City supports free learning extension centers for Columbus school students
Following announcements that nearly all Columbus students will continue learning online until January at the earliest, city of Columbus officials reminded families Thursday of the free learning extension centers operating citywide.
The more than 140 adult-supervised sites provide reliable internet, academic assistance, meals and wraparound services for students in grades K-12. They're located in churches, nonprofit groups and city recreation centers, among other facilities.
In total, the locations can serve 3,500 students when they're at full capacity, Superintendent Talisa Dixon said at a news conference Thursday. This year, Columbus City Schools, the state's largest district, has enrolled just under 50,000 students.
Hours and availability vary for each location.
The city is using about $2 million in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to support the centers, Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther said at a news conference.
This will help pay for employees, volunteer training and background checks, as well as programming, supplies and food.
“Students need more than classroom instruction to succeed,” Ginther said, noting that in Columbus, children haven't been in their classrooms for more than seven months due to COVID-19.
I Know I Can, a nonprofit group that aims to provide college access for Columbus students, is helping to distribute the funds to community partners as the grant's administrative agent.
A full list of learning extension centers in the Columbus area, as well as a map, is available on the Columbus City Schools website.
The support of learning extension centers isn't the first partnership between the city and its school district. In July, the city distributed $7 million in grants to the district to purchase 20,000 Google Chromebooks, so students without access technology could still learn at home. awidmanneese@dispatch.com @Alissawidman