ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM RECEIVES OVER 600 APPLICATIONS IN FIRST DAY FROM TEACHERS AND FAMILIES
HomeGrownUnit, LLC is a startup connecting teachers and students to facilitate remote learning during the pandemic.
Austin, TX August 7, 2020 – HomeGrownUnit, LLC launches a nation-wide online learning platform to connect students with certified teachers remotely in response to the pandemic. UT Austin researchers report that current data suggest over 80% of Americans can expect at least one person in their local school of 500 or more to be infected with COVID-19 during the first week of class. HomeGrownUnit, LLC is designed to create an affordable and safe way for students and families to connect with certified teachers online, in order to maximize learning while reducing risk of infection. At less than $4/hour, HomeGrownUnit is offering highly vetted teachers and limited class sizes at rates that are a small fraction of what parents would pay to hire a private teacher or join a “pod” of other students with a certified teacher.
Teachers on the platform are required to be certified to teach core courses. Over 90% of teachers on the platform hold at least a master’s degree, and less than 5% of teachers who apply to the platform are accepted. In addition to core courses, the platform also offers tutoring and elective courses. Class sizes on the platform average only 15 students, compared to state average class sizes that can surpass 30 students.
“As a former public high school teacher, we want to make learning as accessible and as safe as possible, given the current pandemic. In addition to connecting highly vetted teachers at low market rates with students, we plan to offer scholarships in the very near future so students with financial need can use the services for free,” said co-founder Michael Ramos.
Within the first 24 hours of accepting applications, HomeGrownUnit, LLC received over 600 applications from teachers and families interested in using the service and continues to receive a steady stream of applications daily. Ramos says teachers on the platform will start teaching core classes September 1st. In the meantime, the site is steadily accepting new applications from teachers and students and matching students with teachers based on grade level. Several teachers are also certified in Special Education, so the platform also intends to offer some courses with additional accommodations and personalized learning for students.
Contact the company at Hello@HomeGrownUnit.com
