Fairfax County Schools Working On Return To School Plan

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — After Gov. Ralph Northam provided guidance for reopening PreK to 12 schools in Virginia, Fairfax County Public Schools is working on a Return to School plan. Superintendent Scott Brabrand will present details on potential options to the school board Monday.

Under Northam's guidance, there are three phases, which can align with thee Forward Virginia reopening phases. The first phase is largely what schools have been doing: remote education. But the main difference is that this phase allows in-person programs for students with disabilities.

School districts must submit a plan to the Virginia Department of Education for two and three of reopening before moving into each. Fairfax County entered phase two of Forward Virginia on Friday, meaning the school district could submit a plan for phase two of reopening schools. In this phase, in-person instruction can be provided for pre-school to third grade students and English language learners. There can also be expanded programs for students with disabilities, expanded child care for working families, and summer camps in school buildings. Gatherings are limited to 50 people in phase two.

School districts can submit a plan for phase three once Northam lets Forward Virginia's phase three begin. Phase three is a return to in-person instruction for all students with social distancing measures.

As the largest school district in Virginia, FCPS has to account for more than 188,000 students, as well as staff. Students with disabilities account for about 14.5 percent of the student population and 29 percent are English language learners. Part of the state's guidance for schools includes providing remote options to students and staff at higher risk for severe illness from the coronavirus.

Brabrand said in a letter to families the FCPS reopening plans will comply with health and social distancing measures. In-person instruction must include physical distancing measures in classrooms, buses and shared spaces.

There are different scenarios of reopening posted on the school district's website.

In a scenario with a virtual start to the school year, FCPS is considering:

• No students allowed in school buildings
• All instruction delivered virtually (would include improvements from current virtual instruction)
• Students given more digital access and digital curriculum resources

In a scenario that lets students in school buildings, FCPS is considering:

• Students allowed in school buildings following new health and safety guidelines
• May involve prioritizing in-school instruction for students who need face-to-face instruction the most, such as Students with Disabilities, English Learners, or students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 2
• May involve students coming to school buildings on alternating days or every day for a half-day only (AM/PM shifts)
• FCPS would use new rules for cleaning of school buildings

In a scenario allowing online learning based on need, FCPS is considering:

• Full-time online enrollment offered to students with documented medical needs (personal or family); offered as option to other students on space-available basis
• Could happen with either of the other scenarios as well as in a regular reopening
• Requires alternative instructional delivery for students opting out of in-school instruction

A survey is being sent to families and FCPS staff on different scenarios. Comments can also be sent by email to ReturntoSchool@fcps.edu.

The superintendent hopes to have a final plan approved by the end of June. The school board will hold a hearing at 6:30 p.m. on June 18 and other meeting is planned on at 1:30 p.m. on June 23.

For more information, visit www.fcps.edu/returntoschool.