CLEVELAND — Many working parents are struggling to find supervision for their children while they learn from home.

In Cleveland, multiple entities are partnering to offer a solution.

What You Need To Know

  • More than 700 CMSD K-8 students benefit from the academic learning pods program.

  • Each of the 24 pods throughout Cleveland are open at least four days a week from 8-4 PM.

  • This is all possible thanks to a collaborative effort that raised more than $720,000 to fund the first nine weeks of the program

  • Cuyahoga County recently contributed $500,000 of CARES Act money so the pods can remain open through December 21

5th grader Adriel Muñiz has completed his schoolwork in an academic learning pod at Esperanza, Inc. since September.

“The learning pod is great and nice. It’s nice because I get to meet new people,” he said.

Esperanza, Inc. is one of 24 locations throughout Cleveland serving as an academic learning pod.

"Esperanza" means "hope" in Spanish and the nonprofit’s mission is to help Hispanic students in Greater Cleveland succeed.

“The learning pod helps you and the school, the regular school it helps you too,” said Muñiz.

Adriel’s father, Wilfredo Muñiz, says this has been a real life saver.

"The problem is I don’t got nobody else that's helping me with him, but I don’t got a wife. My wife passed away, you know, that’s a little hard to me, but keeping him home, you know. At least, this place here that’s a good place. I’m happy for bring my son here,” said Wilfredo Muñiz.

Many families rely on school for at least one meal a day, and the lack of broadband internet access creates a digital divide throughout the Cleveland Metropolitan School District as students adjust to virtual learning.

President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Cleveland, Augie Napoli, says that’s where these academic learning pods step in.

“It’s not exactly the classroom, but it’s not exactly being alone,” said Napoli.

More than 700 CMSD K-8 students benefit from the program. Each pod is open at least four days a week from 8-4 PM.

“So, while it isn’t school, it’s as close to being in school as you possibly can get because you’re plugged in virtually to your teacher, but you also have the support of caregivers and others in a community of other children,” said Napoli.

This is all possible thanks to a collaborative effort that raised more than $720,000 to fund the first nine weeks of the program.

Several community partners are involved including the United Way of Greater Cleveland, The Cleveland Foundation and now Cuyahoga County.

The county recently contributed $500,000 of CARES Act money so the pods can remain open through December 21st.

“These academic learning pods that we're supporting are a very creative and effective way to help some of the children continue their education,”said Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish.

Budish says the county helped set up thousands of hotspots and gave away thousands of laptops to support students during the pandemic.

“For families that don’t have a parent at home, that’s not enough and so the academic learning pods fill a need, a tremendous need right now,” said Budish.

Rising COVID-19 cases likely mean in-person school won’t be considered safe even next year.

Budish says additional CARES Act funding is needed to allow the program to continue and Napoli is hopeful for more private sector donations, too.

“Any one organization couldn’t have afforded to do this alone, but to come together aligned around a common cause, which is what will we do for these children during this period of time? That was the common cause. You see what good can come from that," said Napoli.

If you'd like to donate, click here.