DC School Year To End 3 Weeks Early Due To Coronavirus

WASHINGTON, DC — Students in D.C. Public Schools will begin their summer vacation three weeks earlier than expected, as the school year is being shortened due to the new coronavirus, also known ask COVID-19.

Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed the decision to shorten the school year during a Friday morning press briefing on the District's response to the coronavirus.

"Our top priority, of course, in making all school decisions is protecting the health and wellbeing of our students, our families, and educators," Bowser said. "We're all concerned about learning loss and the social and emotional wellbeing of our young people, so we continue to keep all of that in mind as we move forward."

DCPS will end the 2019-20 school year on May 29 and the District's public charter schools will end their school year on or around May 29.

On Wednesday, Bowser extended the District's public health emergency to May 15. She said Friday the District would have more information about summer school and the start of the next school year at that time.

District schools have been closed since March 16, and students have been practicing distance learning at home since then.

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To assist in the distance learning, DCPS has already distributed 16,000 devices and 5,000 hotspots to students and their families. Twenty high schools have already distributed more than 2,000 devices to their students, while middle and elementary schools have distributed 6,000-9,000 devices.

According to DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee, the District is committed to recognizing graduating seniors at the appropriate time.

"We'll continue to collaborate with our high school students and their families about graduation and course requirements," he said. "It's important to not that all of our seniors and our high school students that were in good standing on March 13, on our last day of school, have an opportunity now to continue to improve their grade but should anticipate a successful completion of this school year. For those students that need additional coursework or time, we remain committed that they have access to that."

To help students, the Office of the State Superintendent is waiving the 180-rule, as well as the community service and Carnegie Unit requirements for high schools students enrolled in those classes. In addition, the College Board is offering AP exams online and DCPS is distributing devices to students in AP courses who need them.

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