Dallas ISD, KERA team up to launch math-focused broadcasts to bridge learnings gaps from COVID-19, summer break

To help mitigate student learning loss, Dallas ISD and KERA are partnering to create and produce “Summer Bridge to Math Success” to bring valuable at-home learning instruction to families across North Texas.

KERA TV will feature recorded lessons from nearly 150 Dallas ISD math teachers weekdays from noon to 2:30 p.m., beginning Monday, July 6 and continuing through Friday, Aug. 7. During this time, teachers will provide targeted, engaging math instruction – with two-minute breaks between the lessons – for students from kindergarten to eighth grade.

“We are thankful for and excited about this KERA partnership to help reach thousands of our students and provide them with the knowledge they need to successfully start the new school year in August,” said Oswaldo Alvarenga, assistant superintendent of CTE and STEM.

Studies show that school building closures caused by COVID-19, combined with the normal learning loss that happens over the summer, could have serious detrimental effects on students’ math knowledge. “Summer Bridge to Math Success” was created to help students stay on track and sharpen their math skills in the absence of in-class instruction.

“Education has always been a core part of KERA’s mission and our service to North Texas,” said Nico Leone, KERA’s president and CEO. “We’re proud to help students stay engaged this summer with this important addition to our learning resources that are always free and accessible to everyone.”

KERA provides curriculum-based educational programs weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on KERA TV channel 13.1, in addition to offering KERA Kids 24/7, which features children’s programming around the clock on channel 13.2. KERA also has developed an At-Home Learning Toolkit with free resources for families and teachers, including lesson plans, activities, videos and more.

Each half-hour of “Summer Bridge to Math Success” will feature roughly 15 minutes of content for two grade levels.

The schedule is as follows:

12-12:30 p.m.  Kindergarten and first grade

12:30-1 p.m.    Second and third grades

1-1:30 p.m.      Fourth and fifth grades

1:30-2 p.m.      Sixth and seventh grades

2-2:30 p.m.      Eighth grade and Algebra I