Table of Contents
Henrico County Public Schools Superintendent Amy Cashwell is recommending a fully virtual beginning to the school year, school system officials announced.
Cashwell is proposing that nearly all students learn virtually for at least the first nine weeks. The School Board will vote Thursday on a plan for returning to school. (She is proposing limited in-person learning for students who receive special education services, English learners, early learners and other small groups, according to the school system's website.)
“The recommendation to start the 2020-21 school year using an all-virtual format was made with the health and safety of our students, families, staff and community in mind,” according to a message posted on the school system’s website at noon Monday. “While a change of this significance can seem daunting, HCPS staff members are working hard to make the format a true school experience. The virtual format will differ from the ‘emergency learning model’ that was adopted after the March closure. The 2020-21 virtual format will be rich, structured, robust and graded.
"It will be ‘school,’ not a collection of activities."
Cashwell wrote that while the school system was proud of its Edflix virtual learning platform, which it made available to students in the spring and which continues this summer, it was intended only as a temporary tool.
“For months, we have known that a virtual option would be included for the 2020-21 school year and our staff members have been working long hours to create a redesigned, developmentally appropriate experience that is rich, structured, robust and graded.”
In an email sent first to teachers and staff members, then to families, Cashwell wrote: "As heartbreaking as it would be to not see all our students in person on September 8, it is clear to me that this is the most prudent recommendation at this time, based on evolving health information. Since mid-June, average reported cases of COVID-19 in Virginia have been on the rise, and other Southeastern states have been seeing significant spikes. At present, I believe the virtual start. . . is the most feasible way to protect the health and safety of all our staff members and students.
"As we move forward, we'll strive to gradually increase opportunities — as health and safety conditions allow — for limited in-person learning, by focusing on groups of students for whom distance learning presents more challenges. For example, at the start of the school year, we'll be looking at many of the recommendations in Virginia's Phase 2 which call for virtual instruction for most students, with limited in-person learning for students who receive special education services, English learners, early learners and other small groups."
As a result of this recommendation, school system officials no longer will require families or staff members to decide by Aug. 2 how they will proceed once school starts Sept. 8, since the fully virtual option will apply to everyone.
The system also intends to provide laptop computers, Chromebooks and Wi-Fi access to all students as needed, according to its website, as well as tabled for pre-K and kindergarten students.
Grab-and-go meals will continue to be provided during the first nine weeks of school, should the School Board adopt Cashwell's recommendation (which seems almost a certainty), but some locations may change, according to officials.
