MCPS Planning For A Regular School Year

Wilson Faucette - Garrett Park Estates, MD - 5.6.2021 - 12:37

Silver Creek Middle School, An MCPS Middle School Photo: Wilson Faucette

A Regular School Year

MCPS recently released a community update announcing, among other things, that they are planning for a regular, 5-days a week, in-person school year for next year. They reason that how the county is doing in regards to COVID case counts and vaccinations is improving and will most likely be at ideal levels by September. They also cite the fact that the Maryland State Board of Education is in essence requiring all Maryland schools to have 180 in-person school days next year. However, not everyone is going to return to school in-person next year.

Virtual Academy

Some MCPS families will not feel safe returning to school in the fall next year. Others have thrived in the virtual environment. Either way, MCPS has an alternative option for these families if they don't want to attend in-person school next year. MCPS is finalizing the plans on the virtual academy, but here's what we know right now. The virtual academy will be centralized meaning that students will be with other students from all across the county. It will not be with the student's home school, however families will be collaborating with the home school. An interest survey was sent out, however that closed on May 1. MCPS says that there will be specific admission criteria, and they will be sharing more information soon.

Summer Programs

Summer programs will be offered again at no cost from the county this year. Registration began on May 3. The summer programs are intended to help combat the loss of learning from the pandemic. There will be all virtual and all in-person options. However, we believe that virtual options will be centralized while in-person options will be with local schools and clusters. Students may have the opportunity to earn credit in graduation required courses.

Will you be attending MCPS next year in one of these formats? Do you think this is the right way for MCPS to handle the loss of learning? Let us know in the comments below.