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Caesars Foundation and Vegas PBS Help Parents Get Back to Work with Virtual Education Program at Walter V. Long Elementary School

The parents of Walter V. Long Elementary, a local at-risk school where 81 percent of students receive free or reduced lunch, gathered together on December 11 during a sponsored PTO meeting to learn about the newly implemented Caesars’ Back-to-Work initiative funded by Caesars Foundation. Caesars Foundation has adopted the school through the Clark County School District’s Focus School Project and Teach for America. The Caesars' Back-to-Work initiative is designed to help remove barriers through online education offered through Vegas PBS’ Vegas Virtual Online Education program. This program offers English as a Second Language (ESL) and GED courses as well as more than 300 occupational certificate-training programs. The elementary school is providing parents access to their computer labs so both the parent and the student may learn simultaneously. More than 60 parents have registered to take part in the program.

This is the first initiative of its kind in the U.S. focused on improving the community through a unique public television – private business collaboration centered on educating parents of children in at-risk schools. The project seeks to improve the economic security of children, engage parents in their child’s school, and strengthen the neighborhood by creating higher income households. As the parent is educated, financial barriers are removed and more time is available for them to assist children on their path to success.

To further help during the holidays, Caesars Entertainment Corporation is donating turkeys to families in need identified by the school as part of its annual turkey community giveaway event.