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 has released the COVID-19 Handbook Volume 1: Strategies for Safely Reopening Elementary and Secondary Schools. It is the first in a two-volume series. This handbook:
    • Provides guidance on implementation, strategies, and considerations for reopening schools
    • Identifies ways to promote equity for communities of color and people with disabilities or chronic conditions who are more likely to seriously suffer from COVID-19
    • Supplements the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Operational Strategy for K–12 Schools Through Phased Mitigation by providing advice on things such as masking practices, physical distancing practices, and a roadmap for stakeholder engagement
  • The second volume will be released soon. It will provide support to address how COVID-19 has impacted students, educators, and parents, especially for historically underserved students and communities. Examples of this will include suggestions on supporting students’ and educators’ mental health, addressing lost instructional time, ensuring equitable access to technology for remote learning, and extended learning time.

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)

  • ACPS plans to implement Summer Learning for All this year, between July 6–30, 2021. All students will be automatically enrolled but may opt out, and the program should have both a virtual and hybrid format. More information will be provided in the coming months.

Arlington Public Schools (APS)

  • APS has announced their return dates for hybrid learning. Teachers and staff will transition back to buildings one week before students return. Students in the hybrid program will attend in-person two days per week, with some on a Tuesday/Wednesday schedule and others on Thursday/Friday schedule. The timeline is as follows:
    • Week of Tuesday, March 2: All information for students returning on March 2 will be available in ParentVUE the week of Feb. 22.
      • Grades pre-K–2
      • All pre-K–5th grade students enrolled in Countywide Elementary Special Education Programs, in person four days a week, Tuesday–Friday
        • Multi-Intervention Program for Students with Autism (MIPA)
        • Mini-MIPA
        • Life Skills
        • Communications
        • Deaf and Hard of Hearing
      • Elementary students enrolled in Interlude
    • Week of Tuesday, March 9
      • Grades 3–6
      • 9th grade students
      • All 6th–12th grade students enrolled in Countywide Secondary Special Education Programs, in person four days a week, Tuesday–Friday
        • MIPA
        • Life Skills
        • Deaf and Hard of Hearing
        • Shriver Program
      • Secondary students enrolled in Interlude and the PEP program
    • Week of Tuesday, March 16
      • Grades 7–8
      • Grades 10–12

Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS)

  • FCCPS is looking forward to bringing their students back to in-person learning the week of Feb. 22, 2021.
  • They plan to be back in school five days a week for all students at the beginning of the 2021–2022 school year.

Prince William County Schools (PWCS)

  • The School Board has reaffirmed its return dates for students who chose to attend in-person school. The plan is as follows:
    • Grades 4–6 and 9
      • House A: Feb. 25
      • House B: Feb. 26
    • Grades 7–8 and 10–12
      • House A: March 2
      • House B: March 3
  • All students currently attending school in person will remain as scheduled, including grades pre-K–3, special education students, and English language learners.
  • Career and Technology Education (CTE) Phase 1 and Phase 2 students will continue Monday classes as scheduled until secondary students are phased in for in-person instruction.
  • All bell schedules, including for virtual-only students, will change effective Feb. 23. Specific bell times and bus schedules for each school will be shared as soon as possible.
  • All students who have opted to remain virtual-only will remain virtual. Students who wish to change from in-person to virtual may contact their school directly.
  • The Superintendent has the authority to take such measures as necessary to protect the health and safety of students and staff, including measures needed to respond to the impact of the pandemic on individual schools.