‘We support them,’ New Haven student learning hubs to triple sites for remote learning
NEW HAVEN — The goal is to give young people a safe place to learn.
Now, a citywide learning hub for youths has proven so successful that city officials are preparing to double the footprint of the program after a soft launch of three sites.
“We’re giving them a safe space where they can sign on for school and can be fed with supervision and we support them with any nuances,” Youth and Recreation Director Gwendolyn Busch Williams said.
Learning hubs are a recent concept to address challenges that arise from educating students during the pandemic, first popularized in San Francisco. Parents who require daytime supervision for their children as they learn remotely can drop off the their students at learning hubs, where they will receive supervision, technical support and some recreational activities.
Students in the hubs are not attending school in person, but still are expected to log on to a computer to access their classroom virtually.
While three hubs were opened earlier this month, Busch Williams said her department is looking to open three additional learning hubs using city parks facilities before city schools reopen Nov. 9.
Although some students will receive two days per week of in-person instruction after schools reopen, about 45 percent of students are expected to choose to remain with online-only learning. Even those who do attend in-school classes will access instruction virtually for three of five days.
The hubs are not a drop-in service. Parents must fill out a common application to request a spot in the hubs. Busch Williams said there is a waiting list for hubs within her department and multiple seats often are occupied by siblings. The service is free to parents and is paid for through money budgeted for canceled Youth and Recreation Department programs.
Busch Williams said not all students in a hub will show up every day — a hub inside the nature center across from Barnard Environmental Studies Magnet School that holds up to 20 students had six students on a day this week quietly watching their teachers give live instruction while youth and parks department staff provided hot lunches.
Busch Williams said that if a student were to miss about one week of consecutive school days then they risk losing their spot to another student on the waiting list.
By opening more sites, Busch Williams said, the waiting list should become shorter.
Tiana Draugh, a lead worker at the Barnard site, said the students are mostly able to direct their own learning.
“It’s pretty much just making sure they’re logged in and making sure they’re doing what they have to do,” she said.
Draugh said one benefit of the learning hubs is that there is no need for parents to do double duty.
“The parents might be at work, so we can help them,” she said.
Once students are finished with their academics, city staff allow them some time for mask breaks and lead them in recreational activities at the nearby West River park before the program ends at 3 p.m.
Other organizations in the city also have operated learning hubs — for longer periods than governmental agencies, although they are all now linked through the common application process overseen by Clifford Beers. Hubs are also operated by organizations such as churches, the library and the Boys & Girls Club.
Darryl Brackeen, district executive manager of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, said his organization’s hub places student safety as its top priority.
“Our program combines academics with play, and offers a caring and safe environment where kids can focus on learning with their teachers via electronic platforms, feel a sense of belonging, build friendships, and explore new interests,” he said in a statement.
“Participants will have scheduled time for distance learning in quiet spaces, equipped with WiFi and YMCA staff for academic support. When distance learning is completed for the day, Y staff will lead the participants in various enrichment activities including STEAM, kids’ fitness, and fine arts.”
brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
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