In light of new CDC suggested guidance on “Test to Stay” procedures, HCPSS can and should consider updating its Covid-19 policies to allow all asymptomatic students, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, to undertake some variation of “Test to Stay” procedure instead of mandatory 10-day quarantine.
Instead of applying all received emergency COVID-19 “ESSER II” funding to student supports & school re-opening measures, Superintendent Martirano has proposed to apply a half million dollars of this funding for an attorney to assist with fighting parents of special needs students who request or legally demand better supports for their children.
From a recent HCEA survey, ~30% of HCPSS teachers currently would take leave, retire or quit if HCPSS transitioned to a ‘hybrid’ or ‘bridge’ learning model that involved in-person classroom time.
Shown below are the results of the HCPSS 2020-2021 School Year Community Input Survey, where HCPSS stakeholder groups were polled in July 2020 about their preferences for in-person vs. hybrid vs. virtual learning for the 2020-2021 school year. ..
At the HCPSS Board of Education meeting yesterday, discussion occurred about the recently announced plan to allow Howard County Parks & Recreation and the Columbia Association to use space in HCPSS schools to provide full-day child care this Fall.
On July 9, Superintendent Martirano proposed a hybrid education model for HCPSS students (2 days in person learning & 3 days virtual learning) beginning on Sepember 15 for PK-3 and active for all students by October 28.
Montgomery County School System (MCPS) elementary students are able to receive approximately 30-60 minutes of live-streamed teacher/classroom instruction daily. At this time, HCPSS formally plans on only 15-20 minutes per week of live “check-in” with teachers & classmates for their elementary students.
Compare what an HCPSS Kindergarten student received on March 13 here and the materials from March 25 here with what Baltimore City Kindergarten students and parents received here on March 13 (or soon after) here….
Starting tomorrow, our students’ lives will be upended and their education will indefinitely be put on hold. With it looking likely that the schools will not reopen on March 30, it is very important that a continuity-of-curriculum plan be laid out soon to all HCPSS students, staff and families…