IT IS WIDELY UNDERSTOOD THAT ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGIES FOR LEARNING, INCLUDING HIGH SPEED INTERNET, IS NOT EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED. THE 'DIGITAL DIVIDE' BETWEEN MINORITY, POOR AND UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AND THEIR PEERS HAS BEEN STUDIED AT LEAST SINCE 1998. THESE CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED BY REMOTE LEARNING AND THE HEIGHTENED ANXIETY CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. CLOSING THE GAP AIMS TO ADDRESS THE DOUBLE-BARRIER OF LOW-INCOME LEVELS AND LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT RURAL STUDENTS REGULARLY FACE.RURAL ELEMENTARY EDUCATORS, WHO ALSO FACE ISSUES OF CONNECTIVITY, ARE NOW TASKED WITH ADDRESSING EXISTING ISSUES (I.E., IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE SCIENCE CURRICULUM WITH CHALLENGED LEARNERS) IN UNFAMILIAR REMOTE DELIVERY METHODS. AS IT IS, SCIENCE IS OFTEN THE MOST DIFFICULT SUBJECT FOR MANY ELEMENTARY EDUCATORS TO DELIVER EFFECTIVELY. AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE SUBSEQUENT SHIFT TO REMOTE LEARNING HAVE CAUSED LOSSES IN ACADEMIC AND SEL DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD, YOUNGER STUDENTS IN VULNERABLE OR UNDERSERVED RURAL POPULATIONS HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED. ISSUES SUCH AS LEARNING LOSS AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES CAUSED BY SOCIAL ISOLATION AND HOME-BASED TRAUMA (INCREASED DEPRESSION, ANXIETY; DECREASED ENGAGEMENT AND SELF-MOTIVATION) HAVE DEEPENED THE DISPARITY GAPS (BROWN, ET. AL., 2020). AS A RESULT, RURAL YOUTH ARE FALLING FARTHER BEHIND THEIR MORE PRIVILEGED PEERS.TO ADDRESS THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES STEMMING FROM THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, THE 4-H NEC PROPOSES A UNIQUE MODEL THAT INFUSES SEL AND TRAUMA-INFORMED TEACHING PRACTICES TO BUILD RESILIENCE THROUGH A WHOLE CHILD APPROACH TO VIRTUAL LEARNING. THE 4-H NEC PROPOSES A UNIQUE MODEL THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THREE SPECIFIC COVID-RELATED NEEDS: (1) STUDENT PARTICIPATION IMPACTED BY INEQUITABLE INTERNET ACCESS, (2) TEACHER INSTRUCTIONAL CHALLENGES CAUSED BY RAPID TRANSITIONS TO DISTANCE LEARNING, AND (3) YOUTH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL HEALTH DEPENDENT ON WHOLE-CHILD BELONGING-ORIENTED EXPERIENCES.THROUGH A 'FLIPPED' 4-H SCHOOL ENRICHMENT APPROACH, 4-H AGRI-STEM PROFESSIONALS WILL WORK ALONGSIDE EDUCATORS, UTILIZING A 'JUST IN TIME' TRAINING MODEL TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES CAUSED BY THE MOVE TO VIRTUAL LEARNING. THE 4-H NEC PROJECT WILL PROVIDE EDUCATORS WITH DISTANCE EDUCATION CURRICULUM AND TRAINING AS WELL AS AGRI-STEM MENTORS TO ASSIST WITH DISTANCE, IN-CLASS LESSONS BASED ON AFRI'S FOOD AND AGRICULTURE PRIORITY AREAS.IN ADDITION, IN RESPONSE TO THESE ACADEMIC AND SEL NEEDS OF RURAL YOUTH, THE CLOSING THE GAP INITIATIVE WILL RAPIDLY DEPLOY "E-MENTORSHIP" STRATEGIES, COMBINING INNOVATIVE E-MENTORSHIP METHODS WITH ENGAGING EDUCATIONAL CONTENT IN AGRISCIENCE. THROUGH THE USE OF AGRI-STEM MENTORS, STUDENTS WILL EXPERIENCE A GREATER SENSE OF BELONGING IN THEIR VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL SPACE AND SUPPORT FOR THEIR FUTURE ACADEMIC AND CAREER PATHWAYS.THE 4-H NEC 'S CLOSING THE GAP INITIATIVE WILL ENHANCE EDUCATORS CAPACITY TO SUPPORT STUDENT OUTCOMES DURING A TIME WHEN YOUTH ARE BEING CHALLENGED ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. THROUGH INNOVATIVE DISTANCE ACTIVE LEARNING MODELS, YOUTH WILL NOT ONLY GET TO INTERACT VIRTUALLY WITH PEERS AND THEIR EDUCATORS, BUT WILL DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS ESSENTIAL FOR BUILDING RESILIENT YOUTH AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES. DURING THIS TIME OF COVID-ENFORCED ISOLATION, 4-H IS POSITIONED TO REACH INTO FAMILIES' HOMES TO SUPPORT HOME-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LEARNING EXPERIENCES THEMSELVES, IS THE SENSE OF BELONGING THAT COMES FROM RELATIONSHIPS WITH POSITIVE ADULT AND PEER MENTORS, WHICH TRULY MOVES THE NEEDLE ON ADDRESSING THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF COVID -19 ON CHILDREN'S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING.AS A GATEWAY TO FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE AGRISCIENCE FIELD, CLOSING THE GAP WILL ENGAGE INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO HELP FORGE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUTH AND BUSINESSES WHILE INTRODUCING CORPORATE LEADERS TO THEIR FUTURE WORKFORCE. FROM READING STORIES TO CREATING VIDEOS, AGRISCIENCE ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS WILL BE ASKED TO HELP SUPPORT LESSONS DESIGNED TO TIE CLASSROOMS TO THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS INDUSTRY.