Any chance DCPS reopens in person for Term 2 or Term 3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public schools in New England have started reopening as normal — kids going to school in person, five days a week. These are states with similar coronavirus caseloads as DC.

I don’t understand these people who think schools can never reopen.

Which schools/districts in New England? Boston and Cambridge opened virtually with plans to move to hybrid later in the fall.

I don’t have a comprehensive list but I know schools are open in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. They’re open in person in more places than people probably realize. Schools in Long Island started in person this week. They’re open in some midwestern states and also obviously the south. Schools in Alabama have been open for almost a month.

I love that people in Alabama are like “kids need an education!”

And in DC, people are like, “why do kids need to go to school? School is not that important.”

+1

Are you that daft? Some of you people loooooove cherry picking. The largest school district in Alabama (Mobile) has 55k students, they are NOT back in person.

They are scheduled to be this Monday if parents choose to and ONLY self contained students. The rest is a ‘maybe’

Uh, well you can read about schools in Alabama being open here. Some have been at it for awhile.

https://www.al.com/news/2020/09/alabama-k-12-schools-one-month-in-heres-whats-happening.html?outputType=amp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And to add, K and 1st are really important for learning how to read. When kids fall behind in those grades it affects the rest of their school career without really aggressive interventions. That should be the priority to prevent a widening achievement gap.

I could not agree more!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The November 9th reopening date never made sense to me. It’s just not feasible to jump from virtual learning on 11/6 to in-person learning on 11/9. Teachers will need time to put their classrooms together, get the school ready, and of course adjust plans for in-person learning. I’m certain this will require additional planning days being added to the calendar which will just push us closer to the holidays!

I’m thinking January at the earliest.

DCPS is most definitely not opening in 2020. I am hoping in January they start limited opening at least at the elementary schools, this is the age that really needs in person teaching. no ECE, move those teachers into other grades so classes can be small.

100% agree. Get the kindergarteners and 1st graders into the classroom, and small groups for kids with high level IEPs. I want my 3rd grader to go back, but I can wait.

Where are all these teachers coming from?! The Metro area has an extremely small substitute teaching pool. You live in a fantasy world.

um, the existing staff and aides?

So kids are all going back 5 days a week, 25 per class?

The point is, if we wanted to prioritize the most important groups for in-person school, we could figure it out. Most DCPS K classes (all?) don't have 25 kids anyway. They have more like 20 plus an aide. So I'm pretty sure it could be worked out if there was the will to do it.

+1

Bring back K and 1st grade. Bring back those teachers of K, 1st and their aides as well as ECE teachers to make smaller classes for K and 1st. We know ECE doesn’t work online anyway, and it isn’t a compulsory grade. Add in reading specialists, math coach, instructional coaches and anyone else who could teach those grades to make small classes.

If anyone goes back it will always be self contained first, then ELL, ECE, THEN K-2. I’m sorry but ECE is important and they don’t have time to be teaching K-2 kids.

This is why the US is rapidly falling behind other countries that on average have 97% participation across ECE.

No way. If they prioritize PK3 and 4, it should only be for childcare. K and 1st are muuuuch more important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public schools in New England have started reopening as normal — kids going to school in person, five days a week. These are states with similar coronavirus caseloads as DC.

I don’t understand these people who think schools can never reopen.

Which schools/districts in New England? Boston and Cambridge opened virtually with plans to move to hybrid later in the fall.

I don’t have a comprehensive list but I know schools are open in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. They’re open in person in more places than people probably realize. Schools in Long Island started in person this week. They’re open in some midwestern states and also obviously the south. Schools in Alabama have been open for almost a month.

I love that people in Alabama are like “kids need an education!”

And in DC, people are like, “why do kids need to go to school? School is not that important.”

+1

Are you that daft? Some of you people loooooove cherry picking. The largest school district in Alabama (Mobile) has 55k students, they are NOT back in person.

They are scheduled to be this Monday if parents choose to and ONLY self contained students. The rest is a ‘maybe’

Uh, well you can read about schools in Alabama being open here. Some have been at it for awhile.

https://www.al.com/news/2020/09/alabama-k-12-schools-one-month-in-heres-whats-happening.html?outputType=amp

Nah.

https://www.mcpss.com/sys/content/newspost/125b7bd7145a495687d07b7a3c7f261d

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The November 9th reopening date never made sense to me. It’s just not feasible to jump from virtual learning on 11/6 to in-person learning on 11/9. Teachers will need time to put their classrooms together, get the school ready, and of course adjust plans for in-person learning. I’m certain this will require additional planning days being added to the calendar which will just push us closer to the holidays!

I’m thinking January at the earliest.

DCPS is most definitely not opening in 2020. I am hoping in January they start limited opening at least at the elementary schools, this is the age that really needs in person teaching. no ECE, move those teachers into other grades so classes can be small.

100% agree. Get the kindergarteners and 1st graders into the classroom, and small groups for kids with high level IEPs. I want my 3rd grader to go back, but I can wait.

Where are all these teachers coming from?! The Metro area has an extremely small substitute teaching pool. You live in a fantasy world.

um, the existing staff and aides?

So kids are all going back 5 days a week, 25 per class?

The point is, if we wanted to prioritize the most important groups for in-person school, we could figure it out. Most DCPS K classes (all?) don't have 25 kids anyway. They have more like 20 plus an aide. So I'm pretty sure it could be worked out if there was the will to do it.

+1

Bring back K and 1st grade. Bring back those teachers of K, 1st and their aides as well as ECE teachers to make smaller classes for K and 1st. We know ECE doesn’t work online anyway, and it isn’t a compulsory grade. Add in reading specialists, math coach, instructional coaches and anyone else who could teach those grades to make small classes.

If anyone goes back it will always be self contained first, then ELL, ECE, THEN K-2. I’m sorry but ECE is important and they don’t have time to be teaching K-2 kids.

This is why the US is rapidly falling behind other countries that on average have 97% participation across ECE.

No way. If they prioritize PK3 and 4, it should only be for childcare. K and 1st are muuuuch more important.

No, it’s not this is the exact mindset that keeps us behind. But this is probably why most parents aren’t experts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And to add, K and 1st are really important for learning how to read. When kids fall behind in those grades it affects the rest of their school career without really aggressive interventions. That should be the priority to prevent a widening achievement gap.

Children of essential workers and students in specialized programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The November 9th reopening date never made sense to me. It’s just not feasible to jump from virtual learning on 11/6 to in-person learning on 11/9. Teachers will need time to put their classrooms together, get the school ready, and of course adjust plans for in-person learning. I’m certain this will require additional planning days being added to the calendar which will just push us closer to the holidays!

I’m thinking January at the earliest.

DCPS is most definitely not opening in 2020. I am hoping in January they start limited opening at least at the elementary schools, this is the age that really needs in person teaching. no ECE, move those teachers into other grades so classes can be small.

100% agree. Get the kindergarteners and 1st graders into the classroom, and small groups for kids with high level IEPs. I want my 3rd grader to go back, but I can wait.

Where are all these teachers coming from?! The Metro area has an extremely small substitute teaching pool. You live in a fantasy world.

um, the existing staff and aides?

So kids are all going back 5 days a week, 25 per class?

The point is, if we wanted to prioritize the most important groups for in-person school, we could figure it out. Most DCPS K classes (all?) don't have 25 kids anyway. They have more like 20 plus an aide. So I'm pretty sure it could be worked out if there was the will to do it.

+1

Bring back K and 1st grade. Bring back those teachers of K, 1st and their aides as well as ECE teachers to make smaller classes for K and 1st. We know ECE doesn’t work online anyway, and it isn’t a compulsory grade. Add in reading specialists, math coach, instructional coaches and anyone else who could teach those grades to make small classes.

If anyone goes back it will always be self contained first, then ELL, ECE, THEN K-2. I’m sorry but ECE is important and they don’t have time to be teaching K-2 kids.

This is why the US is rapidly falling behind other countries that on average have 97% participation across ECE.

No way. If they prioritize PK3 and 4, it should only be for childcare. K and 1st are muuuuch more important.

No, it’s not this is the exact mindset that keeps us behind. But this is probably why most parents aren’t experts

Can you share some studies that show this? Because I agree with PP, K and 1st are really critical grades and should be prioritized over ECE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The November 9th reopening date never made sense to me. It’s just not feasible to jump from virtual learning on 11/6 to in-person learning on 11/9. Teachers will need time to put their classrooms together, get the school ready, and of course adjust plans for in-person learning. I’m certain this will require additional planning days being added to the calendar which will just push us closer to the holidays!

I’m thinking January at the earliest.

DCPS is most definitely not opening in 2020. I am hoping in January they start limited opening at least at the elementary schools, this is the age that really needs in person teaching. no ECE, move those teachers into other grades so classes can be small.

100% agree. Get the kindergarteners and 1st graders into the classroom, and small groups for kids with high level IEPs. I want my 3rd grader to go back, but I can wait.

Where are all these teachers coming from?! The Metro area has an extremely small substitute teaching pool. You live in a fantasy world.

um, the existing staff and aides?

So kids are all going back 5 days a week, 25 per class?

The point is, if we wanted to prioritize the most important groups for in-person school, we could figure it out. Most DCPS K classes (all?) don't have 25 kids anyway. They have more like 20 plus an aide. So I'm pretty sure it could be worked out if there was the will to do it.

+1

Bring back K and 1st grade. Bring back those teachers of K, 1st and their aides as well as ECE teachers to make smaller classes for K and 1st. We know ECE doesn’t work online anyway, and it isn’t a compulsory grade. Add in reading specialists, math coach, instructional coaches and anyone else who could teach those grades to make small classes.

If anyone goes back it will always be self contained first, then ELL, ECE, THEN K-2. I’m sorry but ECE is important and they don’t have time to be teaching K-2 kids.

This is why the US is rapidly falling behind other countries that on average have 97% participation across ECE.

No way. If they prioritize PK3 and 4, it should only be for childcare. K and 1st are muuuuch more important.

No, it’s not this is the exact mindset that keeps us behind. But this is probably why most parents aren’t experts

Can you share some studies that show this? Because I agree with PP, K and 1st are really critical grades and should be prioritized over ECE.

I think the person claiming this only has a 3 year old. There’s no other explanation.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely believe school will be in person for the second half of the year. The current situation is not sustainable

[Anonymous]

Why isn't is sustainable? Logically, it hasn't been sustainable since March, yet nobody the power to change this calculus seems to mind. If my family is struggling with DL for an 8 year old--we are a lawyer and a PhD with mom working part-time--you can bet the poor and SpEd kids are screwed.

Where is the call to action for outside classes? I have a sibling living in Scandinavia, where K-12 classes have commonly held outside since April, in a much colder climate. She sends me pictures of her children happily learning seated in public parks. I've worked in refugee camps where big tent schools worked surprisingly well.

Pretty clearly, the Mayor and DC ed leaders don't mind schools being closed for the rest of the year, possibly 2 or 3 years.

[Anonymous]

I’ll guess they reopen January 15th or so.

Logic isn’t that complicated:

- Nov 9 is random; thanksgiving around corner
- Doesn’t make sense to open right before half the school travels for thanksgiving
- Doesnt make sense to open for the 2 weeks after that either since that’s peak risk
- At that point you are a week from Christmas break
- So theyll let Christmas break happen
- You want to avoid first two weeks back from break

And so, mid Jan. Staggered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't is sustainable? Logically, it hasn't been sustainable since March, yet nobody the power to change this calculus seems to mind. If my family is struggling with DL for an 8 year old--we are a lawyer and a PhD with mom working part-time--you can bet the poor and SpEd kids are screwed.

Where is the call to action for outside classes? I have a sibling living in Scandinavia, where K-12 classes have commonly held outside since April, in a much colder climate. She sends me pictures of her children happily learning seated in public parks. I've worked in refugee camps where big tent schools worked surprisingly well.

Pretty clearly, the Mayor and DC ed leaders don't mind schools being closed for the rest of the year, possibly 2 or 3 years.

Unfortunately, I agree with everything in your post. Our SPED 1st grader has been backsliding during the pandemic. Remote IEP services aren't nearly as effective and she hates online learning. We have 3 kids and this is such a struggle. DC hasn't seemed to make any effort to work on schools for better ventilation, procure PPE and other equipment to ensure safety in person, explore outdoor options, etc. Bowser's only focus seems to be waiting for this virus to go away, and our elected officials aren't pushing back. She's had 6 months to come up with a real plan to get kids back in school but she hasn't taken ANY concrete steps. This inaction is inexcusable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll guess they reopen January 15th or so.

Logic isn’t that complicated:

- Nov 9 is random; thanksgiving around corner
- Doesn’t make sense to open right before half the school travels for thanksgiving
- Doesnt make sense to open for the 2 weeks after that either since that’s peak risk
- At that point you are a week from Christmas break
- So theyll let Christmas break happen
- You want to avoid first two weeks back from break

And so, mid Jan. Staggered.

This. Maybe after Inauguration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll guess they reopen January 15th or so.

Logic isn’t that complicated:

- Nov 9 is random; thanksgiving around corner
- Doesn’t make sense to open right before half the school travels for thanksgiving
- Doesnt make sense to open for the 2 weeks after that either since that’s peak risk
- At that point you are a week from Christmas break
- So theyll let Christmas break happen
- You want to avoid first two weeks back from break

And so, mid Jan. Staggered.

This. Maybe after Inauguration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The November 9th reopening date never made sense to me. It’s just not feasible to jump from virtual learning on 11/6 to in-person learning on 11/9. Teachers will need time to put their classrooms together, get the school ready, and of course adjust plans for in-person learning. I’m certain this will require additional planning days being added to the calendar which will just push us closer to the holidays!

I’m thinking January at the earliest.

DCPS is most definitely not opening in 2020. I am hoping in January they start limited opening at least at the elementary schools, this is the age that really needs in person teaching. no ECE, move those teachers into other grades so classes can be small.

100% agree. Get the kindergarteners and 1st graders into the classroom, and small groups for kids with high level IEPs. I want my 3rd grader to go back, but I can wait.

Where are all these teachers coming from?! The Metro area has an extremely small substitute teaching pool. You live in a fantasy world.

um, the existing staff and aides?

So kids are all going back 5 days a week, 25 per class?

The point is, if we wanted to prioritize the most important groups for in-person school, we could figure it out. Most DCPS K classes (all?) don't have 25 kids anyway. They have more like 20 plus an aide. So I'm pretty sure it could be worked out if there was the will to do it.

+1

Bring back K and 1st grade. Bring back those teachers of K, 1st and their aides as well as ECE teachers to make smaller classes for K and 1st. We know ECE doesn’t work online anyway, and it isn’t a compulsory grade. Add in reading specialists, math coach, instructional coaches and anyone else who could teach those grades to make small classes.

If anyone goes back it will always be self contained first, then ELL, ECE, THEN K-2. I’m sorry but ECE is important and they don’t have time to be teaching K-2 kids.

This is why the US is rapidly falling behind other countries that on average have 97% participation across ECE.

No way. If they prioritize PK3 and 4, it should only be for childcare. K and 1st are muuuuch more important.

No, it’s not this is the exact mindset that keeps us behind. But this is probably why most parents aren’t experts

Can you share some studies that show this? Because I agree with PP, K and 1st are really critical grades and should be prioritized over ECE.

I think the person claiming this only has a 3 year old. There’s no other explanation.

Er, the other explanation is that she is right — at least partly.

If you are affluent, ECE is not critical.

If you are lower-income, ECE is critical.

Google it yourself and be better informed.