Fairfax Schools Plan For 5 Days Of In-Person Learning In Fall

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — As Fairfax County Public Schools brought back the final group of students for hybrid learning on Tuesday, the school district announced it is planning five days of in-person learning per week in the fall.

By March 19, more than 109,000 FCPS students will have returned for hybrid learning. The first groups of students returned on Feb. 16, followed by groups on four other dates through March 16. Other students opted to remain in virtual learning.

With social distancing requirements limiting the number of students in classrooms, students in hybrid learning are receiving two in-person days and the remainder as virtual instruction each week. Certain groups such as students with disabilities and Early Head Start receive four days of in-person instruction.

School officials are hopeful students who can return to schools five days a week in the fall as in-school transmission remains low. According to FCPS data, 19 cases of transmission in Fairfax County schools and offices were identified between Jan. 26 and March 15, impacting .02 percent of the 86,526 students and staff in buildings at that time.

According to a Tuesday presentation to the school board, a majority of FCPS employees who want the COVID-19 vaccine have been vaccinated. No specific numbers were provided.

“We have shown that we can return our students and staff to our buildings in a way that is safe and steady," said FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand in a statement. "We are confident that we can deliver on a five-day return for all students in the fall, knowing that, while we can adapt to any situation, in-person learning really is the best option for our students and staff."

FCPS plans to continue coordinating with the Fairfax County Health Department and following social distancing guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prepare for the five-day-per-week return. The CDC is currently looking into whether three feet of physical distancing would be adequate in schools instead of the current six-foot guidance.

According to a FCPS statement, the school district will continue to look for updated health guidance, look into additional personal protective equipment resources and safety protocols, continue to analyze the potential for COVID-19 testing, and prepare schools for changing social distancing mandates.

For the current school year, requests from families to change from virtual education to in-person education will be dependent on school capacity. Per the superintendent's presentation to the school board, requests to switch from virtual to in-person instruction could be considered after March 26. After that date, schools may invite students for new or additional in-person opportunities based on student learning needs as identified through the school-based MTSS process.