BCPS Updates Reopening Plan For Fall 2020 Semester

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Superintendent Darryl Williams gave more insight into what the upcoming academic year will look like during this week's school board meeting and released an updated plan for the reopening of Baltimore County Public Schools.

"The start of the school year is less than a month away," Williams said at a meeting of the Baltimore County Board of Education Tuesday night.

Due to concerns about safety amid the coronavirus pandemic, classes will be held virtually from Sept. 8 to Jan. 29, 2021, the school board ruled in July.

This week principals will begin communicating scheduling information to their staffs, and families will start seeing schedules the week of Aug. 17.

Virtual Instruction Schedule, Attendance

Both live and offline instruction will be built into the curriculum, according to the Baltimore County Public Schools draft plan for reopening, which shows students will meet in small groups and in classes as a whole.

Teachers will instruct live virtually all school days except Wednesdays, which will be reserved for independent student work and targeted student interventions.

The school day will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Teachers will take attendance based on students logging into Google Meet on all school days but Wednesday, when they will be responsible for going into the Schoology learning management system. Screen breaks and lunch breaks will be built into the schedule, Baltimore County Public Schools officials said.

Elementary school students will have blocks of math and English learning instruction, supplemented by other areas.

Middle and high school students can choose between four-period and seven-period schedules.

Technology, Packets

Officials say they are distributing Chromebooks for students in kindergarten through 12th grades. Preschool and prekindergarten students will receive packets through the mail.

The board expressed concern about online access, during Tuesday's meeting. Hot spots will be provided to those who do not have internet connectivity, including students who are homeless, administrators say.

SAT, Sports Canceled

The SAT will not be administered through Nov. 13; Saturday dates have been canceled, and the SAT Day initiative during the school day will also be canceled.

While the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) canceled fall sports, Baltimore County Public Schools officials say virtual coaching and athletic conditioning will be allowed during the first semester of the school year.

The BCPS athletic department is considering options for the second semester, including the potential for shorter fall, winter and spring athletic seasons. For example, fall sports could be held from Feb. 1 to March 19; winter sports March 22 to May 7; and spring sports could be from May 10 to June 18.

Next Steps, Survey

Public schools in Baltimore County and across Maryland have been closed since March 16 at the direction of State Superintendent Karen Salmon to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Officials said at Tuesday's school board meeting they would "revisit" the idea of in-person instruction at the end of the first quarter and would evaluate conditions for returning to face-to-face instruction each quarter.

From Dec. 1 to Dec. 18, Baltimore County Public Schools will survey families to gauge interest in virtual learning or a hybrid model that incorporates in-person and virtual instruction, for the second semester, which is February through June.

Reopening Plan To Be Posted

School systems are required to submit their reopening plans for the fall by Aug. 14 to the Maryland State Department of Education.

Williams said the school system would receive feedback and incorporate it into a final plan.

Read the Baltimore County Public Schools draft plan for reopening.

Related:

• Baltimore County Public Schools Moves Classes Online Until 2021
• Fall, Winter Sports Seasons Postponed For Maryland High Schools