Due to worsening trends in health metrics, Frederick County Public Schools is delaying its plan to implement a hybrid learning model.
In its updated plan, teachers will return to buildings on Wednesday, January 27, with students returning as part of an in-person hybrid model on Tuesday, February 16, with Wednesday, February 3, and Wednesday February 10, serving as asynchronous learning days.
"I feel confident about our hybrid model and we are looking forward to welcoming students back into our school buildings," FCPS Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban said. "We just need the right health metrics in place to make this happen."
FCPS suspended small group instruction and winter athletic practices Sunday, January 3, after consultation with the Frederick County Health Department. Many COVID-19 metrics are at all-time highs in the county.
In the hybrid model, students who return to school will be in one of two cohorts. Schools will operate at approximately 30 percent normal capacity. An all-virtual model option will remain for families.
Next week, FCPS will release a dashboard that will communicate the number of total COVID-19 cases in the school system and break down the data by school. The data will provide important context for families during the transition to the hybrid model. FCPS will also continue to monitor health metrics daily and consult with the Frederick County Health Department. This feedback will guide future decisions.
If FCPS does not see positive trends in data by later this month, the implementation of the hybrid model will be delayed again with teachers returning Wednesday, February 10, and students returning Monday, March 1. In this scenario, Wednesday, February 17, and Wednesday, February 24, will be asynchronous learning days.
FCPS encourages everyone in the community to follow all Frederick County Health Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.