Arlington Students Will Soon Be Returning To School

ARLINGTON, VA — Dr. Francisco Durán, the superintendent of Arlington Public Schools, announced the dates when APS students will be returning to school for hybrid/in-person learning, after being stuck at home for months studying virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"After many months of planning, I am announcing the updated return timeline for families that have selected the hybrid/in-person instruction model," Durán said, Tuesday in a letter to APS families. "I am encouraged by recent improvements in the health metrics, with case positivity rates and other indicators currently decreasing in Arlington and neighboring communities. Over the past two weeks, staff have returned to our buildings to prepare for the upcoming transition and to further strengthen our mitigation efforts."

In mid-January, APS staff began receiving the vaccine from the Arlington County Public Health Division. Durán reported that more than half of APS staff have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with more appointments being added.

APS students who have chosen hybrid/in-person learning will begin returning to school in March, with teachers and staff arriving back in schools one week before students arrive. Students in hybrid/in-person and concurrent instructional models will be in school twice per week. Some students will attend on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while other will attend on Thursdays and Fridays.

The following is the timeline for students' return to in-school learning:

• Week of Tuesday, March 2:
  • PreK-2nd grade students
  • All students enrolled in Countywide Elementary Special Education Programs (PreK-5th grade – mini MIPA, MIPA, Life Skills, Communications and Deaf and Hard of Hearing – in person four days a week, Tuesday-Friday)
  • Elementary students enrolled in Interlude
• Week of Tuesday, March 9:
  • 3rd – 5th grade students
  • 6th and 9th grade students
  • All students enrolled in Countywide Secondary Special Education Programs (6th-12th grade – MIPA, Life Skills, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Shriver Program – in person four days a week, Tuesday-Friday)
  • Secondary students enrolled in Interlude and PEP program
• Week of Tuesday, March 16:
• 7th – 8th grade students
• 10th – 12th grade students

Over the next few weeks, APS will be communicating with families about their student's in-person days, instructional model information, changes to teacher or classroom assignments, and transportation, as well as health and safety procedures.

In his letter, Durán announced the following service changes:

• Friday, Feb. 19 will be the final date for the current five-day schedule for the Instructional Learning Support (ILS) program offered at Ashlawn, Drew, Hoffman-Boston and Randolph elementary schools. Beginning Monday, Feb. 22, the ILS program will operate on Mondays only. Details will be communicated directly to enrolled families.
• Friday, Feb. 19 will be the final date that we will operate the seven meal drop-off locations across the county that are not based at a school location. (more information)
• Friday, Feb. 26 will be the final date for the Secondary Work Space program offered at Arlington Career Center, H-B Woodlawn, New Directions, Wakefield, Washington-Liberty, and Yorktown high schools.