For Detroit parents, the past year has been one of significant challenges — and of perseverance. For caregivers working tirelessly to provide their children with educational support during this time, the digital learning environment has presented a number of barriers.
In April 2021, Brilliant Detroit parents participated in a study with New America, a think tank and civic innovation platform that examines a wide range of public policy issues, including early childhood education. The report, titled Learning at Home While Under-Connected, had a number of key findings:
- Parents with children who are in virtual schooling are concerned about their social and emotional well-being, ranging from depression to difficulty concentrating to missing their peers.
- Parents were able to learn from teachers’ modeling of certain behaviors and engage their children in different activities at home.
- Parents reported being “under-connected,” meaning that their internet connection and digital devices had been inconsistent or inadequate for their needs for some period of this past year.
We urge you to take a few minutes out of your day and read their brief on Detroit here. If you’re interested in helping bridge the digital divide with Brilliant Detroit, please email us at info@brilliantdetroit.org.