Online Courses Provided For Displaced Students

With some schools still recovering from Superstorm Sandy, the Dept. of Education has turned to Cyberspace to solve the problem.

  Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott announced last week that the DOE will offer online courses to students grades 6 through 12 who have been displaced from their homes or reassigned to other schools while educational facilities undergo repairs.

  Students will be able to enroll in online classes for subjects including English, math, economics, calculus, world history and Spanish.

  “Hurricane Sandy was one of the worst storms our City has seen, and through great effort, we were able to open 96 percent of our schools just one week later and relocate the students and staff from damaged buildings,” Walcott said. “Still, some of our families have not been able to return to their homes, and the impact on students demands more resources to ensure they get the education they need. These online courses will help keep our students on track for their academic success.”

  Walcott said the courses were made available through a DOE program that supports online tools for classroom learning. The courses will be taught by teachers experienced in online learning, who will be available to students throughout enrollment.

  The New York, Queens and Brooklyn Public Library systems have partnered with the DOE to provide students enrolled in the online courses with internet access at branch locations throughout the City.

  “Supporting education for all New Yorkers is among Queens Library’s most important mandates. Our doors are open, our computers and our trained information professionals are available to help students succeed,” said Bridget Quinn-Carey, chief operating officer of the Queens Library.

  The courses can be completed from any computer with internet access. Students who do not have access to the internet at home will be able to access the online courses at branches of the New York, Queens and Brooklyn Public Libraries. The DOE has announced that it will help to match displaced students with library locations if needed.

  To enroll, students must complete an interest form by calling (718) 642-5885 or online at www.ilearnnyc.net/virtuallearning2012. DOE staff will then follow up with each students’ schools to determine eligibility and set up a learning plan.