Question 1

What is a learning pod?

Accepted Answer

A learning pod is a small group of students that will meet at a families’ home to learn with a credentialed teacher.

Question 2

How do the Home Learning pods work?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the type of pod, the group of students (minimum 4) will go to the home of a participating family to meet with a KidzToPros instructor. The students will meet the instructor from 2 to 8 hours a day, 3 or 5 days per week. The price for a Home Learning Pod is dependent on how many days the students meet, the number of hours per day, and the number of students in the pod.

Question 3

What type of Pods do you offer?

Accepted Answer

KidzToPros offers 3 types of pods:
- DISTANCE LEARNING PODS 
 
Distance Learning Pods support families whose children will continue to stay enrolled in their school’s distance learning program. Between 4 and 6 kids can participate in each Pod, working with a background checked, trained, credential teacher or teacher assistant. KidzToPros Distance Learning Pods can meet 3 or 5 days per week, half-day or full-day.
 
Pod teachers provide onsite support of the school’s distance learning program, including ensuring kids get online, assisting in their understanding of schoolwork, managing and supervising homework assignments and providing general assistance that has thus far been demanded of parents.
 
The students and their teacher will meet at the home of one of the families in the pod. The host family for the pod can be rotated on a weekly basis depending on the agreement and schedule of the families within that pod.

-  MICRO-SCHOOL PODS 
 
KidzToPros Micro-school Pods support families whose children are not enrolled in their school’s distance learning program and who wish to rely purely on a credentialed teacher for grade-level learning. Micro-school Pods can have between 4 and 6 students and can meet 3 or 5 days per week, half-day or a full-day.
 
A KidzToPros background checked, credentialed teacher (grade-level specific with 3+ years experience) will be responsible for the pod’s education, including setting up grade-level curriculum, providing needed materials, continually assessing each child’s progress and adjusting the curriculum as needed, and submitting any needed reports.

- ENRICHMENT PODS
 
KidzToPros Enrichment Pods are focused on providing enriching and fun activities beyond the school’s remote learning hours. With an in-person instructor, kids will participate in STEM, Arts and Sports activities at home and in the neighboring parks and fields. With no more than 8 kids in each Pod, they’ll work with a background-checked, trained, enrichment instructor. Enrichment Pods can meet 3 or 5 days per week for 2 to 4 hours and are highly customizable based on the needs and interests of the kids within the pod.

Question 4

Do parents need to create their own pod group?

Accepted Answer

If parents have already identified the families that they wish to participate with in a Pod, KidzToPros can enroll those families in one Pod. Once the first member of the pod registers, KidzToPros will send that parent an email with a unique CODE for your pod. The parent can send that CODE to the other participating families to ensure they register in the same pod.

Alternatively, parents can let KidzToPros match your child with other students in your area. We are happy to make introductions to families seeking Pods or Pod members. With your consent, we will share your contact details with prospective Pod members who have children in similar grades.

Question 5

Are the pods customizable?

Accepted Answer

Yes, all pods are customizable based on the academic and enrichment needs, availability and grade level of every child that is a member of the pod. KidzToPros will work with each family to determine the curriculum and schedule for their Pod.

Question 6

How many children are in each pod?

Accepted Answer

Distance Learning Pods can have between 4 and 6 kids in each Pod. Micro-school Pods can have between 4 and 6 kids in each Pod. Enrichment Pods will have no more than 8 kids in each Pod.

Question 7

What age/grade students will you serve?

Accepted Answer

Currently, KidzToPros serves grades K through 5. However, we are open to supporting additional grades based on interest. If your child is not in the K through 5 grade bracket and you are interested in forming a pod, please send us an email at contact@kidztopros.com. We will be happy to provide further assistance.

Question 8

Is there a remote/online Pod option?

Accepted Answer

Currently, all Pods meet in person.

Question 9

Will you be resourced for students with ADHD or learning disabilities such as dyslexia?

Accepted Answer

We want to make opportunities available for every child. If you identify a need, we will be able to provide a Pod.

Question 10

Will there be any time allocated for outdoor activities?

Accepted Answer

Yes, once the school and enrichment schedule is determined for the respective Pod, time will be allocated for outdoor activities.

Question 11

Does KidzToPros offer a sibling discount?

Accepted Answer

We offer a 5% discount for each additional sibling.

Question 12

What Holidays will be observed?

Accepted Answer

Pods can meet on all school days with the exception of the following holidays:- September 7, 2020 - Labor Day
- October 12, 2020 - Indigenous People Day
- November 11, 2020 - Veteran’s Day
- November 26 & 27, 2020 - Thanksgiving
- December 24 & 25, 2020 - Christmas Eve & Day
- December 31, 2020 - New Year’s Eve
- January 1, 2021 - New Year’s Day
- January 18, 2021 - Martin Luther King Day
- February 15, 2021 - President’s Day
- May 31, 2021 - Memorial Day

Question 13

Are KidzToPros Pod instructors accredited teachers?

Accepted Answer

KidzToPros hires high-quality, credentialed teachers for our Pods. We perform a background check and live scan/fingerprint of all teachers, instructors and coaches. KidzToPros Teachers have also participated in training on social and emotional intelligence (SEL).

Teachers are local hires with a proven track record of successful teaching. We prioritize teachers with a growth mindset, project-based learning experience, and a deep understanding of child development and the science of learning.

DISTANCE LEARNING PODS will be assigned a background-checked, trained, credentialed teacher.
 
MICRO-SCHOOL PODS will be assigned a background-checked and certified teacher who has grade-level specific experience and no less than 3 years teaching experience. All Micro-school Pod teachers will have a Bachelors or Masters Degree in Education or related field.
 
ENRICHMENT PODS will be assigned a background-checked, trained, instructor or coach based on the enrichment activities chosen by the families.

Question 14

Where do the kids meet their instructor?

Accepted Answer

The students and their instructor will meet at the designated home of the host family. The meeting location can be changed on a weekly or bi-weekly basis depending on the choice of the families within the Pod.
 
Drop-off and pick-up of your child is contactless. We request that the teacher or host parent walk children outside to meet their parents. As possible, we ask that parents stay in their car. All children, parents and teachers are required to wear masks during drop-off and pick-up.

Question 15

Will parents receive student evaluations of their child’s work?

Accepted Answer

Distance Learning and Micro-school Pod teachers will perform a daily assessment of each student’s progress to ensure they are current on their school work and performing at required grade-level. On a monthly basis, KidzToPros Pod Teachers will schedule a parent-teacher conference to discuss each student’s progress.

Question 16

Will parents be able to meet the teacher prior to the start of the Pod?

Accepted Answer

Yes, they will be able to meet the teacher prior to the start of the Pod. There will be a Zoom call between the teacher and the parent before the instruction starts.

Question 17

Can we switch Pod instructors?

Accepted Answer

Each Pod will be assigned a Program Manager and they will work with them very closely. Every issue will be addressed within a 24 hour turnaround time. We are committed to making sure the teachers and the families have a great experience.

Question 18

What does the host family need to provide?

Accepted Answer

Each family will be provided with KidzToPros Home Learning Pods: Home Set-up Guide. The guide will include the number and spacing of desks or tables, needed school supplies and signage, cleaning instructions, WiFi requirements, social distancing protocols and other guidelines for running a safe and effective Home Learning Pod.

Question 19

Will a parent from the host family need to be home during the Pod meeting times?

Accepted Answer

Yes, at least (1) host parent is to remain at home while the Pod is meeting. KidzToPros Teacher will work with the students to limit unnecessary disruptions to the host parent.

Question 20

What protocols is KidzToPros putting in place to ensure the health and safety of children, families and staff in a Pod?

Accepted Answer

KidzToPros top priority is the health and safety of all students, staff and families involved with our Home Learning Pods. We feel especially well-prepared in safeguarding everyone’s health based on our experience of running over 350 on-campus summer camps at 10 locations throughout the Bay Area this summer.
 
As we had with on-campus summer camps, we continue to gather relevant best practices and protocols from the respective county health departments, along with organizations and individuals who bring vast experience to help with the issue. In addition to the guidelines provided by each county for running on-site programs, KidzToPros is utilizing guidelines provided by Dr. Michael Stuart from the Mayo Clinic, who is also a member of the International Federation Medical Committee.

In general, all Pods will be required to adhere with the following health and safety guidelines:

SCREENING GUIDELINES- KidzToPros will conduct a preliminary health screening via an email survey prior to the start of the Pod to make sure kids are healthy and free from symptoms of COVID-19 (shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, etc).
- All students will be required to wear a face mask that covers both their nose and mouth at all times, with the exception of lunch and snack breaks. During breaks, students will be required to maintain six-feet social distance.
- Upon arrival at the host family home, KidzToPros teachers and all children will be checked for fever with a contactless infrared thermometer.
- Upon arrival every day to the Pod, KidzToPros teachers and instructors will ask a few short questions. We will also ask whether anyone in the child’s family is sick, has any symptoms of COVID-19, or has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the two weeks of the start of their Pod. Depending on local city/county guidelines, students will be asked to stay home if a member of their household is sick.
- Any instructor that has even a mild flu like symptom will not be allowed to teach their Pod. A substitute instructor will be assigned and the Pod can be hosted online until the instructor returns. 
- Throughout the day, instructors and coaches will monitor kids to make sure they don’t develop any symptoms of COVID-19. If KidzToPros teacher or instructor deems that any child shows flu-like symptoms or is not feeling well, the parents will be immediately informed and will need to pick up their child. This is for the safety of all students in the program. We advise parents to please check on the health of their child before you send them to another home. We understand that as parents you already are doing most of these things and we appreciate your efforts in helping us out.
- Any child who does become infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) must stay at home for 14 days and must be fever-free for at least 3 days before returning to the Pod. Additionally, if a family member of a Pod student becomes infected with COVID-19, the student can not return to the pod for 14 days.
SANITIZING GUIDELINES- At the start of each Pod and during breaks, every student will be required to meticulously hand-wash with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub (provided by the student's parents).
- All students will be instructed to avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- All students will be instructed to avoid handshakes, high fives, fist bumps with the other students in the group.
- All students will be instructed to avoid sharing water bottles or any other personal items with their friends or other students in the group.
- As much as possible our instructors will wipe down or spray (disinfect) equipment used during the programs.
- During the home learning pod, we ask that families take responsibility to maintain social distance outside of the pod and to wear facial covering in public as required to reduce your child’s exposure to the virus.

Question 21

Is KidzToPros adhering to respective county health guidelines to ensure that on-site Pod programs are run safely and smoothly?

Accepted Answer

In the San Francisco Bay Area, our COVID-19 procedures are based on the latest orders from each county:- Alameda County - Updated Order Directing Alameda County to Shelter at Home, dated June 11, 2020
- Santa Clara County - Guidance for Summer Camps, Summer School Programs, and Other Children’s Activities, dated June 5, 2020
- San Mateo County - San Mateo County Health - Public Health Policy & Planning - ORDER No. c19-5f, dated June 4, 2020
- San Francisco County - Public Health Directive, dated May 26, 2020
In other counties around the country, KidzToPros will adhere to the respective health guidelines for on-site programs. We continue to monitor and research the best practices from government health agencies and medical experts on how to maintain protection and safe hygiene for our staff and students.

Question 22

Do you provide financial support?

Accepted Answer

KidzToPros Community Support Program is committed to providing education and enrichment access to all families, regardless of income. We have committed to support 15 children from lower income families who have limited access to educational resources and enrichment opportunities.

Question 23

How can I support families in need in my area?

Accepted Answer

To empower parents to provide for their own child's needs while also contributing to the enrichment of other students, KidzToPros will provide an option to donate to our Community Support Program, enabling more children to participate in our program.

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