COVID-19 Response

Companies, Ed Tech Organizations Band to Help Families Through Hotline

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 04/16/20

Nearly 90 companies and education technology organizations have joined a growing volunteer effort to help families and teachers affected by school closures. People who call or text (855) 264-2051 can get "concrete help or advice" in any number of areas:

• Emergency childcare;

• Finding meals;

• Financial support;

• Getting computing devices;

• Tutoring;

• Psychological help;

• Tech support; and

• Remote learning.

So far, according to SchoolClosures.org co-founder Manisha Snoyer, some 85,000 people have visited the website, and the organization has taken calls from families and teachers "all over the country." Snoyer is also the co-founder of Modulo.App, an "experimental project" that supports parents as they involve themselves in their children's education.

The program has 150 volunteers. Participating organizations include Class Dojo, Donors Choose, Intuit, Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and Salesforce. The hotline is staffed by volunteers with experience in education and social services, according to Snoyer.

Snoyer said the initiative is "growing every day as new volunteers and organizations reach out to see how they can be of support." That's evolving, she noted, "as we learn more about what parents and teachers need and create new projects to support them."

More information is available on the School Closures website.