FCPS could reconsider in-school learning
Now that parents and teachers have voted on whether they prefer in-school or distance learning, there’s a renewed effort among some Fairfax County School Board members to push for all-virtual learning, at least for the start of the 2020-21 school year.
The school board will discuss the issue July 21. Superintendent Scott Brabrand says he might consider delaying face-to-face learning.
As of midnight July 15, the deadline for choosing a return-to-school preference, 60 percent of parents selected in-school learning, and 40 percent chose online learning. (Under the in-person option, students would be in school two days a week.)
Among teachers and school-based technology specialists, 48 percent chose the in-person option and 52 percent chose online learning.
For people who didn’t respond, the default is in-school learning.
Online discussions are full of concerns about the benefits and advantages of both options. Allowing children back to school raises fears among staff and parents that more children could be infected with COVID-19 and spread the disease to other people in school and their families.
Meanwhile, there is concern that reverting to all distance learning would play havoc with parents’ work schedules and childcare arrangements and would be detrimental to children’s social wellbeing and education, especially among special ed students and English language learners.
Children in households where parents can’t play an active role in helping students with distance learning are likely to fall behind.
Related story: More details emerge on FCPS return-to-school plan
Here is how the learning preference broke down for certain schools in the Annandale/Mason District area, as reported by their principals:
Annandale High School – 63 percent of students will attend school in-person, including 21 percent who didn’t respond; and 37 percent will attend school virtually. Among teachers, 57 percent chose virtual learning and 43 percent chose in-person learning.
Holmes Middle School: In school-learning – 52 percent; online learning – 48 percent. Sixty-four percent of teachers requested an online assignment, and 36 percent prefer face-to-face teaching.
Woodburn Elementary School: 229 students chose virtual learning, and 281 chose in-person learning.
Canterbury Woods Elementary School: In-school learning – 47 percent; virtual – 53 percent. Parents of younger students were more likely to choose the in-school approach; 56 percent of parents of children in grades K-2 and 44 percent of parents of children in grade 3-6 chose the in-person approach.
Camelot Elementary School: In-school – 58 percent; virtual – 42 percent.
Beech Tree Elementary School: In-school – 39 percent; virtual – 52 percent.
Bailey’s Elementary School: 436 students will attend school in person and 282 opted for virtual learning, Principal Julie Easa reports. The school will reach out to the 38 students who didn’t respond.
22 responses to “FCPS could reconsider in-school learning”
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Thank you for this informative post. However, my children attend Sleepy Hollow Elementary School. Is there a place online where I can look for information about that school too? In other words, where did you get these breakdowns? Is it available online, or did you have to reach out to the principals yourself?
The information here is from principals' newsletters, but it's also online: https://www.fcps.edu/enroll2020?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
if someone did not reply to the survey, it was automatically counted as in-person. I wonder how many people who do not have regular access to their emails (or are not signed up for emails) missed the notices and were counted as in-person
You can see the breakdown of the non responses at https://www.fcps.edu/enroll2020
FCPS did reach out by email, mail and text message as well, in fact multiple times.
There was no way people did not know about choice. It was parents who just didn't care. So how the hell do you virtual pushers think they will be about helping their kids with school?
Good
Sick and tired to have these annoying creatures at home with me all day
should start school back again, and let us have a babysitter for these annoying creatures
Some of us have extremely hard decisions to come to terms with in the next few months. Most of us don't view our children as inconveniences that we can't wait to have back in school, we've been desperately trying to cling to our careers via teleworking, trying to show our bosses we can still function from home while people around us are getting laid off left and right. There is the gradual ramp up to being back in the office full time — happening RIGHT NOW — while our kids are still home, and will be home, for quite some time. I know trite comments are fun, but working parents are in a real shit show of a decision point. I know we're all in this together; teachers, administrators, parents, kids…it just sucks for everyone. So maybe don't be an asshole.
Wow how can you call your children annoying creatures? That's so mean.
What about numbers for Belvedere and Sleepy Hollow?
Belvedere: 47% online 47% in-person 6% in-person by default
Sleepy Hollow: 39% online 37% in-person 24% in-person by default
You can see ALL of the schools by clicking on this link, which has already been cited twice in this comment thread: https://www.fcps.edu/enroll2020?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
Some had chosen in person and didn't respond to the survey because that was their default choice no need to respond. I don't think we can assume all who didn't respond didn't know what their options were but I'm sure it was the case for some.
I don’t know what to say my son is a special it is very hard
For us to choose in person or virtual class.
I’d like to send my son in school but for special kids it’s hard for them to understand to keep a distance. Is there any special plan for special needs kids?
Same situation we have for rising Kindergarten. Online was a bust for us Pre-K.
As parent i perfer to study online is better for kids will safe and familys too.till coronaviurs is finish .at school kids are going to playground play comming washing their hands not well tauch to their face mouth then who will respanable of that ?their family will be in risk .we love our kids and be safe . online sutdy is 100% great choice.
The scenario they propose for back-to-school is a nightmare–face masks required by 2 yr olds and above; sanitation stations; social distancing…How is that really going back to school?
No public health case has been made to keep schools closed. This is shameful and immoral. By this logic, we should close every winter when 5 to 10 times as many kids die of the flue as the 'rona. The flu has never stopped us form having a functioning educational system before.
If your argument is based on the erroneous idea that 5 – 10 times as many kids die from the influenza virus, then it is not a good argument. The issue is not so much the actual infection/death rate among children (although that is good enough for me) it is that every child comes in contact with dozens each day, and each of those has family at home and teachers at school – and those teachers have families and so forth. Those people can and do die of the virus. While this will be incredibly difficult for our community, it seems essential that we take a cautious approach rather than just hoping for the best.
Exactly but teachers in our area are lazy as hell and privileged and don't care about our kids. They get paid regardless.
thank you Anonymous 7/21/20, 5:00PM….shameful and immoral
So did you see where the NEA has gotten to Fairfax county and now they've taken the in school option off the table. Shameful. Definitely all pplitical.
The union bs will be the death of public schools. Everyone I know is now homeschooling or private