DOE Provides Additional Guidance and Announce the Release of Volume 2 “K-12 COVID-19 Handbook”

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.

Department of Education (DOE)

• The DOE announced that it will provide additional guidance to support schools in safely reopening. They will hold a virtual National Safe School Reopening Summit on March 24, 2021, to share their guidance and learn from students, educators, and other professionals.
• They will launch the “Safer Schools and Campuses Best Practices Clearinghouse,” which will help schools and districts learn how they can best utilize the American Rescue Plan funds to meet their needs. Specifically, the Clearinghouse will provide resources addressing safe and healthy environments, how to support students, and how to support and provide professional development to faculty and staff.
• The DOE has also announced they will release Volume 2 of the K–12 COVID-19 Handbook in early April.
• The $122 billion from the recently-signed American Rescue Plan will help schools reopen, as well as address the academic, emotional, and social needs of students. Funds are being made available this month to address these issues as quickly as possible. Virginia has been allocated $2,109,490,751.
• Last week, President Biden directed all states to prioritize vaccinations for teachers and staff at pre-K–12 schools, with the goal being that they will all have at least one vaccine dose by the end of March.

Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)

• On March 9, 2021, the Virginia Department of Health released the Revised Interim Guidance for Reopening PreK–12 Schools. It replaces the January 14, 2021, guidance and incorporates elements of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Operational Strategy for K–12 Schools. This guidance is meant to help officials assess the risk of COVID-19 in schools and determine how schools should be operating.

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)

• This past week, ACPS welcomed back their final group of students who opted to return to school buildings. All has gone well so far, and they hope to transition more students in the coming months. They are also hoping to prioritize those students who are experiencing significant social, emotional, and academic challenges.
• ACPS is in the process of planning what school will look like in fall 2021. They hope to offer in-person schooling to as many students and for as many days per week as CDC guidelines will allow, which will hopefully be five days per week. They plan to continue offering virtual learning next year for those who do not feel comfortable returning to school. More details about this and summer 2021 learning will be posted in April.

Arlington Public Schools (APS)

• APS has welcomed back grades 3–12 and countywide secondary special education students for hybrid/in-person instruction. Currently, 64% of APS students will be in-person at least two days per week in the hybrid model, and 36% of students continue full-time distance learning.
• They will continue with the current hybrid model for the rest of the year. APS will not be adding more in-person days this school year.
• APS hopes to return to five days of in-person learning in the fall, and they are beginning plans for that now. They also plan to provide a virtual option for those that do not want to return to in-person learning.
• APS is also planning to offer in-person and distance learning summer school for students. Elementary school students will have summer school from July 6–30, 2021 and secondary students will have summer school from July 6 – Aug. 6.
  • Elementary Summer School (pre-K – 5th grade)
    • Elementary students will work on strengthening their math and reading skills.
    • Students identified as eligible will be notified on April 16 with more information. Eligible students are automatically registered, and if families want to opt out they must contact a school administrator no later than April 30.
    • Cohort A will be nine days in-person and 10 days virtual, and Cohort B will be nine days virtual and 10 days in-person. Students will be randomly assigned to a cohort and must participate fully in all sessions unless they receive Special Education services or are identified as an English Language Learner (EL) Level 1 or 2. Students will not be able to change cohorts.
  • Secondary Summer School:
    • Secondary students will work on courses required for promotion (for middle schoolers) and graduation (for high schoolers).
    • There will be a countywide middle school option offered at Kenmore Middle School and a countywide high school option offered at Yorktown High School. Each location will have two sessions:
      • Middle School
        • Session 1: 7:45 – 9:55 a.m. ET
        • Session 2: 10:05 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. ET
      • High School
        • Session 1: 7:45 – 10:45 a.m. ET
        • Session 2: 11:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. ET
      • Each site (Kenmore and Yorktown will have two cohorts. Cohorts A and B will each be 12 days in-person and 12 days virtual. Students will be randomly assigned to a cohort and must participate fully in all sessions unless they receive Special Education services or are identified as an EL Level 1 or 2. Students will not be able to change cohorts.
    • There will be individual programs at ACHS, New Directions, Shriver, and at the PEP Program at the Career Center.
  • EL 1 and 2 students and students in the countywide special education programs will attend in person for the full Summer School program. All other special education students will have the choice of attending in person for the full program or participating in the cohort model.
  • Elementary students who are eligible for summer school include:
    • Any EL student in levels 1 and 2 and EL in levels 3 and 4 who have not demonstrated language proficiency
    • Any student with a disability
    • Any rising kindergarten through 3rd graders who have not consistently attended during the 2020–2021 school year or who have evidenced little to no growth
  • Secondary students who are eligible for summer school include:
    • Students who have earned Ds or Es in classes required for promotion (middle school) or graduation (high school)
    • All EL levels 1 and 2 and any EL 3 and 4 who has not demonstrated language growth
    • Any student with a disability
  • Economics and Personal Finance will be the only New Work for Credit course offered through APS, and it will be virtual.
    • Strengthening course fees are $150/$56 reduced.
    • New Work for Credit fees are $350/$87 reduced.
  • Extended School Year (ESY) and Recovery Services will be offered for many students with disabilities. Case carriers will inform families of students’ eligibility.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)

• In the last weeks, FCPS welcomed students in groups 6 and 8 to in-person learning, including:
  • Grades 1, 2, 7, 10, and 11
  • Grade 6 at Poe, Glasgow, and Holmes middle schools
  • Some Pulley and Davis Career Center students
• On March 16, 2021, students in grades 3–6 and secondary public day programs (special education) were welcomed back. This marked the final phase of cohort returns. By the week of March 22, more than 109,000 students will have returned for in-person learning.
• FCPS is currently planning a five day in-person schedule for fall 2021.

Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS)

• FCCPS is returning their pre-K–5th grade students to in-person learning five days per week on April 6, 2021, after spring break. More than 94% of parents with children in this age group selected this option.
• The updated Virtual Learning Model will be launched on April 6.
• FCCPS still plans to have secondary school students return to four days of in-person instruction after spring break, with Wednesday becoming the student-directed/asynchronous day.

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS)

• The Frederick County School Board has voted to expand in-person learning for students in grades 2–12 from two to four days starting April 12, 2021. Students on the Hybrid A and B schedules will begin attending school in-person on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
• FCPS is updating their plan to reflect new guidance from the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, allowing 3 feet of physical distance between students.
• The virtual learning option will remain in place for the rest of the school year.

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS)

• LCPS announced that it will start offering in-person learning four days per week starting April 20, 2021. This means some of their mitigation strategies will change, such as reducing social distancing from 6 feet to 3 feet.