Add this to the list of things keeping parents awake at night this spring: Will schools open on time in August?
Education officials across the United States are making plans for summer school this summer and for the start of the next school year.
Those plans seem to vary widely from opening schools fully and on-time, to delaying the start of the school year, continuing with virtual learning or some combination of virtual and in-person learning that allows for physical distancing measures.
Without clarity around COVID-19 testing, coronavirus transmission and whether there will be a “second wave” of infections in the fall here in Virginia, it’s difficult for any school district to say what will happen.
Local parents are already sharing their worries on Facebook and other online forums about how — or whether — they can keep juggling monitoring their children’s school work while trying to work from home themselves.
Other parents are unsure that their workplaces will let them continue to work from home — and if children are staying home due to school closures this fall, what then?
Parents who do not work outside the home say their new role in helping students manage and navigate school work is taking a lot of time.
FCPS Plans for Summer and Fall
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) officials are working on plans now for summer school and for returning to school in the fall.
The School Board plans to have some information out to parents by the middle of May, recognizing that the format of summer school and the start of school this fall will depend in part on what Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam authorizes and recommends for everyone's health and safety.
Officially, there are no plans to change the FCPS 2020-2021 academic year calendar. Schools are scheduled to open on Aug. 25.
However, given the uncertainty around the trajectory of COVID-19 infections, FCPS leaders are considering all possibilities and angles. This includes surveying teachers and staff about their needs and assessing the options and needs for students with Individualized Education Plans and other special education programs. In addition, FCPS is taking seriously the health and safety of all students, teachers and all staff, technology distribution, educational equity and a variety of other issues, said Fairfax Education Association President Kimberly Adams.
The Fairfax County Council of PTAs has released a survey for parents asking them for their thoughts and concerns about Fairfax County Public Schools this fall. FCPS officials will consider these responses as they develop plans for the months ahead.
The FCCPTA survey for parents and caretakers is available here.
The survey will be available until 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 29.
The survey asks parents and caregivers to agree/disagree with statements such as, “If the COVID-19 pandemic continues into Fall 2020, students should not return to school for in-person instruction unless it is deemed safe by Virginia and Fairfax County public health officials” and “If the COVID-19 pandemic continues into Fall 2020, FCPS should be prepared to offer distance learning to all students (or particular groups of students, such as immuno-compromised students) as necessary.”
It also asks for parents to provide comments on what will help them feel that their children are safe at school, possible alternatives to in-person summer school and more.
Fairfax County has, somewhat infamously, struggled with distance learning this spring. Technology problems from capacity and connectivity, to virtual classes being disrupted by uninvited participants, marred the launch of school after spring break. Many of the issues have been solved, but a number of parents still report difficulty with technology, teacher communication issues and more.
