DOE Offers Online Courses for Students Affected by Sandy

Students in grades six through 12 affected by Hurricane Sandy can take online courses offered by the Department of Education in core subject areas and electives, such as English, math, economics, calculus, world history and Spanish.

The online classes are an attempt by the school system to help keep students who have had to move from their homes or schools to keep up with their education.

The courses are made possible through an extension of the DOE’s iZone, and through the donation of program licenses from partners Apex Learning, Desire2Learn and Powerspeak.

Teachers with experience leading online classes will helm the courses and be available to students throughout enrollment. In addition, the New York, Queens and Brooklyn Public Library systems will provide Internet access at branch locations throughout the city.

“Hurricane Sandy was one of the worst storms our city has seen, and through great effort, we were able to open 96 percent of our schools just one week later and relocate the students and staff from damaged buildings,” said Chancellor Dennis Walcott, in a statement. “Still, some of our families have not been able to return to their homes, and the impact on students demands more resources to ensure they get the education they need. These online courses will help keep our students on track for their academic success.”

Experienced iZone teachers have offered to lead the online courses and, in addition, will also hold weekly office hours for students using video conferencing capabilities and the phone.

To enroll in these online courses, students must first complete an interest form by calling (718) 642-5885 or online. Staff will then follow up with these students’ schools to determine eligibility and set up a learning plan for each student.