Public School Updates and Images of the In Person Learning Model

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.

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)

 ACPS took the time in September to focus on students’ social and emotional health. This month, they will be administering virtual assessments to determine how students are performing and how teachers can meet their needs. These assessments are not linked to progress reports or grades.

• ACPS has processed the results of their survey about returning to in-person learning and the success of the Virtual PLUS+ program. Of those that responded, about 64% of families and 56% of staff said they would be very or somewhat likely to return to school.
• They hope to the phase in reopening of buildings beginning Nov. 5, 2020, starting with a small group of students with disabilities in the city-wide program.
• ACPS plans to return PreK–2^nd grade students between Nov. 4 and January 2021.
• Starting in January 2021, they plan to have a phased reentry for all other students. There will still be a virtual option for those that do not wish to return to in-person learning.
• Alexandria has addressed what safety measures will be in place when students return in November. Some of these measures include:
  • Desks being distanced

• • Tape placed on the ground to show where teachers stand while teaching

• • Student sneeze guards

• • Social distancing markers
  • ACPS will host simulations to test these safety measures prior to returning students.
• ACPS has adjusted some aspects of their Virtual PLUS+ model.:
  • There will now be three alternative K–2 schedules. Each school will select the schedule that best fits their students.
  • PreK–5 will have Learning Instructional Packets.
  • There will be clear definitions of “breaks” for families, so students do not sit in front of the computer all day.
  • There will be staff instruction regarding virtual tactics.
  • Headsets will be provided to English learner students.
  • Assessment windows will be created to monitor progress.
  • There will be engagement during asynchronous time.
  • There will be guidance for asynchronous time for teachers, students, and families.

Arlington Public Schools (APS)

 APS has made some changes to their elementary and middle school hybrid learning model and their groupings for students in Levels 2 and 3.

• • In the revised hybrid elementary model, students will participate in two consecutive in-person instruction days and two consecutive synchronous distance learning days per week. Mondays will remain asynchronous learning days.
  • Instead of assigning students by last name, they will be assigned by grade level.
    • PreK, 1^st, 3^rd, and 5^th grade students will attend in person on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
    • Kindergarten, 2^nd, and 4^th grade students will attend in person on Thursdays and Fridays.
  • To achieve social distancing when in-person, each class will be divided into two classrooms. The teacher will rotate between the two classrooms to deliver instruction. An assistant will remain in the room to monitor students.
  • Middle school students will follow the high school model, receiving synchronous instruction four days a week (Tuesday through Friday). If they choose the hybrid model, they will attend school in person two days a week.
    • Students may receive instruction using a blended model, meaning some students in school will receive instruction from a teacher who is remote. They will have assistants in the classrooms.
  • APS has also revised their student grouping levels and timeline.
    • Level 1: Students with disabilities who require direct support to access distance learning are projected to return mid to late October.
    • Level 2: All PreK–5^th grade students and high school students enrolled in selected career and technical education (CTE) courses at the Career Center will begin returning mid to late November.
      • Starting Nov. 10, 2020, PreK–2^nd grade and CTE students will return.
      • Starting Dec. 1, 3^rd–5^th grade students will return.
    • Level 3: All middle and high school students who selected hybrid, in-person instruction are projected to return mid-January.
    • These are subject to change depending on health guidelines at the time.
  • The ParentVUE Selection window has been extended for Level 2 families to update their selection, with a new deadline of Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)

 Last week, FCPS began returning students to in-person instruction with select specialized high school career preparatory programs. They are resuming one or two days a week.

• This week, preschool autism classrooms, early childhood class-based students, and additional select specialized high school career preparatory programs will return.
• The following groups of students will return the week of Oct. 26, 2020:
  • Students attending Key Center and Kilmer Center
  • Secondary and elementary students who access the adapted curriculum
  • Elementary Comprehensive Services Sites
  • SLIFE students (English learners with limited or interrupted formal education in grades 3–12)
  • English learners new to the U.S after June 2019
  • Elementary-age students at Burke School
  • High school students enrolled in select specialized high school career preparatory programs

Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS)

 FCCPS successfully brought back their first wave of students the week of Oct. 5, 2020. The next group of students returned Oct. 13.

• FCCPS plans on bringing their K–5 students back into school buildings in the near future. They have developed two options: face-to-face hybrid or 100% virtual.
  • 10: Kindergarten and 3^rd grade students
  • 17: 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, and 5^th grade students
• In their hybrid model, students will have half days from Tuesday through Friday in AM/PM groups. During the in-person half day, students have core instruction; the other half of the day will be for encore and independent learning.
  • AM group: Students with last names starting with A–K
  • PM group: Students with last names starting with L–Z
• Parents are asked to complete the FCCPS Learning Intention Form by Oct. 19 to indicate which model they prefer. Parents will have the opportunity to revisit their decision in January.

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS)

 LCPS is planning to return K–2 students whose parents selected the hybrid model on Oct. 27, 2020. In all, this will be about 6,900 students. This is in addition to the students with disabilities who returned to in-person instruction on Oct. 13.

• LCPS hopes to return all elementary students who selected the hybrid model by Dec. 1.
• Also, on Dec. 1, they also hope to return Academy of Engineering and Technology (AET) and Academy of Science (AOS) seniors who selected the hybrid model.

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCPS)

 PWCS still plans to implement a 50% capacity in-person and distance learning model for the second quarter, subject to public health guidelines. Students will be phased in, starting with Pre-K.

Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS)

 SCPS successfully launched their kindergarten pilot program at five elementary schools. They will continue with their Return to School plan by bringing back K–5 students the week of Oct. 26, 2020.

• The Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) and Engineering Design and Development (EDD) Capstone Courses will begin in-person learning one day a week starting Oct. 21. These courses are meeting in-person due to the amount of hands-on application with course equipment.
• The Return to School Plan anticipates that middle and high school hybrid plans will begin in early February (the second semester), subject to health conditions.