Full Hybrid Learning By March For Prince William County Schools

MANASSAS, VA — Prince William County Schools are still on-track to offer hybrid in-person learning for students of all grade levels by March 3, the school superintendent said. The county began its hybrid in-person learning for some elementary school students in November.

At Wednesday's school board meeting, Superintendent Steven Walts presented information on COVID cases and vaccination efforts. The school board is scheduled to vote on Feb. 17 to determine if the county will move forward with the plan.

Prince William County's hybrid learning program divides students into two "houses." Each house attends school in person on two different days each week, according to the Prince William County Schools' website. The students participate in virtual learning on the remaining three days.

Currently, students from kindergarten to third grade are already participating in the hybrid learning model. Second- and third-grade students returned to school on Jan. 12 and 13.

The next group of students, which encompasses students in fourth, fifth, sixth, and ninth grades, are scheduled to return to in-person learning on Feb. 25 and 26, according to the county's website.

The Prince William County School system is still considered to be at "moderate-high risk," according to guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health. For school systems with this level of risk, the Virginia Department of Health recommends limited in-person instruction for some students, including students with disabilities and kindergarten through third grade students. The Virginia Department of Health recommends that "all other students should be served remotely," according to the Prince William County Schools' health trends website.

At Wednesday's meeting, Walts also provided an update on efforts to vaccinate school staff and faculty. At a vaccination clinic in coordination with Novant UVA last weekend, the school system provided a first vaccine dose for more than 2,000 school system employees.

By the end of this weekend, Walts predicted that more than 8,000 school staff members will have received their first vaccine dose.

In his closing remarks, the superintendent reminded parents to think of COVID-19 like an inclement weather event for students. "Just as in inclement weather situation, parents and guardians make the ultimate choice on sending your students to school," Walts said. "Parents and guardians whose students are in person but feel that it is now unsafe can opt back to all-virtual instruction."

In January, the school system reported a total of 899 COVID-19 cases among students and staff, according to the Prince William County Schools' health trends website.

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