Media Contact: Jennifer Flores | Communications Manager
P: 210-551-9253 | Jennifer.Flores2@ideapublicschools.org
IDEA Public Schools Creates COVID – 19 Emergency Relief Fund to Help Families
Texas (March 27, 2020) – Given the evolving number of COVID-19 cases across the country, IDEA Public Schools is focused on the safety of our students, staff and communities. In order to help fill the gaps for families, IDEA Public Schools has created an emergency relief fund to help combat some of the areas that are challenging our families the most.
Closing the Digital Divide Fund
IDEA’s goal is for all students in grades 1st -12th to have access to a laptop computer connected to the internet in their home. IDEA’s operations team conducted an extensive survey of our families, garnering more than 21,000 responses. Through this outreach, we learned that an estimated 7,700 families do not have internet access separate from a smartphone and that most students did not have access to a laptop computer to complete assignments and connect with their teacher.
After redistributing 17,000 laptops from IDEA schools, there are still nearly 26,000 students without a computer. All donations raised through this fund will support purchases of hardware and internet access for IDEA students and teachers.
COVID-19 Alumni Emergency Relief Fund
Graduates of IDEA Public Schools need financial support for transportation to their homes or a permanent location as dorms around the country are closing. This fund would also help provide basic necessities such as rent and food when campus jobs are lost, and school cafeterias closed. Donations would also support purchases of laptops to participate in online learning. All donations raised through this fund will go directly to IDEA alumni.
COVID-19 Students and Families Emergency Relief Fund
Multiple IDEA families are losing their primary sources of income and are left without a way to pay for rent, electricity and other basic needs. At IDEA Public Schools, we are committed to the core value of team and family. All donations raised through this fund will go directly to IDEA families.
To make a donation to any of these relief funds please visit https://ideapublicschools.org/support-idea/.
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About IDEA Public Schools
IDEA Public Schools is celebrating 20 years of impact for students, families, staff and communities. During the last two decades, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to the fastest-growing network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools in the United States. Currently, the network serves nearly 53,000 college-bound students in 96 schools across Texas and Louisiana. IDEA has been recognized as a “Great Place to Work” and received national rankings on U.S. News & World Report’s Top High Schools lists. IDEA remains on-track to uphold its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college.
