El Monte City School District is distributing more than 4,000 Chromebooks and close to 1,400 Wi-Fi hotspots to students and their families as part of a Distance Learning program launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
District leaders determined need for the digital tools through an extensive survey of community members; tools have been distributed over several weeks.
“El Monte City School District is committed to ensuring all our students have equal access to the best possible instructional resources at all times,” Superintendent Dr. Maribel Garcia said. “This health crisis has created challenges for many across our communities – we do not want their children’s education to be one of those challenges.”
The District serves more than 8,000 students, of whom more than 93 percent are from socio-economically challenged households. As a result, the District rolled out its Distance Learning program in two phases after closing campuses on March 16 at the request of Los Angeles County public health and education officials.
Phase 1 of the program provided students with printed materials to reinforce and review grade-level skills. Teachers checked in with students by phone or computer, depending on availability.
Phase 2, launched on April 27, is designed to advance learning consistent with the District’s reputation for strong academic success. Students use digital tools such as Google Meet, Google Classroom and Class Dojo to meet with their teachers, complete online assignments and receive feedback from their teachers.
“We made adjustments in recognition that our students face significant new challenges during the county and state orders to stay at home,” Garcia said. “But we are also committed to our mission to educate our community, and we will not compromise on our standards for success.”
El Monte City School District has been recognized for its stellar academics. Earlier this year, five of the District’s 15 schools were named California Distinguished Schools – the state’s highest honor.
In addition, three schools have been named Leader in Me Lighthouse schools, a certification awarded to just over 300 schools worldwide.
Family members, who picked up the laptops at walk-up and drive-up distribution points, thanked the District for ensuring student connectivity, and noted how much they and their children missed school.
El Monte City School District has also committed to providing children with daily nutrition, offering four grab-and-go meals a day – breakfast, lunch, snack and supper – through drive-through distribution location at four schools.
The District’s campuses will remain closed through the end of the 2019-20 academic year.
PHOTO CAPTION:
EMCSD_Device_1: Family members and students pick up Chromebooks and hotspots at El Monte City School District, ensuring connectivity during the District’s transition to Distance Learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. El Monte City School District has provided more than 4,000 Chromebooks and close to 1,400 Wi-Fi hotspots.