DC Public Schools Prepares For Start Of Virtual Learning

WASHINGTON, DC — Teachers and staff at D.C. Public Schools are working on their final preparations for the 2020-21 academic year, which begins on Monday. These include new resources for students and their families as they begin the school year distance learning.

"We are thrilled to receive students on Monday, and we will begin our first term on the 31st and it will go through Nov. 6," said Dr. Lewis Ferebee, chancellor of D.C. Public Schools, during a Wednesday morning press briefing. "The first term, we will be learning at home for all of our students, as we continue to plan for in-person experiences and will provide information to facilities accordingly."

DCPS officials announced at the end of July students would be heading back to school on Aug. 31 and that the first term of the academic year would be conducted virtually. The second term for DCPS students is scheduled to begin on Monday, Nov. 9, and no decision has been made yet as to whether that will include in-person learning.

"As we are ramping up for the first day of school, a reminder to everyone that we still need families to enroll," Ferebee said. "If you were a student in the last school year and may be thinking there's nothing to do. just log in on Monday, we still need you to enroll."

Students can enroll online for the new school year at enrolldcps.dc.gov. If students need a device or support for internet access, they can reach out directly to their school once they have completed the enrollment process.

"Schools are now facilitating the distribution of devices and hotspots," Ferebee said. "That will look different based on the grade level for the student."

• Pre-K families who requested a device will receive an iPad or similar tablet.
• Elementary and secondary students will receive a laptop.
• Those in of need of high-speed internet access will receive either a cellular-enabled divide with free internet access or a separate mobile hotspot.

Ferebee reminded students that even though instruction will be offered virtually, attendance is still mandatory. Schools will be taking attendance daily. Logging into Canvas, the DCPS' learning platform, will be the same as walking into a school building.

Even though students will be starting the 2020-21 school year at home next week, they are still required to have their vaccinations.

Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, director of the D.C. Department of Health, said that health officials have seen an unprecedented decline this year in childhood immunization rates due to the coronavirus, especially among school-aged children.

Nesbitt encouraged families in DCPS to make an appointment with their health care provider to have their children immunized or visit one of the District's school-based health centers.

"While learning will begin virtually ... we want to make sure that children are still protected and have all of their vaccines so that as soon as the in-person learning experience can resume in the District, all of our children will be up to date with their required vaccines," Nesbitt said. She also encouraged families to get their influenza vaccine for the new flu season.

D.C. Department of Behavioral Health is working with DCPS to launch a school-based parental support program to provide help for District parents experiencing increased stress and anxiety as they balance their parenting responsibilities with work, distance learning, and the impact of being sequestered at home due to the pandemic.

"This effort if focused on promoting mental wellness for the whole family as they deal with the day-to-day stressors that we're all feeling related to the COVID-19 pandemic," said Dr. Barbara Bazron, DBH director. "We have crafted this program to make it easily accessible for busy families."

As part of this program, DBH is providing access to its mental health services and support through its 24-hour mental health hot line (1-888-793-4357).

The hotline is staffed seven days a week by licensed social workers, psychologists and counselors, including bilingual clinicians, who can respond to crisis situations, offer advice on how to handle family stressors, and connect parents to school-based clinicians or early-childhood specialists. This service is offered at no cost.

DBH is also launching Wellness Wednesdays, an online support network for parents that features live online support groups.

Wellness Wednesdays will be offered from 5:30-6:30 p.m., to accommodate parents who are working during the day. This is an opportunity for parents to connect with licensed clinicians and other parents to share their experiences and supports.

The first Wellness Wednesday session will take place Sept. 2 and address the topic of Self-Care for Parents. The program is open to parents of children from birth through high school and can be accessed via Webex.

Also see ...

• Most Schools Going Virtual, Including In DC
• DC School Year To Start With All-Virtual Classes