Schools in the Gulf Coast region are struggling to enroll displaced students and as much as possible move towards normalcy in school operations. Schools are in need of supplies ranging from backpacks to notebooks to pencils to textbooks and we know there are students and schools around the country who are eager to help out.

If you are interested in organizing a local effort to help schools in need, please review the resources and requests posted here. We will be updating this site with more school-related needs in the coming days and weeks.

Sites for Information

Hurricane Katrina: The School Impact
http://www.edweek.org/ew/collections/hurricane-katrina/index.html
The school year for the 70,000-student New Orleans district has been decimated by the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Follow this constantly updated Education Week series as they cover the effects on schools, districts, and states affected by the resulting floods.

Bringing Hurricane Katrina Into the Classroom: Media Literacy Lessons
http://www.amlainfo.org/hurricane/
For educators who want to help students analyze, understand, and cope with Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, the AMLA offers this basic set of media literacy activities and suggestions.

Youth Service America
http://www.YSA.org
Youth Service America has published a list of organizations that are mobilizing to support the relief effort. They also offer project planning guides for students organizing relief efforts.

Requests for Support, Supplies, and Donations

U.S. Department of Education: Hurricane Help for Schools
http://www.ed.gov/news/hurricane/index.html
At the Hurricane Help for Schools web site, schools are able to post their contact information and the supplies the students need. Companies and organizations are able to view these needs and contact the schools to meet them, or, on another part of the site, they may post what supplies or resources they can offer.

VSKOOL.ORG: Virtual Schooling Opportunities
http://www.vskool.org/
VSKOOL is a consortium of online learning organizations, virtual schools, education institutions, technology companies, corporate and non-profit organizations, and foundations working together to provide online K-12 classes and tutoring for victims of Hurricane Katrina. VSKOOL will serve as a clearinghouse of hurricane related offerings of education technology products and services to affected students, teachers, and families.

We've Got Your Back
http://www.dosomething.org/
The "We've Got Your Back" campaign invites kids to collect backpacks filled with new pens, pencils, notebooks and new personal items - like a new toothbrush and tube of toothpaste - for the many children and young people displaced by Hurricane Katrin

Lafayette Parish School System
The Lafayette Parish School System in Louisiana has registered over 3,000 new students to an already strapped school system. Items needed include tablets, loose-leaf paper, pens, pencils, rulers, markers, binders, calculators, crayons, scissors, construction paper, backpacks, socks, underwear and undershirts.

Please contact the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce about sending donations.

804 East Saint Mary Blvd.
Lafayette LA 70503
Ph: 337-233-2705
Fax: 337-234-8671

EMCED (Educational service agency serving 22 school districts in east Mississippi)
In an effort to assist students who have lost their homes to Hurricane Katrina and the thousands of refugee students enrolling in our schools, EMCED is collecting school supplies. Items needed include book bags, paper, pencils, colors, scissors, glue, notebooks, etc. For those who wish to make monetary contributions, funds will be used to purchase school uniforms, socks, shoes, etc., for students. Please send items or checks to:

EMCED, Inc.-Hurricane Katrina Assistance
1000 Highway 19 North
Meridian, MS  39307-5799
601.484.0301 (voice)
601.484.0372 (fax)

Louisiana State Libraries
"To all--we are in desperate need of computers/printers.  We are being inundated with evacuees needing to file FEMA applications, unemployment, search for loved ones, etc. and are coming into our public libraries to use the computers.  Our libraries have greatly extended their hours to accommodate the people but they need additional computers and printers.  If you can please put the word out that if anyone wants to help immediately, this is our greatest need."  -- Louisiana State Librarian, Rebecca Hamilton.  The specs for the computers: Pentium 3, Windows 2000, prefer XP, Laser printers if you can still get toner for them. If you are able to send computers, please contact Rebecca by email:

Rebecca Hamilton
rhamilton@crt.state.la.us 
State Library of Louisiana
701 North 4th Street
Baton Rouge, La.
70802-5232

Public Education Network
https://secure.democracyinaction.org/kids/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=901
The Public Education Network As is responding by helping their colleagues in the region—the Greater New Orleans Education Foundation, the Mobile Area Education Foundation, the Academic Distinction Fund (Baton Rouge, LA), the Orchard Foundation (Alexandria, LA), Area Education Foundation (Hattiesburg, MS), and Association for Excellence in Education (Laurel, MS). They need our support to help families rebuild their lives, communities, and schools. To make a contribution online, please click on the link above.

ISTE - TCEA
ISTE's Affiliate in Texas (TCEA--Texas Computer Education Association), where most of the victims are being evacuated, is volunteering to lend long-term support in the way of manpower and technical assistance once schools re-open in the devastated regions. TCEA is preparing a Tech Task Force that includes support from members and corporate partners. If you have recommendations or wish to be involved in the TCEA Tech Task Force, please e-mail Ron Cravey, TCEA Executive Director, at cravey@tcea.org or visit the TCEA website (www.tcea.org) for more information.