School Board Approves Virtual Start For Alexandria Schools

ALEXANDRIA, VA — On Friday, the Alexandria City School Board approved the superintendent's recommendation for a virtual start to the school year. The first day of school is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The new school year will differ from the spring, when the governor ordered schools to close. Students will be graded on completed work and will receive synchronous instruction in each subject area four days a week. Under the Virtual PLUS+ plan for Alexandria City Public Schools, schools will follow a schedule and take attendance daily. The school day will be 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for elementary schools, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for middle schools, and 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. for high school. Staff will work their full day with time included for planning.

All pre-K through first grade students will receive electronic tablets, and second to 12th grade students will receive Chromebooks. Internet access will also be provided to families if needed, as well as online and in-person technical support.

Other focuses for the virtual model are social, emotional and academic supports, child care options through community partners, continuation of meal distribution with added snacks and dinner, and a multilingual phone helpline from Aug. 19 to Sept. 30. Families will primarily access instruction, schedules, technical support and social, emotional and academic learning resources through the ACPS learning management system Canvas.

A top factor leading to the virtual-only approach had been the feasibility of adhering to health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Virginia. ACPS will reassess the opening status at the end of the first quarter, then every nine weeks afterward.

The ACPS plan must be submitted to the Virginia Department of Education for approval by Aug. 14. More information about the Virtual PLUS+ model is available on the ACPS website.