ST. LOUIS, MO (KMOX) - Remote learning has been a challenge for many students and families. One group in particular has faced unique educational hurdles during the pandemic
In St. Louis City Schools, roughly ten percent of students have limited english proficiency.
Anita Barker, Vice President and Director of Education and Training, International Institute of St. Louis says while the district has helped fill gaps in technology and internet access, migrant and refugee families have to overcome significant language barriers to understand the virtual instruction platforms, "there's the added challenge of being in relatively small living spaces with relatively large families, so bandwidth becomes an issue. And also just a level of distraction within a home of multiple children trying to access and participate in virtual instruction."
Barker says many parents work essential jobs and can't be in the home to provide support to students during the day. "The isolation is a huge challenge for these families."