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 plans to host a series of community chats starting July 20, 2020. Staff will be answering parent questions and listening to feedback.
  • ACPS is still in the process of determining what plans will be in place in the fall.

Arlington Public Schools (APS)

  • APS is postponing the start of the school year to Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. The school year will begin with full-time distance learning for all students. This is a change from their earlier plan, which gave families the option to choose from either a hybrid in-person model or a full-time distance learning model. This decision was made based on local health data as well as feedback from families, staff, and other relevant groups.
    • Staff will still return on Aug. 24 as planned, but this will allow them more time to plan.
  • APS hopes to transition some students to in-person instruction in early October. They also hope to have the hybrid model in place and operating by the beginning of the second quarter for all families who selected that option. These decisions will be based on local health data and consultation with health officials.
  • APS asks that families still select a learning model by July 20 so they will be able to plan for the future reopening.

Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS)

  • Based on a survey of FCCPS families, about 90% want to return to face-to-face instruction and about 7% want to have online-only instruction. The remaining families were unsure of their decision.
  • Mount Daniel and Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schools will open Aug. 24, 2020 in an alternating day format, with Monday being a teacher work day. All students will be able to return in this phased process and still maintain 6 feet of social distance.
    • If the return to school goes well, they will consider bringing back all students starting in late September.
  • Parents who opt for online learning for elementary students will utilize the Virtual Virginia Outreach program. It aligns with the Virginia Standards of Learning. FCCPS will be able to edit the curriculum and import resources into their Schoology platform.
  • Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School and George Mason High School have been analyzed. Due to space constraints, not all students will be able to return to school while still maintaining social distancing. However, FCCPS will be looking for ways to increase direct instruction as much as possible.

Prince William County Schools (PWCS)

  • PWCS will have all students in distance learning for the first quarter of the school year, from Sept. 8 to Oct. 30, 2020. They hope to transition to a 50% capacity model in the second quarter, with students still being able to continue distance learning if they wish.
  • PWCS will consider offering in-person services to special education students based on an Individualized Education Program team decision.

Spotsylvania County Public Schools (SCPS)

  • SCPS is currently suggesting two models for the fall.
    • A hybrid model, in which student will have a combination of in-person and distance learning. Students with special needs may be afforded more in-person learning days in this model.
      • Students will be separated into two groups and will attend school two days a week, either Mondays and Tuesdays (Group 1) or Thursdays and Fridays (Group 2). Wednesdays will be a distance learning day for everyone as the buildings will be cleaned.
    • Fully distance learning model.
      • Elementary students will receive about 2.5–3.5 hours per day of direct, synchronous instruction. They can also receive an hour a day of specialized instruction if needed.
      • Middle school students will receive about three hours per week per course of direct, synchronous instruction.
      • High school students’ schedules will vary based on their enrolled courses.
  • Families are asked to complete their enrollment verification form, in which they will select their preferred model, by July 22. Families that do not complete the form by this time will be automatically placed in the hybrid model.
    • If a student chooses the full distance learning model and later decides to return to in-person learning, they may change their model after the first semester.

Stafford County Public Schools

  • Stafford’s final recommendations were announced July 14, 2020.
  • School will start on Aug. 31 for hybrid and distance learning models.
    • For hybrid students, their first week of school will be 100% virtual. They will begin to transition into their hybrid schedule the week of Sept. 8, and be fully transitioned by the week of Sept. 14.