During a news conference Tuesday, Governor Ralph Northam confirmed Virginia's students would be going to school in the fall, but it will look quite different.
Instruction in the fall will include a mixture of in-person and remote instruction. Most of the education experience will be online once schools begin again for the fall, but more in-person instruction will be phased in as time goes on and the pandemic allows. However, strict social distancing guidelines, including separating desks for students, will be in place. The guidelines will apply to the state's public and private schools.
Governor Northam indicated that school systems will be able to have some flexibility in how they go about making that happen. However, each school system will have to provide a plan to the Virginia Department of Education on how they will implement the governor's plan, including efforts to ensure proper social distancing.
The school reopening planincludes instruction that correlate with the different phases of Northam's overall, statewide reopening plan. Officials said Tuesday that all Virginia students will be able to receive in-person instruction once the state enters Phase Three. All of Virginia, including Richmond and northern Virginia, will enter Phase Two of the governor's plan on Friday.
Officials indicated that schools may have to rely on staggered schedules and close off public gathering areas, including cafeterias, to make comply with the state's guidelines. Face coverings will be strongly encouraged for students, especially those that are older and in situations where keeping six feet apart from others is more difficult.
Turning to youth sports, state officials said Tuesday that practices for certain sports, including those typically held in the fall like football, can begin on Friday. However, there will be some restrictions while Virginia remains in Phase Two. Northam Chief of Staff Clark Mercer said that coaches and school systems should avoid shared equipment and work to limit intentional contact amongst players. He also said that indoor sports facilities will be held to 30% capacity, while outdoor venues will operate under a 50% capacity threshold.
Here is more information from Governor Northam on the school plan, and details about what each phase of his reopening plan will mean for the state's schools.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
