BCPS Moving To Four In-Person Days For Some On May 10 or 17

TOWSON, MD - Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) announced late last week that a number of students will have the opportunity to expand to four in-person learning days per week, from the current two in-person learning days, starting as early as May 10.

Under the plan, which was revealed in a press release, Wednesdays still will be reserved for virtual learning for all students. Families also will have the option to choose five days of virtual learning.

The district said schools should have provided specific information to families about the choice to expand their child or children's in-person school week. Decisions to return will have to be made by April 21, for elementary students, and April 23, for secondary students.

The groups eligible for four in-person learning days beginning May 10 are:

• All students in elementary schools, Preschool to Grade 5.
• All students in public separate day schools (Battle Monument, Maiden Choice, Ridge Ruxton and White Oak schools).
• In Grades 6 to 12, students receiving special education services primarily outside of general education in cluster and regional programs, including: Functional Academic Learning Support (FALS) and Learning Support (CALS), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Hearing Impaired and Visually Impaired.

Four days of in-person learning is scheduled to begin May 17 for any student Grades 6 to 12 with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan.

BCPS noted in the release that May 10 and May 17 were chosen for system planning purposes. However, the nature of the pandemic always is evolving, and the timeline could change.

The district also said its expansion to four in-person learning days is aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines adopted by the Maryland Department of Health and Maryland State Department of Education. Schools will continue to employ mitigation strategies like:

• Face coverings
• Social distancing
• Frequent hand washing
• Covering coughs and sneezes
• Cleaning and disinfecting
• Contact tracing