School news: FCPS guidance for a virtual school start

Annandale HS staff members are ready to help students register for classes. [FCPS]

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand has issued some additional guidance on the new school year, which starts virtually on Sept. 8. 

Attendance – Teachers will take attendance. Parents are expected to call or email the school if their student is unable to participate. 

If a student misses a class or wants to review a lesson, they will be able to access a recording later through Blackboard or Google Classroom. Watching a video, however, will not make up for an excused absence. 

If a parent does not contact the school and the student failed to log in, the student is unverified for that class period. FCPS bases attendance for secondary students on whether they are “present” one or more periods of the day.

More information about attendance is available here.

Cohort learning groups – FCPS has identified groups of students that are most in need of returning to in-person learning and hopes to bring them back using a phased-in approach. One group would start every two weeks, beginning in September. 

• Group 1: Preschool autism and preschool class-based students, English learners with limited or interrupted formal education, and limited Adult and Community Education classes, including English for speakers of other languages, workforce training, and behind-the-wheel driving classes.
• Group 2: Key Center and Kilmer Center students, secondary and elementary students who access the adapted curriculum, elementary comprehensive services sites, new English learners, and preK and kindergarten students.
• Group 3: First and second-grade students and Burke School elementary school students. 

Tech help for parents – FCPS launched a Parent Technology Help Desk Aug. 24 to support families who are working with their children during distance learning, 

To access the help desk, call 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS) between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. seven days a week. 

Parents or guardians who need help in a language other than English can inform the help desk staff when they call, and an interpreter will join them live on the call.

FCPS has also set up an online portal for older students and parents/guardians to request technology help directly. 

Parent info – Parent information lines are available in eight languages. 

FCPS also posted tips for online learning success and promoting digital citizenship. 

In-person learning metrics – Superintendent Scott Brabrand provided more information on the preliminary metrics to be used in deciding when to return to school under a cohort model, a hybrid approach, or full in-person learning. 

Virginia Department of Health metrics:

• The number of new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 population.
• The percentage of tests that are positive (PCR test percent positivity).
• Rate of Covid-19 outbreaks.
• Percent of Covid-19 cases among healthcare workers.
• Rate of emergency department visits for coronavirus-like illnesses.
• Rate of confirmed Covid-19 intensive care unit hospitalizations.
• Percent of hospital beds currently occupied.
• Number of hospitals reporting trouble acquiring personal protective equipment.

Operational metrics:

• Ability to staff the health room with a public health nurse or student health aide.
• Classroom teachers available for in-person learning.
• Available staff on call to monitor in-person learning (including substitutes).
• Administrative staff available for in-person learning.
• Transportation staff available.
• Food and nutrition managers available.
• Custodial staff available.

Finalized metrics will be shared with the school board in September.