CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- To help families prepare to start the school year remotely on Tuesday, Chicago Public Schools launched a new parent resource that centralizes important information related to the upcoming school year.
The new parent resource can be found at cps.edu/reopening2020.
“As we prepare to start off the school year remotely, we're committed to working with our families to ensure a successful start to the school year on Tuesday, September 8,” said CPS CEO Dr. Janice Jackson. “This will be a school year unlike any other — and there will be challenges — but ensuring that families have the resources and support to navigate remote learning is the right place to start so students continue to learn and engage.”
CPS has committed to providing a device to every student who needs one and parents should contact their school if they still need a device. If families need help accessing the internet, they can visit cps.edu/getconnected to check if they’re eligible for up to four years of free internet service through the city’s Chicago Connected program or to explore affordable internet service options.
In partnership with Google Education, CPS is offering a series of trainings starting Thursday, Sept. 3, to help parents become more comfortable with the Google Education Suite. The trainings will be tailored to the needs of parents — from Google Basics to specialized trainings around accessibility — and available in English and Spanish. The trainings will outline several of the main tools that students will use throughout remote learning and provide parents with tips on how to help their students if they are having trouble with the platform. They will also provide information on resources, such as the Google Support Center, that parents can use if they need additional help. Links to the trainings will be available on the CPS reopening website.
Starting on the first day of school, Tuesday, Sept. 8, the district will provide meals at more than 450 schools. Meal sites will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. If families are unable to visit a meal site in-person, the district will continue to provide free delivery for those who need additional support. Families can find site locations by visiting cps.edu/mealsites; the new sites will be added on Friday.
Eligible CPS families can receive high-speed internet in their homes at no cost for up to four years through the district’s Chicago Connected program. The district contacted eligible families by U.S. mail, text messages, robocalls, and emails over the summer, and families can also find out if they are eligible through the district’s online eligibility tool. So far, more than 22,000 students have been connected through the program, which is serving as a model for expanding free internet access in other large cities across the country.
Chicago Public Schools serves 355,000 students in 638 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school district.