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WOUB to Participate in Statewide Initiative to Accelerate Learning


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The initiative will kick off in April

ATHENS, OH – WOUB Public Media will be working with local summer and afterschool programs throughout southeast Ohio to address disruptions to learning caused during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to partnership between Ohio’s eight PBS stations and the Ohio Department of Education. Called Ohio Learns 360, this new initiative will provide programs with PBS resources, including standards-based curriculum and materials, virtual field trips, interactive video programs, community events and more, all designed to accelerate student learning and support the state’s most vulnerable learners.

“Ohio’s PBS stations have been wonderful partners in prioritizing additional education opportunities to support Ohio’s students since the beginning of the pandemic,” Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction Stephanie Siddens said. “The Ohio Learns 360 initiative will give families an additional pathway to support student learning beyond the school day.”

Ohio Learns 360, which targets kindergarten through fifth-grade students from underserved communities, kicks off this April and will continue through September of 2024. The Ohio Department of Education will provide $5,000,000 in funding through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), first authorized by Congress in 2020.

“Thanks to community partnerships and relationships developed with the WOUB Learning Lab, WOUB is uniquely positioned to help educators reach students in our service region,” said WOUB General Manager Mark Brewer. “Students in this area were disproportionately impacted by the learning disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the lack of reliable broadband. This is important work, and we are thrilled to be a part of it.”

Students in out-of-school-time programs will be able to engage in hands-on STEM activities with some of their favorite characters, such as Cat in the Hat, or go on a virtual field trip to one of Ohio’s leading science museums. Students at home will also be able to participate in virtual afterschool programs that feature a well-known PBS Kids character. Parents can learn how to support their child’s learning through Parent Power webinars, and families will be able to attend WOUB-hosted community events. The project is being led by Public Media Connect in Dayton and Cincinnati.

“Ohio Learns 360 exemplifies what Ohio public media does best, coming together and using our resources to provide a needed statewide service,” said Kevin Martin, President of Ohio Educational Television Service and Ideastream Public Media. “Our colleagues at Public Media Connects in Dayton/Cincinnati will continue to lead this effort on behalf of all of the Ohio PBS stations, so we can be assured to meet the very high expectations and standards of the Ohio Department of Education, educators and parents.”

More information about Ohio Learns 360 will be coming soon.

 

About WOUB Public Media Learning Lab

Using the trusted and valued educational resources of WOUB Public Media and PBS, the WOUB Learning Lab empowers teachers, students, parents and caregivers to use 21st century learning tools and media proven to impact student success. Through professional development, classroom integration of educational technology, promotion of WOUB children’s programming and PBS Learning Media and supporting parents and families in the education of their children, the WOUB Learning Lab is a go-to resource for high-quality educational advancement support.