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 has shared the key dates of their plans for phased-in re-entry. They will only apply to the students who have opted for in-person learning; those who wish to remain virtual may do so.
- Nov. 5:
- Phased-in return of high-priority and the most vulnerable students with disabilities (citywide self-contained students with intellectual disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities, or emotional disabilities) to be served at Jefferson-Houston PreK–8 IB School
- Begin with students with disabilities in grades K–2 enrolled in the Citywide Special Education program
- Nov. 17: Expand to include students with disabilities in grades 3–5 enrolled in the Citywide Special Education program
- Nov. 30: Expand to include early childhood special education students and students with disabilities in grades K–5 who receive self-contained language arts and math instruction
- December 2020: Expand to include students with disabilities in grades 6–8 who are enrolled in the Citywide Special Education program
- January 2021: Expand to include all remaining students in grades PreK–5
- February 2021: Expand to include all remaining students in grades 6–8
- Nov. 5:
Arlington Public Schools (APS)
- APS has revised their projected return date for Level 1 students to Nov. 4, 2020. It was changed from Oct. 29 to ensure all operational metrics were met and staff was ready to support their students.
- Level 1 students are those with disabilities who need in-person support to access distance learning (about 225 students).
- APS is still planning on returning Level 2, Phase 1 students on Nov. 12. These include preK–2nd grade and career and technical education students.
- Level 2, Phase 2 students, which include those in grades 3–5, will return in early December.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)
- FCPS has had a number of special education groups return to in-person instruction, including:
- Preschool Autism Classrooms (PAC)
- Early Childhood Class-Based (ECCB) students
- Some specialized high school career preparatory programs
- Students attending Key Center or Kilmer Center
- Elementary and secondary students accessing adapted curriculum
- Elementary Comprehensive Services Sites
- SLIFE students
- English learner newcomers who entered the U.S. after June 2019
- Elementary-age students attending Burke School
- The return has gone well so far, with no concerning incidents
- FCPS is still planning to return the following groups for in-person learning:
- Nov. 16: Early Head Start, pre-K, kindergarten, intensive support needs, and specialized center-based programs – Special Education
- Nov. 30: Grades 1–2 and specialized career centers – Special Education
- In-person instruction remains a schedule of two days of in-person learning and two days of virtual (synchronous) learning. FCPS will still be utilizing the concurrent model, which allows students at home to “log into” class so all students can learn the same things at the same time.
- Moving forward, FCPS hopes to return the following groups of students at these times:
- Jan. 4:
- Elementary school students in grades 3–6
- Secondary public day programs – Special Education (Burke Middle School, Cedar Lane, Quander Road)
- Davis & Pulley Center students with a target learner profile
- Jan. 26:
- Middle and high school students in grades 6–12
- Students in Davis & Pulley career centers
- Jan. 4:
- FCPS hopes to return all students to in-person learning no later than the beginning of the second semester in February.
- FCPS has decided to extend first quarter to end on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, at 5 p.m. ET. This is to allow students to finish their assignments and is based on the feedback received of students being overwhelmed in the virtual environment.
Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS)
- FCCPS has been working on their Secondary (6–12) Reopening Plan. A form will soon be sent out to all parents that will give them the option to pick either 100% virtual learning or hybrid learning. The form will also ask them to indicate transportation needs and whether students need breakfast and/or lunch.
- Seniors will begin learning on Jan. 5, 2021 in the new high school building. This will be virtual learning, but will be in the new building so they can become accustomed to it. They will transition to the hybrid model on Jan. 12, where they will attend school in-person two days per week and receive virtual instruction two days per week.
- Grades 6–11 will begin hybrid learning on Jan. 12.
- Students in FCCPS will have a similar model to FCPS’ concurrent one. Students accessing learning from home will be able to “tune in” to class alongside those learning in-person in the classroom.
Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS)
- LCPS recently returned students in kindergarten through 2nd grade to their in-person hybrid instruction. It went well, with many safety measures in place.
- LCPS is still planning to return middle and high school students on Jan. 21, 2021, the start of the second semester. They are also planning to implement a concurrent model, where in-person students and those learning virtually from home are all taught at the same time.
- Parents will be asked to complete a survey in November to confirm their choice for instruction starting in the second semester.
- They are hoping to return students in grades 3–5 on Dec. 1, but that decision is still up to School Board approval.
Prince William County Schools (PWCS)
- PWCS is planning to return students to in-person learning:
- Nov. 10 and 13: pre-K and kindergarten
- Dec. 1: 1st graders
- Jan. 12–13: 2nd and 3rd graders
- Jan. 26–27: 4th and 5th graders
- PWCS hopes to return students to in-person learning:
- Jan. 26–27: 6th and 9th graders, two days per week on
- Feb. 2–3: 7th, 8th, and 10–12th graders
Spotsylvania County Public Schools (SCPS)
- SCPS has successfully returned some students to in-person learning.
