Special Education COVID-19 Update | Friday, June 12, 2020

Review‌ ‌the‌ ‌latest‌ ‌special‌ ‌education‌ ‌information‌ ‌related‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌coronavirus‌ ‌disease‌ ‌2019‌ ‌(COVID-19)‌ ‌pandemic.‌

U.S. Department of Education

• Readout of the U.S. Department of Education’s K-12 Educator Forum on Remote Learning Best Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • DeVos hosted a forum with K-12 education leaders to discuss best practices for remote learning and what they have learned during the pandemic. She stated it is imperative that communities continue adapting and “ensuring learning continues for all students.”

Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)

• Governor Northam Shares Guidance for Phased Reopening of PreK-12 Schools
  • Governor Northam announced a phased approach for schools to slowly resume in-person summer school and upcoming academic year classes. All schools are required to deliver new instruction for the 2020-2021 year, regardless of whether they are fully in-person or not.
    • Phase I: Special education programs and childcare for working families.
    • Phase II: Phase I plus preschool to grade 3, English learners, and summer camps in school buildings.
      • Local divisions and private schools must begin submitting plans to the VDOE that include procedures for utilizing U.S. Department of Health and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mitigation strategies.
        • Plans must follow CDC Guidance for Schools, including social distancing, enhanced hygiene procedures, the use of face masks, and disinfecting measures.
    • Phase III: All students may receive in-person instruction with social distancing in place. This may require alternative schedules that blend in-person and remote learning.
    • Beyond Phase III: Divisions resume “new normal” operations based on future guidance.
  • Local divisions will have discretion on how to operate within each phase and may be more restrictive if local health conditions require it.

• Phase Guidance for Virginia Schools
  • Allowable programs and conditions in Phase I, given all health and safety measures are followed:
    • Schools can provide in-person instruction for extended school year and special education services, including private placements. Students will only attend these programs if the Individualized Education Program team agrees it is appropriate and the parent consents. Virtual learning m still be appropriate if difficult for the student to adhere to social distancing and safety guidelines.
    • Students may be allowed to access the building for critical instructional needs, such as a secure assessment, with the approval of the local division superintendent or private school leader.
    • Physical distance should be created between students on buses. Limit capacity to 10 people per bus, where possible.
    • There should not be more than 10 people in a classroom and social distancing should be exercised as much as possible.

• Each public school division is required to submit a plan for providing new instruction this school year, regardless of its operational status. The plan must address learning lost due to the closures. It should also include a strategy for remote instruction in case health conditions require it.
  • Plans should be submitted to the VDOE at least 15 business days before the start of the academic year. They will be posted on the division’s website.

Fairfax County Public Schools

• On June 15, 2020, the Superintendent will present details for possible reopening scenarios for the 2020-2021 school year.
• By the end of June, parents will be notified of the decision to return to school.
• The first day of school is Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020.

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCPS)

• PWCS hopes to have more specific return to learning plans in mid-July.