Private vs APS next year - will APS be in-person 5 days/week?

[Anonymous]

DC just got accepted to a private school (upper elementary) that has been open in-person five days/week for several months. We are weighing the significant tuition cost against the probability of APS doing hybrid again in the fall. We are still virtual now and hybrid is starting next week. Our decision is due on March 19, so not much time to see how hybrid plays out, plus it will likely have some hiccups at the beginning.

What would you do? In addition to the cost, the location of the private is also very inconvenient compared to current public. But after this disastrous year of virtual learning, we really need DC to be back full time.

[Anonymous]

The only reason why you’re considering private is for 5 days/wk?

[Anonymous]

If you need that guarantee, then I would go for private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only reason why you’re considering private is for 5 days/wk?

Yes, we never even considered it before. But this past year has been awful. Can't take another year of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only reason why you’re considering private is for 5 days/wk?

Yes, we never even considered it before. But this past year has been awful. Can't take another year of it.

We moved our kids to private this year, motivated by a desire for in-person teaching this year and have no regrets. Our whole family life was better for it.

[Anonymous]

How long does Northam have to sign the bill on his desk, SB 1303, that would require 5 days per week? He is expected to sign it but it's been on his desk for days. That will be your answer one way or another.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised if they do hybrid and/or revert to DL for the holiday season if Covid goes up.

But, I have no idea how they'll manage hybrid at 6 foot distance, as more people will want it than did in spring.

Your best bet is whether or not Northam signs SB 1303 into law.

I tried for a spot in Catholic school and didn't get one. I am glad looking back at it, that DC stayed in our neighborhood school. But that is me. I don't want to pay for or commute to another school when we like ours. We are glad to be back at least hybrid.

Best of luck with your family decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC just got accepted to a private school (upper elementary) that has been open in-person five days/week for several months. We are weighing the significant tuition cost against the probability of APS doing hybrid again in the fall. We are still virtual now and hybrid is starting next week. Our decision is due on March 19, so not much time to see how hybrid plays out, plus it will likely have some hiccups at the beginning.

What would you do? In addition to the cost, the location of the private is also very inconvenient compared to current public. But after this disastrous year of virtual learning, we really need DC to be back full time.

They will be back at least halftime, so for the cost of private I would hire a tutor or someone qualified to manage my child's online learning for the other days home. Retired teachers are now vaccinated--I know 2 who would do this type of work part-time. An inconvenient private school once traffic starts back up will only work if your job is extremely flexible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only reason why you’re considering private is for 5 days/wk?

Yes, we never even considered it before. But this past year has been awful. Can't take another year of it.

Better go private then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long does Northam have to sign the bill on his desk, SB 1303, that would require 5 days per week? He is expected to sign it but it's been on his desk for days. That will be your answer one way or another.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised if they do hybrid and/or revert to DL for the holiday season if Covid goes up.

But, I have no idea how they'll manage hybrid at 6 foot distance, as more people will want it than did in spring.

Your best bet is whether or not Northam signs SB 1303 into law.

I tried for a spot in Catholic school and didn't get one. I am glad looking back at it, that DC stayed in our neighborhood school. But that is me. I don't want to pay for or commute to another school when we like ours. We are glad to be back at least hybrid.

Best of luck with your family decision.

SB 1303 isn’t on his desk. Apparently the clerk’s office takes a week break at the end of session. So they come back and it is hopefully enrolled and signed by the legislative leaders early next week. Then it goes to his desk. After that he has 30 days. He indicated in a recent quote that he wanted to study the bill and talk to legislators about the possibility of an emergency clause, but no real comment either way on that.

So at worst it could still be over a month before he does or doesn’t decide on what to do with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only reason why you’re considering private is for 5 days/wk?

*The only reason you're considering private is that they're actually open?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long does Northam have to sign the bill on his desk, SB 1303, that would require 5 days per week? He is expected to sign it but it's been on his desk for days. That will be your answer one way or another.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised if they do hybrid and/or revert to DL for the holiday season if Covid goes up.

But, I have no idea how they'll manage hybrid at 6 foot distance, as more people will want it than did in spring.

Your best bet is whether or not Northam signs SB 1303 into law.

I tried for a spot in Catholic school and didn't get one. I am glad looking back at it, that DC stayed in our neighborhood school. But that is me. I don't want to pay for or commute to another school when we like ours. We are glad to be back at least hybrid.

Best of luck with your family decision.

This is what I've been wondering - even if they want to bring everyone back 5 days, how will they manage to fit them all with the required distance? Even if they reduce it to 3 feet, it seems like some rooms/schools might not be able to accommodate. And of course, if one school can't do it, none of them will be allowed, and they will all remain hybrid until kids can get the vaccine. That is my fear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long does Northam have to sign the bill on his desk, SB 1303, that would require 5 days per week? He is expected to sign it but it's been on his desk for days. That will be your answer one way or another.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised if they do hybrid and/or revert to DL for the holiday season if Covid goes up.

But, I have no idea how they'll manage hybrid at 6 foot distance, as more people will want it than did in spring.

Your best bet is whether or not Northam signs SB 1303 into law.

I tried for a spot in Catholic school and didn't get one. I am glad looking back at it, that DC stayed in our neighborhood school. But that is me. I don't want to pay for or commute to another school when we like ours. We are glad to be back at least hybrid.

Best of luck with your family decision.

This is what I've been wondering - even if they want to bring everyone back 5 days, how will they manage to fit them all with the required distance? Even if they reduce it to 3 feet, it seems like some rooms/schools might not be able to accommodate. And of course, if one school can't do it, none of them will be allowed, and they will all remain hybrid until kids can get the vaccine. That is my fear.

Basically by Fall you are getting the only remediation will be masks and maybe an air purifier. All adults vaccinated. Almost no kids. That would be execution for in person school.

We believe it will be like this, and suspect even masks may be jettisoned, and instead we will see elementary school COVID parties like you saw chickenpox parties.

[Anonymous]

Guessing it’ll be pre-pandemic business as usual by then. Or maybe not.

[Anonymous]

My guess is that the mitigations will be masks, hygiene, and no close contact. All adults will be vaccinated by then, kids will not.

But there will be a lot of pressure for 5-days in-person. I imagine there will still be a strong cohort of families that opt to stay virtual because 6-foot distancing will not be possible. So the numbers may end up working out if you want full-time in-person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the mitigations will be masks, hygiene, and no close contact. All adults will be vaccinated by then, kids will not.

But there will be a lot of pressure for 5-days in-person. I imagine there will still be a strong cohort of families that opt to stay virtual because 6-foot distancing will not be possible. So the numbers may end up working out if you want full-time in-person.

The 6 foot rule will be gone. That's the only way unless we do half days. Hopefully the asynch Mondays will be gone but thats not the rumor.