Online Learning To Follow Closure Order At Falls Church Schools

FALLS CHURCH, VA — After Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ordered K-12 schools to close for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year amid the new coronavirus outbreak, Falls Church City Public Schools is planning the next steps to continue online learning. Information on academic year completion as well as graduation requirements will depend on guidance from the Virginia Department of Education in the coming days.

"As we’ve prepared for this pandemic, our administrative teams have always been focused on the impacts to our students, families, and staff," said Superintendent Peter Noonan in a letter to families. "That will not change as we address the extension of our current closure through the remainder of the 19-20 school year."

The school district intends to follow an online learning model for the rest of the school year. FCCPS already has a continuity of learning plan in place through April 10, which was originally planned to be the end of the closure. Students will continue following the learning plans through the virtual learning service Schoology, and FCCPS will announce plans for learning during the rest of the academic year. The school district will allow the spring break for students from April 6 to 10.

In regard to testing, the Virginia Department of Education is preparing to request a testing waiver for Standards of Learning (SOL). The May International Baccalaureate (IB) exams are canceled

The school district will continue to share plans on its COVID-19 response webpage. Noonan will be part of a virtual town hall meeting to address the COVID-19 situation at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 23. Other participants include Mayor David Tarter, School Board Chairman Greg Anderson and City Manager Wyatt Shields. The live stream and a recording will be available at www.fallschurchva.gov or through Falls Church Community Television (Cox channel 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35).

As of Monday, there are two presumptive positive cases of the new coronavirus in the City of Falls Church. Both cases involve residents of The Kensington Falls Church, an assisted living and memory care facility. The city is providing updates on the COVID-19 situation in Falls Church online, and public health information is available from the Fairfax County Health Department.

SEE ALSO:

• VA Governor Orders Schools Closed For Rest Of Year: Coronavirus
• Virginia Coronavirus Updates: Things To Know For Week Of March 22