Help Chats for Virtual Learning

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

Sept. 8, 2020 may have been the most important first day of school in the history of Henrico County Public Schools. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) began the 2020-21 school year with predominantly virtual learning for the first time ever. “We realize that the predominantly virtual start to the school year presents families with a host of challenges,” said Amy Cashwell, superintendent. “We want to do our best to make sure that the technical aspects of virtual learning are as simple as possible, and that families can get their questions answered quickly.” To ensure that Sept. 8 was successful for Henrico families and to strengthen their resolve that virtual learning was a viable option, HCPS created the “Virtual Learning Help Chats” program to support families with every aspect of technology for virtual learning “from log in to learning.” The program included prerecorded videos, live interactive question-and-answer sessions with experts, and online step-by-step instruction slideshows. The program met HCPS families where they were, targeted their specific needs, and helped advance equity, so that all HCPS families felt empowered and were able to help their learners have a successful virtual-learning first day of school and a successful year.