Wednesday, July 29, 2020
At today’s Board of Education meeting, the Board decided that student instruction for the first semester of the 2020-21 school year, which begins Monday, August 31, will occur in a full virtual format for students enrolled in Frederick County Public Schools as our county and state continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, all athletics and extracurricular activities are suspended.
During last spring’s school building closure, FCPS gathered student, parent and educator feedback and has worked to improve the virtual learning experience through the following enhancements:
-Increased live virtual interactions between students and educators
-A single digital platform for students and parents to access instruction, communication, and feedback
-Robust professional learning opportunities for educators to increase their skill set for teaching in a virtual environment, which includes on-demand professional learning videos and courses for educators
-Student training videos that will enhance their abilities to access and learn in a virtual environment
-Strategies to focus on individual student needs
-Continued efforts to ensure every child can connect digitally
In the FCPS Full Virtual Learning Model, students access learning online instead of face to face in a school building. They will engage in a combination of real-time virtual instruction, instruction on an individual schedule, and completion of assigned tasks. In addition to teachers and school counselors, online learning mentors will also support students, offering designated office hours.
The full virtual model differs from the Continuity of Learning format in effect last spring when grades were either Pass (P) or Incomplete (iCOL). In the 2020-21 school year, FCPS expects more rigorous coursework with the full grading system in effect.
FCPS is strongly positioned to teach students in a virtual environment and looks forward to further preparations for a safe and productive 2020-21 school year. We will continue to provide more details in the coming weeks.