WUAB Launches Televised Virtual Classrooms

Gray Television’s CW affiliate WUAB Cleveland (DMA 19) is partnering with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) and Cleveland Teachers Union, Local 279, to bring students a daily televised virtual classroom.

The show is called CMSD on CW43, and it airs Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. The hour-long program features CMSD’s teachers delivering weekly lessons for local students that may not have access to home computers. It launched Monday, April 20.

WUAB says CMSD on CW43 will feature “some of the district’s best and brightest educators, including winners of the Excellence in Teaching Award, creating daily virtual lessons that will help students finish the 2020 academic school year.”

Grade-specific lessons will air each weekday:

• Monday: Pre-K, kindergarten-grade 2
• Tuesday: Grades 3-5
• Wednesday: Grades 6-8
• Thursday: Grades 9-12
• Friday: Special life skills day, all grades

“Distance learning via computers has been a great option for safely keeping students on track,” WUAB General Manager Erik Schrader said. “But we identified a need for students who may not have access to a home computer or laptop. We’re fortunate to have an organization like CMSD and Cleveland Teachers Union ready to embrace a daunting challenge like this. Every broadcaster has a responsibility to help their community in a time of crisis. We’re proud to be a part of it.”

Cleveland schools CEO Eric Gordon is calling on policymakers to treat the Internet like a utility instead of a luxury. In the meantime, CMSD is keeping students engaged by distributing technology to families, mailing academic material to their homes and airing lessons on WUAB.

Gordon said: “Television can reach almost any student and family,” he said. “We’re really excited about this content and really looking forward to kicking off this partnership.”