Common Sense Launches WideOpenSchool.org to Help Families and Educators Transition to Students Learning From Home

Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO, March 31, 2020 – Common Sense Media, the leading nonprofit organization whose mission is to help kids, families and educators thrive in a world of media and technology, has convened a group of education, tech and media partners to launch WideOpenSchool.org, a free online resource to support families and educators who are transitioning to remote learning as a result of the coronavirus.

WideOpenSchool.org features the very best resources from publishers, non-profits, and education companies, including American Federation of Teachers, Amplify, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Head Start, Khan Academy, National Geographic, Noggin, PBS Learning Media, Sesame Street, Scholastic, TIME for Kids, XQ Institute, and YouTube.

Common Sense Media is curating the content on the platform and coordinating with key distribution and technology partners including Apple, Comcast, Google, Salesforce, and Zoom to ensure families and educators are aware of the resources and can access them.

“Today, due to the coronavirus pandemic, there’s an elevated need for quality learning materials all in one place for families and educators and Common Sense is proud that trusted experts and partners have joined together to launch WideOpenSchool.org so quickly,” said James P. Steyer, CEO and founder of Common Sense Media. “Many organizations have moved swiftly to respond to this crisis with incredible resources and special offers for educators and families. We wanted to use our expertise as an expert reviewer and curator to create the go-to source of quality content that will provide educators with the support they need to shift to remote teaching and a one-stop, trusted place for families to engage kids who are now learning from home.”

With the likelihood that schools will remain closed through the end of the school year, families and educators are facing an unprecedented challenge to entertain and educate kids and maintain social connection, and to make sure that all students have access to online learning and engagement. WideOpenSchool.org aims to make learning from home an experience that is accessible to all and that truly engages kids and teachers, relieves family stress and restores community in the face of long-term school closures and other shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.

PARTNER STATEMENTS
Wide Open School is a free and open collection of the best online learning experiences and activities for kids curated by the editors at Common Sense and organized by grade band and subject. Everything on Wide Open School centers around the schedule which is programmed each “school” day for each grade band. The experts at Common Sense along with our partners are working to keep kids learning, entertained, physically and creatively engaged, and emotionally strong during these challenging times.

While the platform officially launched today, Common Sense will be forging additional partnerships with media and education companies, non-profits, teachers and kids in an effort to make WideOpenSchool.org a free and open source for the best education and entertainment materials, including social emotional learning and mental and health information and digital citizenship and well-being lessons. With a focus on and a commitment to equity, WideOpenSchool.org will reach families through mobile, desktop and television and provide a clearinghouse of information that helps families gain access to broadband services to connect low-income families as well as an aggregation of trusted resources to help families access urgent services addressing health, hunger, shelter, and psychological needs.

WideOpenSchool.org Launch Partners
American Federation of Teachers, Amplify, Apple, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Comcast, Crisis Text Line, Google, GoNoodle, Head Start, Jr. NBA, Khan Academy, Mind in the Making, National Geographic, Newsela, Noggin, Outschool, PBS Learning Media, Playworks, Salesforce, Sesame Street, Scholastic, Southern Education Foundation, TIME for Kids, Understood, VROOM, XQ Institute, YouTube, Zearn and Zoom

About Common Sense
Common Sense is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Learn more at commonsense.org.