Special Education COVID-19 Update | Friday, July 24, 2020

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.

Arlington Public Schools (APS)

• Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams will meet in August to adjust services and support to align with the virtual model.
  • IEP hours will be based on 24 hours of synchronous instruction a week.
  • Teletherapy and coaching models will be used to deliver related services.
  • Parents will receive consultative sessions with the related service providers.
• APS will conduct special education eligibility assessments and re-evaluations virtually starting in the fall.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)

• FCPS has decided to switch to virtual learning this coming fall, rather than allowing families the option of virtual or hybrid learning.
  • If health conditions improve, they plan to first bring back students who need intervention support on a limited basis. After that, they plan to bring other students back in as soon as possible, starting with elementary school students, certain Pre-K–12 special education students, and English learners.
• Currently, all students in the fall will receive virtual instruction five days a week.
  • Mondays will be reserved for independent learning while some students will receive direct specialized instruction or intervention if necessary.
  • Tuesday through Friday will include live, face-to-face online instruction with teachers.

Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS)

• FCCPS has decided on a virtual start to the 2020–2021 school year, citing the following reasons:
  • Guidance from the director of the Fairfax County Health District
  • Length delays in receiving COVID-19 test results
  • Rate of FCCPS employee illness over the summer
  • Reluctance to answer health check surveys during the summer daycare program

Frederick County Public Schools

• Frederick has moved the start of the upcoming school year from Aug. 17 to Aug. 31, 2020.
• School will begin with a hybrid model:
  • Students in Pre-K–grade 1 will attend school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
  • Students in grades 2–12 will be split into two groups:
    • Group A: Attending in-person on Mondays and Thursdays
    • Group B: Attending in-person on Tuesdays and Fridays
  • When students are not attending in-person, they will receive virtual learning. All students will have virtual learning on Wednesdays.
• For those who are not comfortable with the hybrid model, a fully distance learning option will be available.
• FCPS has acknowledged that this plan may change depending on current health concerns.

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS)

• LCPS announced they will be starting the year virtually, with some limited exceptions.
• They hope to implement the hybrid model in stages.

Prince William County Schools

• Parents have been asked to complete the Return to Learn form available in ParentVUE by July 28, 2020.

Spotsylvania County Public Schools (SCPS)

• SCPS has decided all students will begin the school year with virtual learning for the first nine-week grading period.
• They hope to start in-person learning on Oct. 12, 2020. More information about this change in plans will be provided next week.

Stafford County Public Schools

• Stafford is recommending virtual instruction for all elementary school students (with some exceptions below) from the start of the year until Oct. 1, 2020. Their plan is to reassess the situation on Sept. 21 to decide if the hybrid model can be implemented starting Oct. 6. This decision would be announced Sept. 24.
  • Exceptions include those in special education as determined by the IEP team, English Learners Levels 1 and 2, and other students as determined by building principals or those with no internet.
• Middle and high school students would have virtual instruction from the start of the year until Nov. 5. The situation would be reassessed on Oct. 26, and the superintendent would announce his decision on Oct. 28 if the hybrid model could be implemented starting Nov. 11
  • The same exempted categories above also apply here