{"id":9175,"date":"2020-06-24T04:00:51","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T08:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/?p=9175"},"modified":"2020-06-23T17:41:56","modified_gmt":"2020-06-23T21:41:56","slug":"summer-learning-and-planning-for-the-reopening-of-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/summer-learning-and-planning-for-the-reopening-of-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Learning and Planning for the Reopening of Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 67 \u2014 Summer Learning<\/b><\/p>\n

This week is the start of the traditional summer break. It is usually a time when students, staff and parents all kick into summer mode, take things a little slower and maybe take a vacation or a few days away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For us at ACPS, the first week of the summer break is a little different this year. We are using it to reimagine our preparations and planning for potential ways to reopen our schools in the fall. Our efforts are focused on two key areas: mitigating the learning loss so our students are not overwhelmed by their classes in the fall, and preparing for the reopening of schools \u2014 a mammoth task and one that requires us all to live with uncertainty until at least early August, when we should have a clearer picture about the model or models we will need to adopt to ensure all of our students are engaged in the social, emotional and academic learning supports they need to succeed. The start of school is almost certainly going to look different this school year and we need to be prepared for those changes ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s edition is focused on these two critical aspects of our summer work. ACPS Express will continue throughout the summer, but from now on we will have just one edition per week. Each Wednesday morning we will share news, announcements and decisions from the Board meetings; information about summer learning; and information about the reopening planning process. Please keep an eye out for ACPS Express in your inbox as this is where we will be sharing every aspect of our reopening planning process so that we can collect your feedback and ensure the plans we are putting in place work for all of our students, families, staff and community partners.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the meantime, take a little break before summer learning starts on July 6. Stay safe, stay healthy \u2014 and we will definitely keep you informed throughout the summer!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Superintendent of Schools<\/span><\/p>\n

Mark Your Calendar for the Start of Summer Learning<\/b><\/h2>\n

During this unprecedented time, ACPS is offering every student the opportunity to expand or refine their learning by providing summer learning through engagement and enrichment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Learning loss due to COVID-19 is real. NWEA, a nonprofit organization that develops and offers student assessments, estimates that students may return to school in the fall (in-person, or virtually) with roughly 70% of the learning gains in reading relative to a typical school year. In mathematics, students are likely to show much smaller learning gains, returning with less than 50% of the learning gains and in some grades, nearly a full year behind what we would observe in normal conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

To tackle this learning loss, ACPS is offering summer opportunities that will include virtual asynchronous and synchronous learning, learning kits, and enrichment in the arts. The educational programming will include the necessary support for students with disabilities, English learners, and talented and gifted students.<\/span><\/p>\n

Summer Learning will be offered Monday through Thursday from July 6, 2020 through July 31, 2020.<\/b> We are encouraging all students to participate in Summer Learning. The majority of summer learning programs are free and open to all. Find more information on the <\/span>ACPS-At-Home website<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

See our <\/span>\u201cSummer Learning for All, Explained!\u201d video<\/span><\/a> for more information:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Planning for the Reopening of Schools<\/b><\/h2>\n

A couple of weeks ago, the Virginia Department of Education released guidelines on the reopening of schools. Teams across ACPS have been analyzing this guidance and assessing what it could mean for ACPS in the fall.<\/span><\/p>\n

Northern Virginia has been opening at a different pace than other parts of the state and we will almost certainly need to have contingency plans in place in case our buildings have to remain closed past September. We are looking at three possible models: a traditional opening which most likely will not be an option; continuing with a fully virtual model of learning with refinements based on feedback from students, staff and families; and multiple scenarios for a hybrid of the two to meet social gathering and social distancing guidelines.<\/span><\/p>\n

Given the guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, it is already highly unlikely that we will be able to fully open our schools in the usual way in the fall. This is going to require flexibility from all of us. There are so many unknowns out there that we need to work through before we can decide on the best options for our students, families, staff and community partners in the fall. Please offer us some grace during this unprecedented time. We will share any new information as we get it.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can find all the details about our reopening schools planning process on the <\/span>ACPS-at-Home website<\/span><\/a> under the Update Center tab.<\/span><\/p>\n

The process to define plans for the reopening of our schools is multi-step. It involves:<\/span><\/p>\n