There WILL (probably) be 5 days a week in-person in all districts this fall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope this happens. The parents who got spots at private schools are not coming back unless public schools open 5 days a week. This needs to happen.

The local Catholic school has kids 3 ft apart and has been open for in-person learning almost the entire school year. No spread in the school. Public systems can be open next year, and need to. We are harming our kids.

Good for you parents who can rearrange your lives to make it happen, but I have three kids at three levels and a full time job and I'm not qualified to teach HS math or science to my teens. How good of a chemistry education do you think DS is getting at home? It's crappy. And even when schools re-open, the chemistry teacher is not coming back, so still no labs. So basically, my kid has learned very little this year.

Why do we care what they do? If they’re happier at private they can stay.

It's not a great thing for public schools to lose so many kids to private school. A lot of the families leaving used to be big public school supporters -- PTA donors, active in the schools, leadership and service roles within those communities. I don't want to lose all those families from the public schools. I think it matters. Plus a lot of the districts have funding formulas based on enrollment numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because this language just passed the House of Delegates (bill came from the senate) and is headed to the Governor's desk.

"1. § 1. As used in this act:

"In-person instruction" means any form of instructional interaction between teachers and students that occurs in person and in real time.

"In-person instruction" does not include the act of proctoring remote online learning in a classroom.

§ 2. Each school board shall offer in-person instruction to each student enrolled in the local school division in a public elementary and secondary school for at least the minimum number of required instructional hours and to each student enrolled in the local school division in a public school-based early childhood care and education program for the entirety of the instructional time provided pursuant to such program. For the purposes of this act, each school board shall (i) adopt, implement, and, when appropriate, update specific parameters for the provision of in-person instruction and (ii) provide such in-person instruction in a manner in which it adheres, to the maximum extent practicable, to any currently applicable mitigation strategies for early childhood care and education programs and elementary and secondary schools to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 that have been provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+SB1303H1

Online synchronous instruction still counts as in-person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because this language just passed the House of Delegates (bill came from the senate) and is headed to the Governor's desk.

"1. § 1. As used in this act:

"In-person instruction" means any form of instructional interaction between teachers and students that occurs in person and in real time.

"In-person instruction" does not include the act of proctoring remote online learning in a classroom.

§ 2. Each school board shall offer in-person instruction to each student enrolled in the local school division in a public elementary and secondary school for at least the minimum number of required instructional hours and to each student enrolled in the local school division in a public school-based early childhood care and education program for the entirety of the instructional time provided pursuant to such program. For the purposes of this act, each school board shall (i) adopt, implement, and, when appropriate, update specific parameters for the provision of in-person instruction and (ii) provide such in-person instruction in a manner in which it adheres, to the maximum extent practicable, to any currently applicable mitigation strategies for early childhood care and education programs and elementary and secondary schools to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 that have been provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+SB1303H1

Online synchronous instruction still counts as in-person.

No it doesn't. Don't be obtuse. Online isn't in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope this happens. The parents who got spots at private schools are not coming back unless public schools open 5 days a week. This needs to happen.

The local Catholic school has kids 3 ft apart and has been open for in-person learning almost the entire school year. No spread in the school. Public systems can be open next year, and need to. We are harming our kids.

Good for you parents who can rearrange your lives to make it happen, but I have three kids at three levels and a full time job and I'm not qualified to teach HS math or science to my teens. How good of a chemistry education do you think DS is getting at home? It's crappy. And even when schools re-open, the chemistry teacher is not coming back, so still no labs. So basically, my kid has learned very little this year.

Why do we care what they do? If they’re happier at private they can stay.

It's not a great thing for public schools to lose so many kids to private school. A lot of the families leaving used to be big public school supporters -- PTA donors, active in the schools, leadership and service roles within those communities. I don't want to lose all those families from the public schools. I think it matters. Plus a lot of the districts have funding formulas based on enrollment numbers.

THIS is exactly true. A good friend left and was a very active member of the school community. I've always been an active member, volunteer, ran school social activities, etc. If I can get a private spot too, I would have had my kids in private. Schools are just now opening their eyes to the consequences of remaining closed for so long. They will lose funding. Staff will get cut. This past year has been such a waste of an education and now the consequences will start to settle in.

[Anonymous]

I’m in Colorado (Denver burbs not the boonies), elementary has been full time 5 days a week since October with ms and hs hybrid. Our school board just voted to send ms and hs back full time in person 5 days a week after spring break which is in two weeks.

I am exceedingly grateful to have a healthy population and teachers and teachers unions who care about kids. This is public school. I hope your unions stand down, they have destroyed public education and your kids are paying the price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m in Colorado (Denver burbs not the boonies), elementary has been full time 5 days a week since October with ms and hs hybrid. Our school board just voted to send ms and hs back full time in person 5 days a week after spring break which is in two weeks.

I am exceedingly grateful to have a healthy population and teachers and teachers unions who care about kids. This is public school. I hope your unions stand down, they have destroyed public education and your kids are paying the price.

You are very fortunate, and sadly, very right about unions destroying our public education here. It's unbelievable the crap they have pulled at the expense of our students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because this language just passed the House of Delegates (bill came from the senate) and is headed to the Governor's desk.

"1. § 1. As used in this act:

"In-person instruction" means any form of instructional interaction between teachers and students that occurs in person and in real time.

"In-person instruction" does not include the act of proctoring remote online learning in a classroom.

§ 2. Each school board shall offer in-person instruction to each student enrolled in the local school division in a public elementary and secondary school for at least the minimum number of required instructional hours and to each student enrolled in the local school division in a public school-based early childhood care and education program for the entirety of the instructional time provided pursuant to such program. For the purposes of this act, each school board shall (i) adopt, implement, and, when appropriate, update specific parameters for the provision of in-person instruction and (ii) provide such in-person instruction in a manner in which it adheres, to the maximum extent practicable, to any currently applicable mitigation strategies for early childhood care and education programs and elementary and secondary schools to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 that have been provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+SB1303H1

Online synchronous instruction still counts as in-person.

Not according to the plain text of the bill. Or the plain meaning of words in English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in Colorado (Denver burbs not the boonies), elementary has been full time 5 days a week since October with ms and hs hybrid. Our school board just voted to send ms and hs back full time in person 5 days a week after spring break which is in two weeks.

I am exceedingly grateful to have a healthy population and teachers and teachers unions who care about kids. This is public school. I hope your unions stand down, they have destroyed public education and your kids are paying the price.

You are very fortunate, and sadly, very right about unions destroying our public education here. It's unbelievable the crap they have pulled at the expense of our students.

To still be saying this in February 2021 is so sad. You truly don’t even understand all the factors at play and who made what decisions and why. Saying “unions” did it in a RIGHT TO WORK state with no unions means you have never even been aware of everything happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in Colorado (Denver burbs not the boonies), elementary has been full time 5 days a week since October with ms and hs hybrid. Our school board just voted to send ms and hs back full time in person 5 days a week after spring break which is in two weeks.

I am exceedingly grateful to have a healthy population and teachers and teachers unions who care about kids. This is public school. I hope your unions stand down, they have destroyed public education and your kids are paying the price.

You are very fortunate, and sadly, very right about unions destroying our public education here. It's unbelievable the crap they have pulled at the expense of our students.

There are no teachers unions in Virginia. There is no collective bargaining in Virginia. Yet. I hope the teachers push for collective bargaining. It is embarrassing to me that in Northern Virginia people who CLAIM to be BLUE are avidly anti-union. Learn to walk your talk, people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope this happens. The parents who got spots at private schools are not coming back unless public schools open 5 days a week. This needs to happen.

The local Catholic school has kids 3 ft apart and has been open for in-person learning almost the entire school year. No spread in the school. Public systems can be open next year, and need to. We are harming our kids.

Good for you parents who can rearrange your lives to make it happen, but I have three kids at three levels and a full time job and I'm not qualified to teach HS math or science to my teens. How good of a chemistry education do you think DS is getting at home? It's crappy. And even when schools re-open, the chemistry teacher is not coming back, so still no labs. So basically, my kid has learned very little this year.

Why do we care what they do? If they’re happier at private they can stay.

It's not a great thing for public schools to lose so many kids to private school. A lot of the families leaving used to be big public school supporters -- PTA donors, active in the schools, leadership and service roles within those communities. I don't want to lose all those families from the public schools. I think it matters. Plus a lot of the districts have funding formulas based on enrollment numbers.

+1
I have been concerned about this since last summer.

ES Teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in Colorado (Denver burbs not the boonies), elementary has been full time 5 days a week since October with ms and hs hybrid. Our school board just voted to send ms and hs back full time in person 5 days a week after spring break which is in two weeks.

I am exceedingly grateful to have a healthy population and teachers and teachers unions who care about kids. This is public school. I hope your unions stand down, they have destroyed public education and your kids are paying the price.

You are very fortunate, and sadly, very right about unions destroying our public education here. It's unbelievable the crap they have pulled at the expense of our students.

There are no teachers unions in Virginia. There is no collective bargaining in Virginia. Yet. I hope the teachers push for collective bargaining. It is embarrassing to me that in Northern Virginia people who CLAIM to be BLUE are avidly anti-union. Learn to walk your talk, people.

It’s part of the anti-human legacy of GOP scum in VA. We have to clean up this mess they made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in Colorado (Denver burbs not the boonies), elementary has been full time 5 days a week since October with ms and hs hybrid. Our school board just voted to send ms and hs back full time in person 5 days a week after spring break which is in two weeks.

I am exceedingly grateful to have a healthy population and teachers and teachers unions who care about kids. This is public school. I hope your unions stand down, they have destroyed public education and your kids are paying the price.

You are very fortunate, and sadly, very right about unions destroying our public education here. It's unbelievable the crap they have pulled at the expense of our students.

To still be saying this in February 2021 is so sad. You truly don’t even understand all the factors at play and who made what decisions and why. Saying “unions” did it in a RIGHT TO WORK state with no unions means you have never even been aware of everything happening.

They are mindless pions parroting RWNJ talking points. They are clueless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope this happens. The parents who got spots at private schools are not coming back unless public schools open 5 days a week. This needs to happen.

The local Catholic school has kids 3 ft apart and has been open for in-person learning almost the entire school year. No spread in the school. Public systems can be open next year, and need to. We are harming our kids.

Good for you parents who can rearrange your lives to make it happen, but I have three kids at three levels and a full time job and I'm not qualified to teach HS math or science to my teens. How good of a chemistry education do you think DS is getting at home? It's crappy. And even when schools re-open, the chemistry teacher is not coming back, so still no labs. So basically, my kid has learned very little this year.

Why do we care what they do? If they’re happier at private they can stay.

Families that choose private schools DO have an impact on public schools (not that they are wrong or shouldn’t do it). It means decreases funding for public schools, which arguably isn’t that big of a deal for overcrowded schools. Still, private schools draw wealthier families from public schools, so they no longer contribute to the public school’s resources (things like PTA, etc).

So that’s just great, wish all of the wealthy families well as they move on to different schools. It totally changes the dynamic of publics, and not in a great way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope this happens. The parents who got spots at private schools are not coming back unless public schools open 5 days a week. This needs to happen.

The local Catholic school has kids 3 ft apart and has been open for in-person learning almost the entire school year. No spread in the school. Public systems can be open next year, and need to. We are harming our kids.

Good for you parents who can rearrange your lives to make it happen, but I have three kids at three levels and a full time job and I'm not qualified to teach HS math or science to my teens. How good of a chemistry education do you think DS is getting at home? It's crappy. And even when schools re-open, the chemistry teacher is not coming back, so still no labs. So basically, my kid has learned very little this year.

Why do we care what they do? If they’re happier at private they can stay.

Families that choose private schools DO have an impact on public schools (not that they are wrong or shouldn’t do it). It means decreases funding for public schools, which arguably isn’t that big of a deal for overcrowded schools. Still, private schools draw wealthier families from public schools, so they no longer contribute to the public school’s resources (things like PTA, etc).

So that’s just great, wish all of the wealthy families well as they move on to different schools. It totally changes the dynamic of publics, and not in a great way.

Exactly.. the consequence of schools staying closed for so long is becoming real. There will be budget cuts. There will be staff cuts. This is what a lot of the people that fought tooth and nail to keep schools closed were not thinking about. You can't close schools for a year, still pay the entire staff as if it were normal, and not expect a fairly major negative shift in funding and budgets. I imagine the fall enrollment numbers will be pretty ugly. I learned last night that 2 of my daughters closest friends are going to private, I imagine there are several others. It's sad the course this is taking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope this happens. The parents who got spots at private schools are not coming back unless public schools open 5 days a week. This needs to happen.

The local Catholic school has kids 3 ft apart and has been open for in-person learning almost the entire school year. No spread in the school. Public systems can be open next year, and need to. We are harming our kids.

Good for you parents who can rearrange your lives to make it happen, but I have three kids at three levels and a full time job and I'm not qualified to teach HS math or science to my teens. How good of a chemistry education do you think DS is getting at home? It's crappy. And even when schools re-open, the chemistry teacher is not coming back, so still no labs. So basically, my kid has learned very little this year.

Why do we care what they do? If they’re happier at private they can stay.

Families that choose private schools DO have an impact on public schools (not that they are wrong or shouldn’t do it). It means decreases funding for public schools, which arguably isn’t that big of a deal for overcrowded schools. Still, private schools draw wealthier families from public schools, so they no longer contribute to the public school’s resources (things like PTA, etc).

So that’s just great, wish all of the wealthy families well as they move on to different schools. It totally changes the dynamic of publics, and not in a great way.

Anecdotally, I used to run a fundraiser at our ES. I know the family that is the consistently largest donor each year is applying to private for next year. PTA funding is just one area that will take a hit, but those funds are used to benefit the whole school. The impact will be even larger at the schools with smaller PTA budgets, who can least afford to lose those largest donors.