WASHINGTON—Communities across the nation will join the National Education Association (NEA) Nov. 16-20, 2020, to celebrate American Education Week (AEW), which is in its 99th year. The annual observance honors students, educators, and parents—and rededicates the nation’s commitment to providing a quality public education for every student.
As the pandemic brings new challenges to students, educators and parents, AEW has even greater relevance. With many students not in school buildings as a result of the crisis and educators working in new ways to teach from a distance, deliver meals, and more, the occasion is more meaningful than ever. This pandemic has heightened the challenges faced by many students of color—including Black, Latinx, and Native students—as well as many students in rural communities.
“American Education Week serves as a tribute to the team of people who work with our students, everyone from the classroom teacher and the administrative staff to the cafeteria worker and the bus driver,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “We honor and thank them for the work they do every day, in the midst of a pandemic, to make sure that our students are safe, and ready and able to learn.”
As part of an ongoing effort to support educators and families through the COVID-19 crisis, NEA partnered with PBS television station WETA to create resources for educators and families navigating distance learning.
“We know parents and caregivers are crucial to providing our students with the best possible education,” said Pringle. “Our partnership with WETA will provide the tools and resources they need to ensure our students have access and opportunity, whether they are inside a classroom or learning virtually. Public schools are the cornerstones of our communities. Parents, grandparents, caregivers, friends, neighborhood advocates: we all have a role to play in supporting student learning in the classroom and beyond.”
NEA and WETA developed tips and tools to help ensure that learning continues—no matter where it takes place. The web site www.nea.org/familyresources includes experts' tips for at-home reading instruction for K-3 kids, provided in partnership with Reading Rockets; advice on digital and virtual learning; insight into communicating and collaborating with educators; and background on why family engagement is an indicator of great public schools.
"This is an enormously challenging time for our entire education system," said Noel Gunther, vice president of Learning Media at WETA. "More than 60 percent of students in the U.S. are now being taught remotely. We're seeking to give families and educators some of the tools they need to help students keep learning even when they can't go to school. We're very grateful to be working with NEA in this effort to support student learning."
AEW’s Education Support Professionals (ESP) Day, when we celebrate ESPs who are in the center of everything we do to ensure every student has what they need to thrive, is celebrated the Wednesday of AEW. During this pandemic, ESPs have been distributing meals to their communities, sanitizing school buildings, maintaining proper HVAC systems, supporting distance learning, making phone calls to check on students, and so much more.
“Every year since since 1987 we have celebrated ESPs’ dedication and commitment to their students, but this year we have seen ESPs go well beyond anything we have seen before as they work to meet the needs of our school communities during the pandemic,” said Pringle. “Whether our schools are virtual, in-person, or a mix of both, ESPs are ensuring students are safe, healthy, and ready to learn.”
AEW takes place the week prior to Thanksgiving. It was first celebrated in 1921, with NEA and the American Legion as co-sponsors, and grew out of national concern over illiteracy. After 99 years, the original goal of American Education Week—to generate public awareness and support for education—continues today.
To find out more about AEW visit www.nea.org/aew
Be sure to follow AEW on Facebook and Twitter with #aew2020.
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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.
WETA is the leading public broadcaster in the nation’s capital, serving Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia with educational initiatives and with high-quality programming on television, radio and digital. WETA Washington, D.C., is the second largest producing-station of new content for public television in the United States, with productions and co-productions including PBS NEWSHOUR, WASHINGTON WEEK, THE KENNEDY CENTER MARK TWAIN PRIZE, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG, LATINO AMERICANS and ASIAN AMERICANS; and documentaries by filmmaker Ken Burns and scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., including FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. (Seasons 3-6), BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE and RECONSTRUCTION: AMERICA AFTER THE CIVIL WAR. Sharon Percy Rockefeller is president and CEO. The WETA studios and administrative offices are located in Arlington, Virginia. More information on WETA and its programs and services is available at www.weta.org. On social media, visit www.facebook.com/wetatvfm on Facebook or follow @WETAtvfm on Twitter.
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