July 29, 2020

Families in Springfield are in need. The Discovery Center of Springfield is here to help once again.

Say hello to the Discovery School at the Center and the Learning Support Care Program. They are two separate education programs designed to assist with Springfield Public Schools’ plan for in-person schooling. They will support the educational needs of local students while using the coronavirus safety protocols developed with guidance from the CDC and the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.

With well more than 100,000 hours in COIVD care, the Discovery Center has been a trailblazer in crisis childcare. Other facilities frequently ask the Discovery Center to serve as a consultant for as they reopen or change service models. Rising to meet the needs of the community, the Discovery Center is once again opening its doors to help families in need.

“We are strong supporters of keeping the economy open, keeping our families working and keeping young learners’ minds at work and at play the Discovery Center way,” Rob Blevins, Discovery Center Executive Director, said. “We’ve already helped many hard-working families do just that. In March, we had a mom walk in with three kids in tow and ask if we could take them so that she could keep her job. She kept her job. That need is still out there. We want to do our part to keep serving these families and to help Springfield Public Schools with what is a very hard hand they got dealt. That’s what we should do in the Ozarks. Ask how we can help or volunteer a way of helping.”

The Discovery School at the Center

The Discovery School at the Center is an independent school run by the Discovery Center for the entirety of the 2020-2021 school year. The school delivers a world-class educational experience through cutting edge science for the next generation of leaders. Its education staff has more than 20 years of combined education experience and is creating curricula in:

• Humanities
• Fine Arts
• World Languages
• Literacy
• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Physical Education
• Computer Coding
• Robotics
• 3D Printing
• And more

The Discovery School at the Center is partnering with organizations such as NASA and the Smithsonian Museums to create this curriculum. Spots are incredibly limited and include a competitive admissions process and tuition costs.

Learning Support Care Program

In response to SPS’s hybrid model for the first quarter, the Discovery Center is also offering a Learning Support Care Program that offers in-person childcare and helps students meet the digital learning requirements on their off-campus school days. The program is a supplement to the current SPS re-entry plan for students participating in a blended virtual model.

Discovery Center education staff will serve as guides and tutors to help children complete SPS virtual curriculum. Plans are underway to find and open support care facilities across town in addition to the Center. The Learning Support Care Program offers intends to offer care for $125 per week per student.

More information, an application for the STEM school and a link to register for the waiting list for the support care program can be found at www.discoverycenter.org/learn.