilitating Distance or Remote Learning. They have created a resource for teachers on their Virtual Learning page, including free offers from partners like Microsoft, Spiral and Swivl.
School Counseling and Mental Health
American School Counselors Association Toolkit: Choosing a College When You Can’t Visit Campus (A Guide for Students)
Tips and guidelines for parents, counselors and mental health professionals on talking to children, crisis response, countering stigma and more, from the National Association of School Psychologists
Updates and Resources from the American School Counselor Association
Making Schools Work Conference featured speakers Joe Hendershott, Ed.D., and Dardi Hendershott, Certified Wellness Coach, of Hope 4 the Wounded, LLC, encourage teachers and school leaders to visit their website to access free podcasts, webinars and articles on how to help wounded students and support educators. www.hope4thewounded.org
College Admissions Process
As a service to students and families, National Association of College Admissions Counselors has created an online tool that is a central resource on changes to the college admission process due to the coronavirus outbreak. The tool includes information from colleges and universities nationwide on campus closures, deposit deadlines, and other admission-related changes.
The tool updates automatically in realtime as we receive input from postsecondary institutions
- The Common App provides information regarding disruptions such as the coronavirus. If you are impacted, you can reach Common App’s dedicated support team via email. Fee waivers may be available if you are facing unexpected loss. Students who are having difficulty sending official test scores also have the option of sending self-reported scores to colleges.
- Financial aid questions may be a concern. Federal Student Aid’s website includes information for students and parents, such as whether students can keep financial aid if their campus is closed and loan repayment questions.
COVID-19 Supplies
Midwestern Higher Education Compact offers a list of cooperative purchasing contracts available to higher education (public and private not-for-profit), K-12 districts and schools, cities, counties and local subdivisions, andstate government.
Planning for Closures and Continued Learning
Guidance for Schools and School Closures from CDC
Education Week State-by-state Map of Where School Buildings are Opened and Closed.
From the Kentucky Department of Education, Non-Traditional Instruction Guidance is a planning and toolkit document covering everything from preschool to social media to special ed.
From Miami-Dade County Public Schools:
- Instructional Continuity Plan for Emergency School Closures
- Distance Teaching and Learning
- Coronavirus Prevention and Contingency Measures
Advice for K-12 districts creating local response plans, from Guilford County Schools in North Carolina. And Guilford’s plan
Practical actions to prepare for continued student learning. An overview of models, plus guiding questions and concrete actions from Instruction Partners
No Kid Hungry is offering emergency coronavirus grants to support local school districts and nonprofit organizations in their efforts to ensure kids get the nutritious food they need.
EveryoneOn provides information on free and low cost internet to help low-income students and families access to online education.
Students with Disabilities
Educating All Learners Alliance – To help ensure the continuity of special education services during remote instruction and to spotlight best practice approaches for schools and educators, an alliance of national education organizations has come together to ensure equity for all learners
Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the COVID-19 Outbreak (U.S. Department of Education, March 12)
Website accessibility and online education, a March 17 webinar from USDOE Office of Civil Rights
Accountability and Assessment
Resources on assessment and accountability from the Center for Assessment
Fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Education, March 12
Federal Guidance and Action
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S.
Department of Education
Federal COVID-19 Stimulus Package: Funds for K-12 and Postsecondary Education - SREB’s summary of the Education Stabilization Fund portion of this emergency relief package.