Mott Foundation grants Flint schools $163,000 for technology to educate remotely


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FLINT, MI– The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation granted $163,000 to Flint Community School to purchase the technology the district needed to ensure it can educate all of its students remotely.

The grant will be used to purchase 800 mobile Wi-Fi hot spots and 1,500 Mobile Guard applications, according to a press release from the Mott Foundation.

The hot spots will help expand internet access for more Flint students to be able to participate in educational opportunities during school closures, and the Mobile Guard applications will help filter content to keep students safe while online.

Flint schools already provided Chromebooks with built-in internet access for middle and high school students, however the devices were not programmed with the necessary safety features such as Mobile Guard.

“This technology is necessary to ensure students are still learning and part of a community even when they can’t physically be in a classroom,” said Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation. “We know an access gap exists, and we hope this grant gets us a step closer to eliminating it.”

Flint schools interim superintendent presents distance learning plan

Interim Superintendent Anita Steward recently presented a distance learning plan for Flint students at an April 20 board meeting.

The plan takes a three-tier “blended learning” approach for K-8th grade students. The tiers include:

  • Students who already have an electronic device at home and internet. These students will continue with an online platform they were already using at school.
  • Students who have a device but do not have internet will be encouraged to sign up for free internet for 60 days. The district will work with families to remove barriers to learning.
  • Students who have no device or internet will be provided learning packets. The district will also attempt to provide these students a hotspot for internet and an electronic device.

As part of this plan students and families in the district are being contacted a minimum of twice a week, once by a teacher for learning support and once by a “wellness team” member for social and emotional support.

Flint schools will also will work to provide learning activities aligned to the unique needs of each student, Steward said, including those who require English Language Learning services, Individualized Education Plans and 504 plans.

“School buildings may be closed for the remainder of the school year, but educating our students and personally connecting with them each day remains our priority,” Steward said. “We are incredibly grateful for the support of community partners like the Mott Foundation. During these challenging times, we will continue to explore opportunities to ensure our students have access to learning materials necessary for their academic growth.”

In addition to the core academic areas, the district’s plan includes physical fitness, mindfulness activities and the activities that students traditionally participate in through community education and the YouthQuest after-school program.

Steward said school directors, health workers and YouthQuest after-school staff will be available to all families and will offer activities to complement the students’ lesson plans.

“We want our families to know that the people and services they depend on every day in the school buildings will be available virtually,” Steward said. “We are committed to serving our students with not only the academic lessons they need to be ready for next school year, but with the social interactions and friendly faces that make coming to school fun.”

Read more here:

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Flint Youth Film Festival asks teens to make movies with their smartphones

Flint schools interim superintendent presents distance learning plan


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