The NYSUT-sponsored Homework Hotline airs on public broadcasting stations across New York State, offering homework help on the air and online to students in grades four through 12.
The award-winning program, which began its 27th season in September, is funded in part by NYSUT, one of the original underwriters, and produced by WXXI in Rochester.
Teachers from Dial- A-Teacher — members of the Rochester Teachers Association — take students' calls and send them to the studio, where the hosts — also RTA members and experts in subjects across the curriculum — assist students working through their homework assignments live on television. Students not making it on the TV program are still helped by the Dial-A-Teacher volunteer.
The show airs at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in most areas. Live webcasts and tapes of past shows are available at homeworkhotline.org.
In addition to the homework help, Homework Hotline video segments explore careers, animals, New York State history and the arts. Special guests show up for live performances and students can win prizes with "Math Mazes" and "Science Challenges."
Six master teachers host the series; all are RTA members. They include math teachers Laura Drake, Ed Hathaway, Donna Mineo and Samuel Simpson, and science teachers Craig Zaremba and Joe Zuniga.
Homework Hotline's website features video segments that are searchable by subject, plus access to interactive games, homework help tips and a list of educational links. Homework Hotline is also on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, where students can find homework tips, behind-the-scenes work on the show and entertaining educational facts.