All schools have been affected by the pandemic that is sweeping the nation. The Head start programs are no exception. Head start programs are a lifeline to those low-income families with at risk children. In fact, the National Head start Association (2020) has found that Head Start programs have seen indications of increased domestic violence and child abuse, since the start of the pandemic. Virtual schools are now on the rise because of COVID-19 19, Parents want an alternative to the remote learning that is a safer bet. (Kuhfeld, M., Soland, J., Tarasawa, B., Johnson, A., Ruzek, E., & Liu, J., 2020; Lieberman, M. 2021)

These programs have tried hard to keep children learning (despite many school’s closings) one way that they have done this is by introducing virtual learning. Many schools have either gone fully virtual (in the case of public schools) or have opted for a half online, half in classroom type of experience. However, that has come with own unique problems as Hu, Z states that K‐12 schools are less experienced with the online approach as academic work and social interactions primarily happen in classrooms' physical settings. This is double for Head Starts which is the basis of education and is many first school. Lieberman (2021) Says that the impact of in person schools could be felt because of COVID 19 for several years

For this, I interviewed Ms. D. Ms. D is a Head Start teacher who has been teaching for many years. Like many teachers, the pandemic was the first time that Ms. D had to teach online. During the interview she shared with me her struggles and concerns she had while she was teaching and how it has impacted her and her students

According to National Head Start Association (2020) Programs are depending on technology to connect with their workforce and engage with children and families during this crisis. Meaning that the need for schools to have virtual have grown a lot. However, based on my research I have conclude that despite the fact the virtual program are indeed flexible, it is unreliable in terms of learning. As parent engagement and student engagement is lower in comparison to in person learning. This it not to say that online learning can not work, and these programs are doing the best they can.

ABC News (Poster) The effect of distance learning on children.[video] (2020,September 15). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fm8bUWS9oU

Hu, Z. (2020, October 1). Pre Kindergarten and kindergarten virtual school programs under COVID19: A two case comparative study. Association for Information Science & Technology. retrieved from https://asistdl.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pra2.338

Kuhfeld, M., Soland, J., Tarasawa, B., Johnson, A., Ruzek, E., & Liu, J. (2020). Projecting the Potential Impact of COVID-19 School Closures on Academic Achievement. Educational Researcher, 49(8), 549–565.Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X20965918

Lieberman, M. (2021, January 15). COVID-19 fuels Big enrollment increases in Virtual Schools. Retrieved February 03, 2021, from https://www.edweek.org/leadership/covid-19-fuels-big-enrollment-increases-in-virtual-schools/2020/09

National Head Start Association. (2020, June). Head Start in the Covid-19 Era. Brief Head Start and Covid. Retrieved from https://www.nhsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/brief-head_start_and_covid19_1.pdf