Educators continue census outreach, despite COVID-19
By Amanda Litvinov / image by Marka 27 for NEA’s 2020 census campaign
Music teacher Yolanda Calderón had just five minutes on Monday to enter her school and get what she needed. What was the one thing she went in for? “My iPad!” says Calderón, because it has the app and information she needs to communicate with her students’ families directly.
She teaches at Wheeling Elementary in Aurora, Colo., but she hasn’t been there since Gov. Jared Polis closed schools on March 25 to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Among the most critical messages she needed to send the parents of her students via the ClassDoJo app: “Don’t forget to fill out the U.S. Census!” She’d been planning to host a census information booth at an event that had been cancelled. Now she needs to connect with the parents online to encourage them to participate.
Educators have a long proud history of supporting the important work of the United States Census, through both classroom lessons and advocacy work in undercounted communities. The census is crucial to direct over $1.5 trillion in federal funds to communities nationwide, and to ensure full political representation in our democracy.
But COVID-19 has presented a new barrier to advocacy that typically involves face-to-face conversations and community gatherings. The pandemic has shuttered schools around the CONTINUE READING: Educators continue census outreach, despite COVID-19 - Education Votes