Review‌ ‌the‌ ‌latest‌ ‌information‌ ‌related‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌coronavirus‌ ‌disease‌ ‌2019‌ ‌(COVID-19)‌ ‌pandemic.‌ Our special education attorneys and advocates can help you and your child prepare for the return to school.

U.S. Department of Education

  • Secretary Betsy DeVos has announced a new online portal that shows whether states, local educational agencies, and institutions of higher education are using the money that was awarded to them through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
  • The portal shows the awards and expenditures as of Sept. 30, 2020, which in some cases reflect that states have used very little of their awarded funds. So far, Virginia has spent 37.5% of its funding.
  • The Education Stabilization Fund portal can be found here: https://covid-relief-data.ed.gov/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)

  • ACPS has paused their plan to return students to in-person learning and had students that were already learning in person return to virtual learning. This is due to the upward trend in COVID-19 cases and increasing risk of transmission throughout the community. They hope to be able to stick to their plan of returning all students by the end of February.
  • ACPS has asked all parents to complete a Family Choice Form to indicate their choice of schooling in January. They ask that parents complete this form by Dec. 11, 2020.

Arlington Public Schools (APS)

  • APS is planning to transition Level 2 and 3 students in January, depending on health and safety metrics at that time.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)

  • FCPS announced that Group 4 students have returned to all virtual instruction due to rising COVID-19 cases. Group 4 students included the following classes:
    • Culinary
    • Cyber Computer Tech
    • Dance
    • Music and Computer Technology
    • Musical Theater
    • Professional Photo
    • Bio-Tech
    • Exploring Health Sciences
    • Criminal Justice (Level 2)
    • TV Media
    • JROTC
    • Fashion Careers
    • TJ Senior Research Labs
    • 911 Dispatch
    • Dental Careers
    • Medical Assistant
    • Patient Care Technician
    • Pharmacy Tech
    • PT-OT
    • Veterinary Sciences
    • Engineering Systems
    • Robotics
    • Auto Collision
    • Auto Technology
    • Electrical Engineering
    • HVAC
    • Burke School elementary students
  • Once health metrics have been at or below the threshold for seven consecutive days, Group 4 students will be phased back into schools.
  • FCPS will provide an update to the School Board with next steps on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020.

Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS)

  • FCCPS has decided to have all students learning virtually until after the winter break. This is also due to the rising COVID-19 cases.

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS)

  • LCPS welcomed back third, fourth, and fifth graders to hybrid learning on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. About 7,200 students were eligible to return to 57 different elementary schools.

Prince William County Schools (PWCS)

  • About 2,700 first graders were welcomed back to PWCS last week. The total number of students weekly in buildings is now around 7,700, which includes pre-K through first grade as well as PWCS’ most vulnerable students in all grades.
  • PWCS is not currently recommending any changes to their plans, as there is such a limited number of students attending in-person school at the moment. However, they will continue to monitor current health metrics to determine whether any changes are necessary.