ALEXANDRIA, VA-Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) announced earlier today that students will return to classrooms in March. The move is part of a hybrid-learning program, where students will enter buildings twice a week.
In the latest issue of the ACPS Express newsletter, Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings Jr., ACPS Superintendent of Schools, wrote, “This is news I am excited to share since school buildings closed on March 13, 2020, almost one year ago. It is no overstatement to say that the last year has been a challenging period in education globally and a source of great concern for us all. Also, this past year has brought opportunities for us to rethink public education and learning environments for the next generation. Now, we have light shining brightly at the end of the tunnel.”
The return will happen in stages over two weeks in March. The re-entry timeline is available HERE. Note that dates are tentative. The document reads: “All dates and groups below are contingent upon staffing, building capacity, community health metrics, and decision matrix indicators.”
Tuesday, March 2 will see the re-entry of students in grades K-5 receiving special education services in citywide self-contained full-day class programs, students in K-5 receiving special education reading and math services in a self-contained setting, Early Childhood Special Education students, and students in grades K-5 receiving English Learner services.
Tuesday, March 9 will see the re-entry of students in grades 6-12 receiving special education citywide and self-contained reading and math services, and Newcomer English Learner students in grades 6-12
Tuesday, March 16 will see the re-entry of all remaining hybrid students in grades PreK-12.
ACPS Staff Readiness
ACPS contacted staff earlier this week for confirmation of their ability to return. Yesterday, the Alexandria Health Department held a special vaccine clinic for ACPS staff. Additional training and support will begin on Monday Feb. 8.
