ROCKVILLE, MD — Leaders in Maryland's largest school district have voted unanimously to begin reopening schools next month.
The plan, approved Tuesday by the Montgomery County school board, will bring back students in multiple phases.
About 730 students will return to physical classrooms on March 1 — about two weeks earlier than what the school system had announced back in January. The new target date satisfies Gov. Larry Hogan's recent demands to bring students back to schools, in some fashion, by early March.
"We recognize that the phase-in schedules, the rotations, and the experiences will not be perfect," MCPS Chief of Teaching, Learning, and Schools Janet Wilson said Tuesday. "However, it is important to recognize that there is great value in the experience of being in school, riding the bus, seeing friends, and having access to a staff member who is in person."
MARCH 1 RETURN
About 500 students with special needs, as well as about 230 students in career and technical programs, will be the first to return on March 1.
Students in special education programs — such as the K-12 Autism Program — will attend in-person classes four days a week and learn remotely on Wednesdays.
There are five career and technical programs included in the March 1 reopening plan. They are as follows:
High school juniors and seniors will be prioritized.
Those in programs at Thomas Edison High School of Technology will take in-person and virtual classes on alternating days. High school students who attend Paint Branch, Gaithersburg, Seneca Valley, or Damascus will have in-person instruction every weekday except Wednesdays.
PHASE I, GROUP 1.1 (RETURN BY MARCH 15)
Larger groups of students will remain in virtual learning until their phase begins on March 15. Families that selected "virtual-only" on the Family Preference Survey will remain virtual.
Virtual classes will be on Wednesdays for all students.
Some schools will have students on an alternating schedule — meaning they will attend in-person classes one week, and then take virtual classes the next.
PHASE I, GROUP 1.2 (RETURN BY APRIL 6)
By April 6, MCPS plans to bring back prekindergarteners, as well as fourth, fifth, sixth, and 12th graders. Special education students who weren't allowed to return in March are also included in Group 1.2.
Wednesdays will be reserved for virtual learning.
Depending on the school, some students will operate on a rotating schedule, while others will attend in-person classes four days a week.
MCPS will provide more information about school schedules this month.
PHASE II, GROUP 2.1 (RETURN BY APRIL 19)
Virtual learning will take place on Wednesdays.
Some students will have a rotating schedule, while others will attend in-person classes four days a week.
Montgomery County Public Schools
PHASE II, GROUP 2.2 (RETURN BY APRIL 26)
Seventh graders and 10th graders will return to school by April 26, according to MCPS' reopening plan.
Virtual classes will be on Wednesdays. Schedules will vary by school and grade level.
"When students return, it will look and feel much different from what they previously experienced in school buildings," MCPS officials said in a statement. "Face coverings, physical distancing. and frequent hand-washing will be required to reduce the spread of COVID-19."
School officials say students who opted for in-person learning will receive direct instruction. In addition, students will experience the following:
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