PHOENIX — From sitting in a classroom to suddenly going to school online, COVID-19 has exposed the technology gap in America.
The non-profit organization Waterford.org hopes to help reduce that technology gap by targeting vulnerable families who may need some help.
Kim Fischer, a spokeswoman with Waterford.org says our youngest community members are often forgotten while families focus on health and unemployment needs. Children without a school to go to, especially in the summer months could turn the summer slide into a summer cliff, according to a press release issued by the company. This makes children who are about to start Kindergarten especially unprepared for their first year in school. This could impact their entire educational career.
The non-profit is looking to help 1,500 Arizona families hit hard by COVID-19. They are offering an at-home early education opportunity option at no cost. This would include computer and internet access to families that need it. Families have to be 200% at or below the poverty level. Fischer said with so many Arizonan's unemployed right now, that number was exponentially higher.
The program will run all summer to help children who are entering Kindergarten in the fall. It starts on June 1st to prepare your child for school.
Here are some social media shares [zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me] from families in other states currently on the program.
To register, head over to www.waterfordupstart.org,