Gov. Ralph Northam on Tuesday afternoon announced that schools will reopen for in-person instruction this fall, but school will look a bit different.
“I know that parents are very interested in our plans for how to safely return children to our classrooms,” Northam said.
Like with the governor’s Forward Virginia plan to reopen businesses, there is a phased plan for reopening schools. The phases are aligned with Forward Virginia’s phases.
Right now while Northern Virginia is in the first phase, schools and daycares are allowed to host small groups for in-person education with physical distancing for special education and young children of essential workers.
As the Northern Virginia region moves into the second phase (which will happen this Friday, June 12, read that story here), there will be increased in-person learning allowed for pre-K through 3rd grade students, many of whom have struggled with remote learning.
Summer camps may be allowed in school buildings with proper physical distancing, cleaning and disinfecting and other measures. Large group gatherings are limited to 50 people, still.
In the third phase, there will be in-person instruction available for all students, but physical distancing measures will be in place. This may mean different schedules and set ups to ensure there is 6 feet of space between all desks and workstations.
Schools may have to stagger the use of communal spaces or close those areas, such as cafeterias. Buses will need to ensure students can stay 6 feet apart in transit.
In addition, with many of our local schools built decades ago and at capacity on a "normal" day, it may be very difficult for all students to return to school at the same time while maintaining physical distance. Remote learning and telework options will remain in place for students and staff who are at a heightened risk for complications from COVID-19.
Virginia Education Association President Jim Livingston wrote in an open letter, "The measures outlined by Governor Northam today will require millions of new dollars for Virginia public schools — dollars that many localities will struggle to, or will not be able to, provide. The VEA is calling for increased federal investment in schools, including the passage of the HEROES Act, which would supply hundreds of billions of much-needed dollars for public schools and state budgets.
Specific information about Alexandria City Public Schools and Fairfax County Public Schools will be available in the coming weeks as the school systems finalize their fall plans. The Virginia Dept. of Education is sending local school officials a 126-page document with guidance on how to reopen schools safely.
Local school systems will have some discretion in doing what needs to be done to keep students safe, including putting in place restrictions that may be more stringent than what state guidance allows.
Face coverings will be strongly encouraged for students but not necessarily required, depending on developmental appropriateness.
Many sports will be able to resume with some changes, as well, depending on whether the sport has only incidental contact or has sustained contact.
For example, karate classes can restart, but sparring will be limited. Baseball can restart with limits on shared equipment. Ice skating can resume practice, but not ice dancing because of the sustained physical contact required. Indoor fields and outdoor fields will have different levels of reduced capacity.
More information about the specifics of what is and is not allowed in schools and sports will be available later today from the Virginia Dept. of Education.
