It’s back to school season again! But with the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing, parents have additional concerns beyond school supply lists this year.
Local health officials and educators have issued guidelines and best practices surrounding the return to the classroom, but with different directives for each district, it can be confusing to figure out what you need to do to help prepare your kids as they enter the new school year.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended universal masking in schools for all students ages two and up, including for vaccinated people in areas of high transmission.
Experts have indicated that high-filtration masks are the best kind for students as they return to school, but as N95, KN95, and KF94 have been in short supply for most of the last year, they say cloth masks are also acceptable.
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Here’s where the public school districts in the area stand on things like distance learning, mask policies, and more.
Maryland
Anne Arundel County
Distance learning: Students who are not able to return to in-person instruction have the option of enrolling in the county’s virtual academy, but spaces are limited.
Hybrid learning: There are currently no plans to engage in hybrid instruction.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools, regardless of vaccination status.
Baltimore County
Distance learning: Students have the option of enrolling in a full-time, five days a week of virtual learning program, but must commit for the full school year.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools.
Baltimore City
Distance learning: City schools has a virtual learning program available to students, who are expected to commit for the full school year.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools.
Charles County
Distance learning: Eligible students have the option of enrolling in a full-time virtual learning program, but must commit for the full school year.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools, regardless of vaccination status.
Frederick County
Distance learning: Students have the option of enrolling in a full-time virtual learning program.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools. Masks are not required outdoors but unvaccinated people are encouraged to wear them.
Howard County
Hybrid learning: Students K-6 have the option of enrolling in the Digital Education Center, which will give students the opportunity to take classes and earn credits virtually, while receiving support services from both the DEC and their designated home school.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools.
Montgomery County
Distance learning: MCPS is offering a Virtual Academy that will provide a full-time virtual learning program for students in kindergarten to Grade 12. Students are expected to commit for the full school year, but will be able to apply to transfer back to their assigned school during designated transfer windows.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools, regardless of vaccination status.
Prince George’s County
Distance learning: Students K-12 have the option of enrolling in a virtual learning program, however, the school district has indicated that the program will be discontinued for students K-6 once the COVID-19 vaccine is available for students in these grade levels.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools.
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Virginia
Alexandria
Distance learning: Students K-12 have the option of enrolling in a virtual learning program for the first semester. Any families that did not enroll prior to May 24 have been automatically enrolled for in-person learning.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools, regardless of vaccination status.
Arlington County
Distance learning: Eligible students have the option of enrolling in a full-time virtual learning program.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools, regardless of vaccination status. Masks do not need to be worn when outside or when eating lunch.
Fairfax County
Distance learning: A virtual program is available to students in the district who have a documented COVID-19 related health or medical need. Family health or medical conditions will not be considered for the program.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools, regardless of vaccination status. Masks are not required outdoors.
Loudoun County
Distance learning: The county offers virtual learning for students; however, the application has been closed since June 30 and the district has indicated that it does not have the capacity to add any more students to the program.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools, regardless of vaccination status. Masks are not required outdoors.
Manassas City
Distance learning: Families have the option to choose “Virtual Virginia” for remote instruction. Students in special programs (Special Education/ESOL) who choose virtual learning will be offered additional accommodations and learning options.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools. Masks are not required outdoors.
Manassas Park
Distance learning: Families have the option of enrolling in full-time distance learning for the fall semester.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools.
Prince William County
Distance learning: A virtual learning option for students K-8 will be available, with students remaining assigned to their base school. High school students have the option to choose “Virtual Virginia” for remote instruction.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools, regardless of vaccination status.
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Washington, D.C.
Distance learning: Only students with documented medical reasons will be allowed to attend school virtually. At the moment there is not a plan to expand distance learning options.
Mask policy: Masks are required inside all schools, regardless of vaccination status.
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