The potential for long-term school closures is boosting edtech companies—though some closed schools are just using Google Hangouts. When a high school student at Jackson High School in Washington State tested positive for the new coronavirus, the school became one of the first in the U.S. to temporarily close because of the illness while the campus underwent cleaning and disinfecting. With a looming possibility of longer closures, some other schools are preparing by turning to edtech. Around the rest of the world, millions of students are already relying on remote meeting technology as they spend weeks in quarantine. Read Full Story

As more and more schools go remote, getting digital learning right is imperative. Teachers and remote learning experts share what they know works and what they’re planning for the coming school year. This story is part of Fast Company ‘s Reinventing Education package. As millions of students begin school during a deadly pandemic and global recession, we’re highlighting the ongoing efforts to keep children safe in the classroom, educate them remotely, and help their parents manage a new second shift. Click here to read the whole series. Read Full Story

Schools embraced an online learning program called Acellus because it promised convenience. Now, parents are cleaning up the mess. “MC” suspected something was amiss with the online learning platform Acellus Learning Accelerator long before parents accused it of providing racist and sexist content . When her school announced that it would use the program in the fall, the only reviews she could find on a popular homeschooling forum were a couple of threads insinuating that the program couldn’t be mentioned by name because of legal threats. Read Full Story

What you learned in high school just isn't enough.

And do it on your own time.

The U.S. education system is not created equal—especially during the coronavirus pandemic. We spoke with parents about remote school, infection risk, and how they’re managing work during lockdown. This story is part of Fast Company ‘s Reinventing Education package. As millions of students begin school during a deadly pandemic and global recession, we’re highlighting the ongoing efforts to keep children safe in the classroom, educate them remotely, and help their parents manage a new second shift. Click here to read the whole series. Read Full Story

Many of us recently learned our school districts' return-to-learning plans include virtual learning. Thus far, we've been just getting by managing childcare and work.

At a moment when schools are making dramatic changes, the edtech leader has been quiet on the big questions—like how to make remote learning work. This story is part of Fast Company’s Reinventing Education package. As millions of students begin school during a deadly pandemic and global recession, we’re highlighting the ongoing efforts to keep children safe in the classroom, educate them remotely, and help their parents manage a new second shift. Click here to read the whole series. Read Full Story

As some U.S. schools return to in-person learning, this is how brands should support students and educators.

With their cash on hand, the tech companies could buy every student in America eight laptops. In the midst of COVID-19, schools across the country have closed their doors, and a majority of the 50 million K-12 students are now learning from home. For many, that means logging on to laptops to teleconference teachers who take digital attendance, then accessing lessons and homework to do on their own. Read Full Story