April 22, 2020, Stamford, CT — As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to affect students and families, causing education to pivot from classroom instruction to a prolonged distance learning model, the Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) and The Ferguson Library have partnered to launch Home Work Helpers, which provides free, online, interactive academic help for students in grade levels K-12, Monday—Friday.
Home Work Helpers complements the distance learning initiatives of the Stamford Public Schools. It matches community volunteers (18+ years of age) with students who need additional academic support. Once volunteer helpers are vetted and trained, they meet with their students one-on-one via Zoom. Parents can select the frequency of the sessions and the subject(s) required. It is the program’s intent to provide support across a wide variety of subject areas, including math, English/reading, science, and history.
SPEF has a long and successful history of sourcing, recruiting and onboarding volunteers, including its current coordination of a city-wide volunteer effort for the Grab and Go Meals program (managing more than 150 interested helpers). For Home Work Helpers, SPEF is recruiting, registering, and vetting knowledgeable volunteers to work with students. The Ferguson Library is deeply rooted in our community and communicates regularly with families spread throughout the district’s 21 schools. Together SPEF and the Library will reach out to share this free opportunity with families.
To register a student for Home Work Helpers, complete the form on SPEF’s website: English | Spanish. To volunteer to be a home work helper, adults can complete the online registration form.
About SPEF: Founded in 1996, the mission of the Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) is to deliver educational programs and resources that elevate student, educator, and parent success by bridging the gap between needs in the Stamford Public Schools and resources in our community. The Foundation strives to enable each and every student in the Stamford Public Schools to graduate high school and enter college, career training, or fulltime employment ready to succeed. For further information, visit www.spefct.org.
About the Ferguson Library: The Ferguson Library is Stamford’s public library system, consisting of the Main Library, DiMattia Building; the Harry Bennett Branch; the Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch; the South End Branch and a traveling Bookmobile. It provides free and equal access to information, ideas, books and technology to educate, engage and enrich the Stamford community. For more information visit www.fergusonlibrary.org.