What Weather Impact Means For Alexandria Virtual Learning

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As the region braces for the first winter storm of the season on Wednesday, Alexandria City Public Schools announced service changes.

On Dec. 16, virtual learning will continue, but ACPS buildings and grounds are closed. All programs and services at ACPS school buildings and facilities are canceled, including meal distribution, child care programs offered by ACPS partners, and the Tech Help Desk.

The region is expected to see snow or a wintry mix on Wednesday, but greater impacts are expected outside of Alexandria. According to the National Weather Service, Alexandria has a chance of snow before 10 a.m. Wednesday, then rain and snow are likely with a potential freezing rain mix until noon. After noon, that mix will turn into rain. Little or no ice accumulation is expected, and snow could be less than a half inch.

Under the Virtual PLUS+ approach, winter weather doesn't affect the status of classes but does impact some ACPS services. If school buildings would close due to power outages or weather conditions, there would be no food distribution, transportation out of district, or Virtual PLUS+ child care programs that day.

All of the school district's students are back in virtual learning until at least early 2021. ACPS paused the return to in-person learning plan and brought the few students in school buildings back to virtual learning. ACPS had planned to bring back more students with specialized instruction and English Learner services to in-person learning in November and December, but it dialed back based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention core health metrics for reopening decisions.

ACPS families who provided the school registrar with their cell phone and email addresses will receive weather alerts by text message and email. Weather notifications are first shared at www.acps.k12.va.us/emergency, and other notification options include Facebook, Twitter, ACPS mobile app, ACPS-TV local cable channel 71, City of Alexandria’s eNews alerts, ACPS emergency hotline (703-866-5300) and local radio and TV stations.