Foundation helps narrow homework gap in face of COVID-19

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Public Schools will be receiving $40,000 to address technological needs and hopefully bridge the homework gap, which has become every more apparent during this COVID crisis.

The homework gap refers to the difficulty students experience completing homework remotely.

McCook Community Foundation Fund has been awarded a $20,000 by an anonymous donor and the Alice DeVoe Donor-Advised Fund, an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation, to help McCook Public Schools narrow the growing homework gap as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

MCFF also provided a $20,000 matching grant from its new COVID-19 Response Account, established in March to address local needs because of the pandemic.

Grants from the Bridging the Homework Gap program will be used in McCook to purchase additional Chromebooks in the McCook Junior High and Central Elementary. The goal is to reach 1-to-1 technology to students. Funds may also be used to purchase internet “hotspots,” for those students who don’t have reliable internet service at home.

Some of the most common causes of the homework gap are:

• Lack of access to a high-speed internet connection at home

• Prohibitive cost of a high-speed internet service at home

• Lack of access to properly equipped device to use at home

As more and more schoolwork, especially homework, has moved online in the past five years, the educational discrepancy between students with technology at their fingertips at home and those who lack access has grown dramatically.

The Bridging the Homework Gap funding opportunity was offered exclusively to Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) affiliated funds across the state and required the 1:1 local funding match, which was provided by MCFF’s COVID-19 Response Account.

“The homework gap has long existed, but COVID-19 has exacerbated the divide between Nebraska students,” said Jeff Yost, president & CEO of Nebraska Community Foundation. “We are in awe of the ways NCF affiliated funds are responding and bringing their communities together to both meet essential needs and solve complex and complicated challenges.”

McCook Community Foundation Fund Chairperson Cindy Huff said, “Through the generosity and forward-thinking of the people from this community, we were prepared to step forward and face unknown and unforeseen problems.” She added, “Because of previous donations to MCFF, we were able to match a grant through NCF to maximize an opportunity to help McCook Public Schools in meeting the demand of online learning.”

In total, more than $263,000 were granted to NCF affiliated funds and will benefit 31 schools statewide. “We are so grateful to the anonymous donor and the Alice DeVoe Donor-Advised Fund for their generosity and vision,” said Yost. “This is going to make a tremendous difference in the lives of many, many Greater Nebraskans.”

The McCook Community Foundation Fund has granted more than $90,000 from the COVID-19 Response Account over the past two months, including the $20,000 for the Bridging the Homework Gap grant.

Grants applications are still being accepted for the COVID-19 Response Account for any ideas or programs which will help those in need in the community. The emergency account is also available for anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation.

More information about the grants which have already been distributed can be found at mccookfoundation.org.