Child Development and Remote Learning Support - Learning Pods Project

DMCI recognizes that our community of Park Hill is facing an urgent issue of equity in academics, and on Friday, August 21st, DMCI hosted an event requesting community feedback on a learning pod project proposal. The proposal can be found here.

Led by the voice of the community through a series of online meetings and through several conversations with organizations, including school principals and DPS district administrators, DMCI heard that low-income families of color with elementary school-aged children are facing even greater challenges than before, specifically around limited access to child care and environments that are conducive to learning. Some of these needs can be mitigated through learning pod project management and resource coordination by DMCI.

Due to COVID-19 public health and safety concerns, Denver Public Schools is limiting instruction to remote only from August 24 - October 16. Our community is concerned that remote instruction will further exacerbate learning gaps. Other communities have begun grassroots efforts in establishing learning pods. Learning pods are being organized by small groups of parents to satisfy child care and educational needs of their children. In order to avoid child care licensure, pods consist of 4 or fewer children who are supervised by an adult in an environment that is conducive to learning. Due to time, systems knowledge, funding, and other factors, the most vulnerable members of our community do not have equitable access to learning pod opportunities.

If you would like additional information or to support this work, please contact Daniel Archuleta at Daniel@ParkHillCI.org or 720-580-0198.