Welcome! This is a grassroots effort initiated by District 112 parents to help families create learning pods/microschools that supplement D112’s e-learning program for the 2020-21 school year.

Here's how it works
Please note, we are not organizing the pods. We are directing D112 parents to a customized, dedicated section of a platform called CoPod where parents will create profiles. Privacy will be protected through the use of generic usernames. As soon as enough D112 families join, you’ll be able to see potential matches, and then form pods with other families.

Use of CoPod is FREE! Individual pods may determine their own mode of learning. Whether this will incur a cost (e.g. hiring a tutor) or not (e.g. parent-led) is at the discretion of each learning pod. We welcome all D112 families, including ESL, special needs, IEP, all income levels, etc.

By proceeding, you agree to our waiver.

TO ENROLL:

  1. Go to TheCoPod.com to create an account and start your profile

  2. **VERY IMPORTANT** You MUST enter NSSD112 as the COMMUNITY CODE.
    The box for the code immediately follows the boxes for NAME and ADDRESS.
    NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT USE THIS CODE, YOU WILL NOT BE MATCHED WITH OTHER D112 FAMILIES.

*** USE COMMUNITY CODE: NSSD112 ***

  1. Once you’re finished, tell your D112 friends to enroll by pointing them to highlandparkmicroschools.org. The more people who sign up, the more matches our community can make. We’ll be in touch as soon as we have a good amount of families and the match process can begin.

Updates (as of 8/19/20) & About Our Initiative

Are you organizing the pods yourselves?
No. Given the tight timeline, we are instead providing a platform for families to find or form their own pods, in addition to providing resources for pod organizers.

What criteria will be used to find potential matches?
You can specify quarantine habits, school, grade, schedule, hosting preferences, 504/IEP needs, sibling requests, caregiver preferences, and much more.

Will you do background checks or other vetting?
No. Given the size and speed of this initiative, it’s just not possible for a small group of parent volunteers to do background checks on (potentially) hundreds of people. We strongly encourage that families run background checks, get references, or do anything else they need to feel comfortable with the arrangements they create. Please see our waiver for more information.

Who put this together?
This initiative stemmed from a series of brainstorming Zoom calls held in mid-July, followed by an open call for volunteers. These volunteers -- who represent nearly every school and grade in the district, multiple languages, and student needs -- formed the working group that launched this initiative.

Why are you organizing this? Can't people just form pods on their own with their friends?
While some families have strong social networks and have formed pods already, not everyone is in that position. In the past weeks, we've seen individual requests for pod partners rise exponentially on social media. By centralizing pod requests, we can achieve critical mass and encourage inclusivity. We hope every D112 family is offered the opportunity to partner with others.

How soon is all this happening?
Our estimated timeline is as follows:
NOW: The platform is open for D112 community registration!
Approx 8/24: Critical mass is reached on the platform, pod matching can begin.

Does the District know you’re doing this?
Yes, While this is an entirely independent, parent-led initiative, we do have a liaison at the District.

Is this an alternative to enrolling in a public school?
NO. In fact, we are limiting participation to D112 students enrolled in either the Hybrid or Virtual programs specifically to encourage enrollment in our local public schools, and to help our district maintain enrollment. Pod participation is childcare-driven. It is in no way a replacement for public education.

Are these meant to be in-person?
Yes.

Where can I find updates?
Continuous updates will be posted on this web site, with major updates sent via email.

How can I help spread the word?
You can sign up to be a social media volunteer here.

I have a question or a suggestion.
Please email D112microschools@gmail.com. We have a small communications team checking this inbox 1-2 times a day. Thank you in advance for your patience. We’re parents just like you, and sometimes we don’t have all the answers.


Our sincere thanks for your interest and support,

The D112 Microschools Team
Alina, Andrea, Boris, Brianna, Cindy, Erin, Heather x2, Irene, Jen, Kelly, Victoria

Our Guiding Principles

Supplemental
These will be in-person learning pods/microschools, supplemental to District 112’s hybrid and virtual e-learning programs. They are not a replacement or alternative.

Flexible
We will adapt our plans as the district's plans (and the pandemic) evolve.

Open source
We are developing a framework to enable D112 parents to form or find a pod that fits their needs. The plan is shared with the community. Anyone can organize a pod.

Inclusive
Learning pods will be optional, but all D112 students should be invited to participate. ESL, special needs, and low income families were included in planning and implementation. We will seek solutions that make learning pods equitable for all.