Montgomery County vs. DC re-opening

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone explain how Montgomery County is moving so much faster on re-opening? For example, first grade kids in Montgomery County are going back in person full day for four days a week. At my kid's charter, we'll be lucky if they go back in the fall...(Stokes parent....).

Pretty sure this is only a small percentage of the most at-risk kids and it’s like a CARES set-up. Go read the threads in MCPS. They are having the same issues we are (plus the union there seems to be pushing back on reopening).

No it's not. MCPS did a survey late last year and gave parents the choice between hybrid and all-DL. Everyone who selected hybrid is able to send their kid at least every-other-week, M, Tu, Th, Fri (Wed is DL for all). For grades 1-2, it's every week (no A/B cohorts). And in Title I schools, all ES can go every week. There is a phase in, with some technical schools/special education programs beginning 3/1, then everyone else getting phased in between March 15 and end of April. It's definitely not perfect--in some cases, particularly secondary school, it will be Zoom in the classroom, but it is at least a start. Kids who are in-person will be masked, distanced, and tested weekly (unless their parents opt them out).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My colleague has a K kid in MCPS- it's not all schools bringing everyone back. Different schools are doing different things in MCPS, just like they are in DC. Her school is bringing many kids back, but her best friend's school is not because teachers have an exemption or have quit. Seems pretty similar to DC, but DC started a few months ago, thus, DC is actually ahead?

That is not correct. All school in MCPS are bringing kids back. The plans at each school vary based on the number of families that are doing hybrid and the number of teachers/staff that received ADA exemptions, but all kids have a chance to go back if their parents indicated they wanted hybrid in the survey.