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How Chester Charter Scholars Academy prepared for remote learning.

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About CCSA

The Chester Charter Scholars Academy (CCSA) is dedicated to improving the Chester community through high academic achievement and artistic excellence. CCSA was founded to be a charter school where academics and the arts where academics and the arts inspire students’ minds and enrich their souls.

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The Challenge

In the Spring of 2020, spikes in Covid-19 caused closures of schools and businesses around the country. Chester Charter Scholars Academy (CCSA) needed a smooth transition for their community and wanted to organize a plan quickly. Historically, Chromebook carts were used in the classrooms and now they needed to get those in the hands of students at home.

The challenge was to pivot quickly to a remote learning environment for the end of the current school year (including graduation) and then work over the summer to improve and solidify their ongoing virtual learning needs. With decisions in flux and likely to change around schooling remotely or in person, CCSA knew they had to be prepared for both at any time.

The EdTech Goals

  • Deploy 1:1 Chromebooks to support learning at home 
  • Enable a strong communication strategy for parents and teachers 
  • Create safe internet browsing at home for students and meet student privacy requirements 
  • Ensure devices were remotely managed and monitored 
  • Execute a remote graduation event outdoors

The Strategy

Springboard IT partnered with CCSA to facilitate a speedy provisioning of 200 Chromebooks with Google EDU licensing for a new 1 to 1 student deployment. Though with the ‘20/21’ school year fast approaching, CCSA decided to add an additional 200 Chromebooks to their inventory in anticipation of continued distance learning. Enabling a connected, but safe learning environment was key to CCSAs goals. Because of the additional devices Springboard IT deployed Google Guardian to support enhanced communication between staff and parents.

To wrap up the school year, Springboard IT successfully helped CCSA with the streaming of their middle school and high school graduations in June by configuring a new network extension and hardwiring a camera for clear live stream experience.

The Takeaway

CCSA spent years building and maintaining a high level technology program based on in-person learning. This commitment to using technology strategically enabled them to smoothly implement a new structure to keep the educators connected and students safe. 

By having a trusted IT partner, CCSA was able to quickly design and implement a plan that matched their new needs. Rolling into the new school year, CCSA will be able to continue their adaptive and innovative spirit no matter where or how they are educating.

Technology Initiatives

  • Cisco Umbrella for DNS protection/content filtering 
  • Google Guardian
  • Remote Chromebook management through G Suite 
  • Temporary hardwired network extension
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