Prince William Schools Update Families After Coronavirus Closure

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — School systems across Virginia are scrambling in response to Gov. Ralph Northam's order Monday to close all schools for the rest of the academic year to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19. In Prince William County, school officials are trying to determine how to feed students and how to coordinate getting information out to students, families and staff.

Since Northam made his announcement at 2 p.m. Monday, Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) have put together guidance for students and families, along with a list of changes and closures. In a major development, the schools were informed by the governor's adminisation that the state will waive the nearly three months of school days that will be missed and will not require the days missed to be made up.

Another major question is what will happen to high school seniors who were expecting to gradudate this spring. PWCS announced Monday that students on track for graduation should still expect to graduate.

PWCS said it expects guidance from the Virginia Department of Education this week regarding student credits. Once PWCS has this information, a further determination will be made regarding student grading for the current academic year.

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Other important information released by the PWCS includes:

• All in-person graduation ceremonies and proms planned through June are canceled. PWCS will work to determine alternative ways, or future events, to safely celebrate the class of 2020.
• PWCS is exploring opportunities for equitable distance learning while ensuring compliance with all federal and state requirements.
• All community use in any PWCS facility is canceled through June.
• All PWCS buildings remain closed to any visitor, except limited support staff. The school system is not permitting students and staff to access school buildings to retrieve personal belongings and other items in order to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.
• PWCS will continue to provide to-go meals from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at locations across the county.
• The International Baccalaureate May examinations for diploma program and career-related program candidates will no longer be held. Depending on what they registered for, the student will be awarded a diploma or a course dertificate reflecting their standard of work. PWCS International Baccalaureate coordinators will share further details with students as available.
• PWCS is awaiting further state and federal guidance on providing special education services and conducting IEP meetings. Once clarification is received, PWCS will provide an update.
• Details about expectations for optional at-home instruction during the current closure were sent to all PWCS staff and families last week. Visit the PWCS Home Learning Resources site for more information.
• PWCS staff will be expected to continue to work remotely, and in limited cases within buildings, and will receive pay through the end of the school year as outlined in previous updates.

PWCS said the state is in the process of waiving Standards of Learning for 2020. Once the waiver is received, PWCS said it will provide an update to the school community.

Meanwhile, PWCS is now starting to see cases of the coronavirus. A Prince William County Public Schools fourth-grader and their parent, for example, have tested positive for the coronavirus. The student who tested positive attends Pennington Traditional School student. Also, a staff member has developed symptoms of the coronavirus.

For more information on schools closing in Prince William County for the rest of the school year, visit the school system's website.

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