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 (DOE)

  • The DOE has released the COVID-19 Handbook, Volume 2: Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs. It provides more guidance to safely reopen schools and promote educational equity by addressing opportunity gaps that were exacerbated by the pandemic. Specifically, this handbook addresses how to deal with the social, emotional, mental health, and academic impacts of the pandemic. Find strategies around:
    • Providing school meals regardless of educational setting
    • Meeting the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students
    • Providing all students with access to a safe and inclusive learning environment
    • Accelerating learning through in-classroom instructional approaches, tutoring, and expanded learning time
    • Supporting equitable access and effective use of technology for teaching and learning
    • Using data about students’ learning opportunities to help target resources and support
    • Addressing resource inequities
    • Stabilizing a diverse and qualified educator workforce
    • Supporting educator and staff well-being

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)

  • ACPS will be reconfiguring their classrooms and plans to allow 3 feet of physical distance between students, based on the updated guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • They hope to allow more students into hybrid learning and will be contacting families to assess their interest.

Arlington Public Schools (APS)

  • Given the updated CDC guidelines allowing 3 feet of distance between students, APS intends to expand their in-person learning opportunities. They plan to contact families on waitlists to admit more students for in-person instruction and plan for five-day schedules for summer school and the 2021–2022 school year.
  • APS plans to offer a fully virtual option for students in the fall. They are launching a survey from April 19–30, 2021, so families can indicate whether they wish to participate in in-person or virtual learning for the 2021–2022 school year.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)

  • FCPS will be expanding opportunities for more students to participate in four days of in-person learning throughout April. This is based on the updated guidance from the CDC permitting students to have 3 feet of physical distancing between them.
  • FCPS will be offering summer school at five days per week of in-person instruction for every student who wishes to participate, even those who opted for virtual learning in the spring. High school students will have a chance to retake classes they failed during the academic year. Start dates and details will soon be announced.

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS)

  • This past week, FCPS students participating in the hybrid learning model were able to increase their time in school from two to four days per week. This was made possible based on the updated 3 feet distancing guidelines provided by the CDC.

Spotsylvania County Public Schools (SCPS)

  • SCPS students have transitioned from two to four days of in-person instruction.