DCPS Double Down on Travel Policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You had the whole summer to travel. 9 weeks of complete freedom from DCPS. Why is everyone so angry? There is barely any time to travel besides Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break.

Hmm... Thanksgiving and Christmas you say. Why would anybody think of travelling at thise times? It's not like there's any longstanding family traditions involved.
Hope Grandma lasts another year.

If teachers, staff, and high school students can visit their families then elementary school kids should be able to too. If adults can travel then it doesn't do anything.

This is what's so frustrating. It's for NOTHING. I'm not going to have my kids miss probably their last holiday season with FIL who has advanced cancer, just because he lives a dozen or so miles over magical the MD/PA line. Should we all get rooms in the Holiday Inn down the block in Maryland with a couple hundred other strangers rather stay in their home in PA with only them? Cause that would meet the rule.

It's not just inconveniencing people out of leisure activity. This stupid theater is costing lost years with family that they and these kids can never get back.

[Anonymous]

I agree. My small children don't have years left to see my grandparents, who are too old to travel to DC, and we don't have the luxury of taking quarantine periods off from work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Travel quarantine wasn't listed under the health and safety measures for fall on the chancellor's email, or even mentioned. Seems like a major oversight if it is still happening. That was the time to remind everyone and it was silent. Seems like the only people talking about this are here citing last year's guidance.

Here you all go, updated 7/2/2021:

39. If an individual travels to any place other than Maryland or Virginia and receives a
negative COVID-19 test upon their return to the District, can they return to school?
[UPDATED]
Per DC Health’s Guidance for Travel, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals who have traveled
domestically to any place other than Maryland or Virginia must either (1) not attend school for 10 days
after returning, or (2) not attend school until tested for COVID-19 three to five days after returning AND
receive a negative COVID-19 viral test.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals who have traveled internationally must either (1) not
attend school for 10 days after returning, or (2) not attend school for seven days after returning, get
tested for COVID-19 three to five days after returning, AND receive a negative COVID-19 viral test. Even
if the test is negative, the individual must still not attend school for seven days.

Provided that they do not currently have any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, an individual who
has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days or is fully vaccinated may be admitted
immediately after domestic or international travel. A person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after
completion of a COVID-19 vaccination series (after the second dose of a two-dose series, or after one
dose of a single-dose vaccine). They should get a COVID-19 test three to five days after international
travel. Any individual with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must not enter the school building.
For more detailed guidance related to returning from domestic and international travel, see DC Health’s
Guidance for Travel. Private institutions, including charter, private, parochial and independent schools,
may implement more stringent restrictions after travel. Schools may choose to incorporate questions
about recent travel into their daily health screenings.

It's not being publicized by DCPS or the chancellor, so it is clearly not a priority buried in some random faq from last month.

100% this. I get how, as a matter of principle, it is annoying that DCPS is not consistent with its messaging. And these inconsistencies do not inspire confidence in DCPS. But there is zero chance that this rule will be enforced, based on anything we have received from DCPS this month. So travel, be safe about it, don't lie to your kids, and relax. And please let this thread die. There are about a million other things more worthy of debate at the moment.

[Anonymous]

My charter school specifically sent this out to us and told us they expected us to follow it. And I'm not even mad at them for it, if it's DCPS guidance then I understand them thinking they need to pay attention to it. I like my school and I don't want to put them in a tough position here, so unless this guidance changes soon it is going to affect my plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My charter school specifically sent this out to us and told us they expected us to follow it. And I'm not even mad at them for it, if it's DCPS guidance then I understand them thinking they need to pay attention to it. I like my school and I don't want to put them in a tough position here, so unless this guidance changes soon it is going to affect my plans.

Same. I'd love to ignore it, but they are VERY clear that they expect adherence. They've even sent email that basically said, don't lie - you know your kids talk about stuff at school so we'll find out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Travel quarantine wasn't listed under the health and safety measures for fall on the chancellor's email, or even mentioned. Seems like a major oversight if it is still happening. That was the time to remind everyone and it was silent. Seems like the only people talking about this are here citing last year's guidance.

Here you all go, updated 7/2/2021:

39. If an individual travels to any place other than Maryland or Virginia and receives a
negative COVID-19 test upon their return to the District, can they return to school?
[UPDATED]
Per DC Health’s Guidance for Travel, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals who have traveled
domestically to any place other than Maryland or Virginia must either (1) not attend school for 10 days
after returning, or (2) not attend school until tested for COVID-19 three to five days after returning AND
receive a negative COVID-19 viral test.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals who have traveled internationally must either (1) not
attend school for 10 days after returning, or (2) not attend school for seven days after returning, get
tested for COVID-19 three to five days after returning, AND receive a negative COVID-19 viral test. Even
if the test is negative, the individual must still not attend school for seven days.

Provided that they do not currently have any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, an individual who
has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days or is fully vaccinated may be admitted
immediately after domestic or international travel. A person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after
completion of a COVID-19 vaccination series (after the second dose of a two-dose series, or after one
dose of a single-dose vaccine). They should get a COVID-19 test three to five days after international
travel. Any individual with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must not enter the school building.
For more detailed guidance related to returning from domestic and international travel, see DC Health’s
Guidance for Travel. Private institutions, including charter, private, parochial and independent schools,
may implement more stringent restrictions after travel. Schools may choose to incorporate questions
about recent travel into their daily health screenings.

after reading some of this thread, I went back in emails from DCPS and my school and see no mention of this policy. While I don't doubt that info....where did you get it? How are we supposed to know this if, for example, the Chancellor's email didn't even mention it? I have plans to be in PA in a cabin with my family the week before school. ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You had the whole summer to travel. 9 weeks of complete freedom from DCPS. Why is everyone so angry? There is barely any time to travel besides Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break.

In addition, there are 3-day weekends virtually every month plus a week off in February and, honestly, a trip to a neighboring state (non MD/VA) in a car can EASILY be done in 48 hours.

BIL is getting married in October in Delaware. He already postponed from last year. My kid has to miss 7-10 days of school if we follow the rules? Maybe I can tell BIL to move his wedding over the line in to Maryland, then we'll all be safe! Asinine.

[Anonymous]

The policy is asinine, just ignoring it is unreasonable, most people are not comfortable with that. But if this is really a thing it should be dcps-wide policy in the chancellor's email, publicized by DCPS city-wide. Not left up to individual schools to either mention or not. That is ridiculous. That some people are saying that their school is enforcing it strictly and others have never heard of it in the same school district is so outrageous. Especially when the policy is so stupid and ineffectual..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The policy is asinine, just ignoring it is unreasonable, most people are not comfortable with that. But if this is really a thing it should be dcps-wide policy in the chancellor's email, publicized by DCPS city-wide. Not left up to individual schools to either mention or not. That is ridiculous. That some people are saying that their school is enforcing it strictly and others have never heard of it in the same school district is so outrageous. Especially when the policy is so stupid and ineffectual..

Our achool not only sent out a reminder that it will be strictly enforced they actually doubled down and explicitly said that there will be zero instruction for kids in quarantine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The policy is asinine, just ignoring it is unreasonable, most people are not comfortable with that. But if this is really a thing it should be dcps-wide policy in the chancellor's email, publicized by DCPS city-wide. Not left up to individual schools to either mention or not. That is ridiculous. That some people are saying that their school is enforcing it strictly and others have never heard of it in the same school district is so outrageous. Especially when the policy is so stupid and ineffectual..

Our achool not only sent out a reminder that it will be strictly enforced they actually doubled down and explicitly said that there will be zero instruction for kids in quarantine.

NP but I would contact the superintendent about the policy of no teaching in quarantine. That seems to be denying education to kids and that is not allowed even when a kid is suspended (which is technically what this policy is).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The policy is asinine, just ignoring it is unreasonable, most people are not comfortable with that. But if this is really a thing it should be dcps-wide policy in the chancellor's email, publicized by DCPS city-wide. Not left up to individual schools to either mention or not. That is ridiculous. That some people are saying that their school is enforcing it strictly and others have never heard of it in the same school district is so outrageous. Especially when the policy is so stupid and ineffectual..

Our achool not only sent out a reminder that it will be strictly enforced they actually doubled down and explicitly said that there will be zero instruction for kids in quarantine.

NP but I would contact the superintendent about the policy of no teaching in quarantine. That seems to be denying education to kids and that is not allowed even when a kid is suspended (which is technically what this policy is).

I was thinking more of waiting for the inevitable uprising and making sure I have an extra glass of wine and some popcorn ready for the back to school meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so frustrating. Guess our trip to NC is going to have to be to "Ocean City, MD" as far as our kid knows...

OMG what hardship for you! My heart bleeds for you. How sad.

Did you...not understand the post? We're still going to NC. We'll just tell our kindergartener that it's OC MD so he doesn't narc us out when he gets to school...

Just came back ill from OBX - not a mask in sight and the place is swimming in COVID. Waiting for test results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree. My small children don't have years left to see my grandparents, who are too old to travel to DC, and we don't have the luxury of taking quarantine periods off from work.

This is us too. We would have their elderly, vaccinated Grandma quarantine for two weeks then we'd go visit her. My kids are soooo behind from the disaster of virtual learning though so we don't want to keep them out of school. Grandma is late 80's so every holiday could be her last. It's a hard choice and I don't blame people who tell their kids they're going to MD when they're really going to PA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Travel quarantine wasn't listed under the health and safety measures for fall on the chancellor's email, or even mentioned. Seems like a major oversight if it is still happening. That was the time to remind everyone and it was silent. Seems like the only people talking about this are here citing last year's guidance.

Here you all go, updated 7/2/2021:

39. If an individual travels to any place other than Maryland or Virginia and receives a
negative COVID-19 test upon their return to the District, can they return to school?
[UPDATED]
Per DC Health’s Guidance for Travel, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals who have traveled
domestically to any place other than Maryland or Virginia must either (1) not attend school for 10 days
after returning, or (2) not attend school until tested for COVID-19 three to five days after returning AND
receive a negative COVID-19 viral test.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals who have traveled internationally must either (1) not
attend school for 10 days after returning, or (2) not attend school for seven days after returning, get
tested for COVID-19 three to five days after returning, AND receive a negative COVID-19 viral test. Even
if the test is negative, the individual must still not attend school for seven days.

Provided that they do not currently have any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, an individual who
has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days or is fully vaccinated may be admitted
immediately after domestic or international travel. A person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after
completion of a COVID-19 vaccination series (after the second dose of a two-dose series, or after one
dose of a single-dose vaccine). They should get a COVID-19 test three to five days after international
travel. Any individual with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must not enter the school building.
For more detailed guidance related to returning from domestic and international travel, see DC Health’s
Guidance for Travel. Private institutions, including charter, private, parochial and independent schools,
may implement more stringent restrictions after travel. Schools may choose to incorporate questions
about recent travel into their daily health screenings.

after reading some of this thread, I went back in emails from DCPS and my school and see no mention of this policy. While I don't doubt that info....where did you get it? How are we supposed to know this if, for example, the Chancellor's email didn't even mention it? I have plans to be in PA in a cabin with my family the week before school. ugh.

https://osse.dc.gov/page/guidance-and-resources-covid-19-related-closures-and-recovery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The policy is asinine, just ignoring it is unreasonable, most people are not comfortable with that. But if this is really a thing it should be dcps-wide policy in the chancellor's email, publicized by DCPS city-wide. Not left up to individual schools to either mention or not. That is ridiculous. That some people are saying that their school is enforcing it strictly and others have never heard of it in the same school district is so outrageous. Especially when the policy is so stupid and ineffectual..

Our achool not only sent out a reminder that it will be strictly enforced they actually doubled down and explicitly said that there will be zero instruction for kids in quarantine.

It’s like…did an angry teenager wrote this policy? This extremely punitive policy will only increase non compliance.