Our Commitment to the Community
At MAEC, we remain dedicated to ensuring that all students have access to high-quality and equitable education. Our team continues to work with educators, policymakers, community partners, and families to provide essential support and resources. Everyone feels the impact of this virus, but we know that the effects are hardest among those who are most vulnerable and we are more committed to them than ever. Staff is designing new ways of staying connected and providing services. We are planning live, online conversations, webinars, and weekly newsletters and will be updating this page with carefully curated resources for educators and families.
During times like these, we are reminded of the importance of collaboration and the strength of community. We are all in this together.
Resources for Educators
Reopening Schools During COVID-19: Understanding Possible Models, Stakeholder Needs, and Best Practices to Advance Educational Equity
Educators face the urgent duty of ensuring the physical health and safety of their students, staff, and families while considering the best ways to address students, social-emotional and development needs, not to mention their academic growth and success.
Rural Communities
Rural communities may be heavily impacted due to existing vulnerabilities including access to healthcare resources, technology, and a stable internet connection.
A Conversation with Teachers
In this webinar MAEC reached out to teachers from across the nation to discuss their experience with distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Conversation With Students: How COVID-19 is Affecting their Educational Experience
Missed the live event? Check out this recording and hear from the students as they discuss the ways COVID-19 has affected their educational experience. Don't miss out on this important conversation.
LGBTQIA+ Students
Those who identify as LGBTQIA+ may face a unique set of challenges during distance learning. Take a look at these articles on creating safe and inclusive online spaces.
Equity and Access Issues
Promoting educational equity while students learn at home is as important as ever. We must ensure that all students are supported and receive services. Take a look at these articles focused on educational equity.
Teaching English Learners
Online learning may pose language and access barriers for English Learners. We’ve curated a list of resources that can help you address students language learning needs.
Coping with Stress for Educators and Students
Distance learning requires attention to educators’ own well-being and students’ socio-emotional learning. These articles provide activities for reducing stress and anxiety and for fostering connections with students and families.
Students with Special Needs
Students with disabilities and other special needs require ongoing support for their specific learning objectives, and school districts have continued legal obligations to provide special-education services. The following materials address educating students with special education needs.
Students with Limited Access to Technology
Distance learning requires substantial technological resources, and there are continued inequities around access to those resources. The resources below address distance-learning plans with multiple-access points for students.
Students Experiencing Homelessness and Temporary Housing
Students and families may be experiencing homelessness and/or living in temporary housing. These articles provide recommendations for connecting schools, homelessness service systems, and families.
State Resources
MAEC has compiled state's resources to help families and educators cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.
General Resources for Educators
A general list of resources for educators while students are distance learning.
A Conversation with Latinx Families/ Conversaciones con Familias Latinas
In this webinar MAEC reached out to Latinx families and discussed how the pandemic affected their students’ educational experience and explored key questions related to access and equity.
Resources for Families
Confronting COVID-19-Related Harassment in Schools
The Department of Education and the Department of Justice released Confronting COVID-19-Related Harassment in Schools, a fact sheet for students and families. You may find this resource on the Office for Civil Rights website in English, Chinese-simplified, Chinese-traditional, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese, with additional translations expected later this month: https://bit.ly/3tDQ2WR
Reopening Schools During COVID-19: Understanding Possible Models, Stakeholder Needs, and Best Practices to Advance Educational Equity
Families are facing school reopenings. What is that going to look like? What does that mean for each student? This literature review will answer these questions and more about the upcoming school year.
State Resources
MAEC has compiled state's resources to help families and educators cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parenting Strategies
A child psychologist addresses concerns that parents and families are feeling during these unprecedented times.
The Family Table webinar series - Thursdays at 3pm ET
Join us at The Family Table! Every Thursday from 3-4 pm ET, the Collaborative Action for Family Engagement Center at MAEC leads educational webinars and engages with community partners to help families connect with each other and break down feelings of separation during this time of unprecedented isolation. These webinars also provide an opportunity to engage with a child psychologist and educational expert about current parenting issues.
Learning from Home newsletter
MAEC’s Collaborative Action for Family Engagement Center will be sending out a weekly newsletter to help ease the burden that parents and families may be facing during this time of uncertainty. It is our hope that you will find these materials, tips, and activities helpful and maybe even inspiring.
English Learner Families
Your child may not have access to the same types of supports as in the classroom. Here are some resources to help your child with their language learning needs.
LGBTQIA+ Youth and Families
LGBTQIA+ youth and families may face a unique set of challenges. These resources can help you stay informed, get connected to services, and with creating a safe and inclusive online community.
Undocumented Communities
If you, a family member, or friend are undocumented, there are resources that can help you get through this crisis.
Families Experiencing Homelessness and Temporary Housing
If you and your family are experiencing homelessness and/or living in temporary housing, there is information to help you get connected to resources.
Families of Students with Special Needs
Your child might not have access to special education services while distance learning. You should consult with your child’s IEP team regarding continued access for those services. Here are some resources to help you navigate that process.
Coping with Stress
It's important to pay special attention to your own well-being and your child’s socio-emotional needs. These articles provide suggested ways to reduce stress and anxiety and for helping your child feel safe and connected.
General Resources for Families
A list of resources for families with students who are distance learning.
Additional Resources for Educators and Families
Information on the COVID-19 virus in multiple languages
A list of informational flyers in multiple languages.
Map of free wifi, via Xfinity hotspots
In response to COVID-19, Xfinity Wifi hotspots are now free for everyone, including non-Xfinity internet subscribers.
82 Learning Games and Technologies
These resources were developed through programs at ED and across the government. They are now available at no cost until the end of the school year for teachers, parents, and students who have access to the internet and a computer or device.