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Important Updates on In-Person Learning Plans and Weather Alerts

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ACPS has extended the deadline for the Family Choice Form until Friday, Dec. 18. 

We have not yet heard from everyone and we need to hear from all our families to be able to refine our transition plan to reopen our school buildings for in-person learning.

You now have until Friday, Dec. 18 to share your choice for either hybrid learning or 100% virtual learning for each of your children enrolled in ACPS.

We also have important updates that may impact your choice for virtual or hybrid learning.

Please watch the following message from Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. regarding the new decision to use concurrent teaching when in-person learning starts in late January. Learn what concurrent teaching is, what it means for you, and how you can complete or update your Family Choice Form. 

Have questions about the Family Choice Form, hybrid learning or concurrent teaching?

Here are some answers to our most frequently asked questions:

How many days will my child attend school in person if we choose hybrid learning?
For families who choose hybrid, their children will attend school in person two days a week. 

What is concurrent teaching?
Our plan is for teachers to teach a group of students in-person in their classroom, and also virtually at the same time. This is called “concurrent” teaching. The teacher will either be in the classroom or at home.

Can my child stay with their current teacher?
This concurrent teaching set-up gives us the ability for the majority of our students to remain with their current teacher. This is for students who will be 100% virtual and for students who go to school in-person two days a week. 

What are the benefits of concurrent teaching?
It allows for flexibility in case we need to move back to being 100% virtual at any point. It also allows the majority of students to remain with their current teacher.

Why are we extending the Family Choice Form deadline to Dec. 18?
We have not yet heard from everyone and we need to hear from all our families to be able to refine our plans to reopen our school buildings for in-person learning. We also want to give families the opportunity to change their decision if they want to, following this new information about concurrent teaching and the ability for the majority of students to remain with their current teacher.

Do I need to complete the Family Choice Form for each of my children separately?
Yes. You need to complete the Family Choice Form for each of your children. This means that you can make separate decisions on hybrid or virtual for each child.

How can I get help completing this form?
Please call the Virtual PLUS+ Helpline if you need assistance with accessing PowerSchool or completing the form.

Can I change my response on the form?
You have until Dec. 18 to change your final response to the Family Choice Form. After that, we will use the response you submitted when refining our planning for each classroom and school.

You can find the answers to additional questions and video clips on key topics on the ACPS website.

How to Complete the Family Choice Form

You have a few options for completing or updating the form:

Complete the Family Choice Form in PowerSchool Parent Access.
See the instructions for completing the form. NOTE: You must use a PowerSchool Parent Access account to complete the form. You cannot access the form through a student’s PowerSchool account. If you need help with setting up or accessing a parent account, see the PowerSchool Parent Access webpage.

OR

Call the Virtual PLUS+ Helpline, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for help in completing the Family Choice Form:

  • English: 703-844-1763
  • Spanish: 703-844-3424
  • Amharic: 703-927-6866
  • Arabic: 703-927-7095

OR

Call your school front office.

Please watch this video to see how to complete the Family Choice Form in PowerSchool Parent Access:

See more information on completing the Family Choice Form.

Be Ready for Weather Alerts — Update Your Contact Information Today!

With the weather turning cold, please make sure you have provided your school registrar with current cell phone numbers and email addresses so that you automatically receive our weather alerts by text message and email. Now is a good time to make sure we have everything we need to keep you updated!

In the case that we need to close all school buildings due to power outages or bad weather conditions, there will be no food distribution, transportation out of district, or Virtual PLUS+ child care programs that day. 

Our weather notifications are shared in four languages in the following ways.

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ACPS, Coronavirus