Fairfax County Public Schools will require masks for everyone inside schools whenever students are present, regardless of vaccination status, information "Universal masking is a critical factor in ensuring all students can return to our buildings, especially when social distancing is not possible and not all our students are eligible yet for vaccinations.". Many of the conspiracy theories contradict each other and the findings in the Energy Department report. Prince William County said they would announce an update to their policy later Friday. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM, In a message to the school community last Friday, Sign up for WTOPs coronavirus email newsletter, Latest coronavirus test results in DC, Maryland and Virginia, Latest COVID-19 vaccination numbers in DC, Maryland and Virginia, Mother of unarmed man shot, killed by police near Tysons mall demands video, records, 1 killed in Fairfax Co. crash, police say. State health and education officials recommended masks in elementary schools regardless of vaccination status, and in middle and high schools among students and staff who are not fully vaccinated, at a minimum.. Brabrand also reminded the community that Fairfax County is among the school districts that filed a lawsuit Monday challenging Youngkins executive order. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. Though Petersen said his proposal arose on its own, it closely mirrors Gov. As a school division, we continue to be concerned about the health of our Fairfax community and strongly recommend that all students continue to participate in universal masking for the protection of students and staff with health concerns, Brabrand wrote. Rick Massimo | rmassimo@wtop.com. Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. Glenn Youngkin to stop his executive order making masks in schools optional, questioning the orders constitutionality. Glenn Youngkin signed into law a bill that requires schools in the Commonwealth to make mask-wearing optional by March 1. WebThe Fairfax County Health Department has developed guidance for managing COVID-19 cases and outbreaks in youth athletic and club programs, including both in-school and Glenn Youngkin, places less emphasize on positive cases and more focus on hospital strain, test-to-stay program will also be available at every county school, Mother of unarmed man shot, killed by police near Tysons mall demands video, records, 1 killed in Fairfax Co. crash, police say. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. During his time in College Park, he worked for The Diamondback, the schools student newspaper. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM. FCPS maintains security standards and procedures in accordance with federal and state regulations and in reference to industrial best practices. "We'll have some outdoor classrooms and outdoor areas in many schools for eating," Brabrand said. Once local transmission rates drop to the moderate range, masking will be optional, according to FCPS. Fairfax County Public Schools announced its plans to safely scale back layered prevention measures, Thursday, as Virginias House of Delegates readies to vote on a bill that gives families the ability to opt-out of COVID-19 mask mandates issued by school systems. In the end, we will respect the legal process, and we are confident that we have a strong legal case, Brabrand said. Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools, Information for Parents of School-aged Children, If you are an FCPS parent or student and need information about school health practices including returning to school after illness or exposure, or isolation/pause lettersplease see the. Neighboring Fairfax County Public Schools was one of seven districts suing Gov. Here's what we are predicting for winter this year, Virginia Senate passes bill to make masks optional in schools, CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday, During off-campus activities where masks are required by the venue (ex: field trip), Students enrolled in Head Start Program (federal requirement), When attending school on days 6-10 of a quarantine (families who do not want their student to wear a mask on these days will need to complete the full 10-day quarantine at home. To change the language of this website, click the drop-down list and select the desired language. Charles County: Masks will be mandatory on school buses but optional in school buildings. The comments were made Thursday by Fairfax County board member Abrar Omeish, 28, in reference to the Day of Remembrance for the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. The county has a seven-day average positivity rate of 9.82%, according to CDC data collected through Sunday. No decisions have been announced yet in Alexandria, or Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun or Prince William counties. We believe strongly in a caring culture, respecting and understanding each other and how we can grow and thrive together in our school community, Brabrand said. Prince Georges County: Masks will be required for students, teachers and staff inside Prince Georges County Public Schools this fall, officials said Monday. Schools CEO Monica Goldson said the vaccination rate among eligible students is still too low, at 50%. FAIRFAX, Va. Fairfax County Public Schools will make mask-wearing optional on school property starting Tuesday. Like WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Twitter and Instagram to engage in conversation about this article and others. School Library Collections The county has a seven-day average positivity rate of, passed a bill on Wednesday allowing parents to ignore local school boards mandates on children wearing masks, Latest coronavirus test results in DC, Maryland and Virginia, Latest vaccination numbers in DC, Maryland and Virginia, Mother of unarmed man shot, killed by police near Tysons mall demands video, records, 1 killed in Fairfax Co. crash, police say. Web$4,300 USD: Appointment must be confirmed! Citing continued high transmission rates, he said keeping the mask regulation is crucial in keeping schools safe for all children and staff. 2023 WTOP. Make an appointment at www.vaccines.gov or find a location near you. If you are a parent of a student/child at a private school, childcare setting, or camp, reach out to your school nurse oradministrator with questions aboutrequirements for isolation and quarantine. We encourage FCPS employees to maintain their 6 foot distance from others whenever possible, but we know that in our school and transportation settings this is not feasible at all times. All rights reserved, stating that parents can choose whether their child wears a face covering to school, Virginia School Boards Sue as Youngkin Order Lifting Mask Mandate Takes Effect, I Will Bring Every Single Gun Loaded': Virginia Mom Charged in Threat to School Over Mask Policy, Watch News4: Live and Replays on NBC4 App, Peacock, Roku, Samsung TV Plus & Xumo Play, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), 7 Passengers Taken to Hospitals After Turbulence Diverts Lufthansa Flight to Dulles Airport, Check Your Change! Visit their official sites here: Virginia | Maryland | D.C. Rick Massimo came to WTOP, and to Washington, in 2013 after having lived in Providence, R.I., since he was a child. Her 5-year-old son is entering kindergarten with a compromised immune system. Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand wrote that there wouldnt be a formal opt-out process for students who choose not to wear masks. No more than 2 incomes to qualify. See this Health Department guidance on isolation and how to identify and inform your close contacts. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Fairfax, VA 22035. Prince Georges County: Masks will be required for students, teachers and staff inside Prince Georges County Public Schools this fall, officials said Monday. The move follows the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here. Dear FCPS Families and Staff, On Wednesday, the Virginia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 739, which allows parents to opt their children out of mask 2 and SB 739, the masking and in-person learning legislation. Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter:Your forecast. In a message to the school community last Friday, Brabrand said not everyone will agree with the school systems course of action and hopes that the community will support each other and work together to find the right time for us to begin to remove some of our layered prevention strategies, but this is not the time.. Reverts to original layout including graphics and images, Gloria Addo-Ayensu, M.D., M.P.H.,Director of Health. Scott Gelman | sgelman@wtop.com. 2023 WTOP. If the student still refuses, school official said the student will be excluded from in-person learning. "We do not expect to be in a position where we need to close classrooms or schools this year.". If the student still refuses, school official said To read the full statement from Fairfax Schools. In the event of a regional surge, FCPS says it may need to adjust its layered prevention strategies to safely provide in-person instruction. Dick Uliano | duliano@wtop.com. All rights reserved. The Health Department continues to work closely with our partners in the schools to prevent the spread of the illness and disinformation about COVID-19. Download the apps today for live newscasts and video on demand. This is going farther than what it needs to be, as far this mandate for masks. Face coverings are still required when participating in the countys test-to-stay program and when returning to school on day six of a 10-day quarantine. Fairfax County Public Schools will continue requiring face masks after notching a victory in its lawsuit against Gov. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Students who are not compliant with the foregoing may be subject to counseling, loss of privileges, removal from class or activities, or disciplinary action, the dress code policy reads. This site is designed to be accessible to a variety of users with differing needs. 1 dead, 1 injured after shooting in Northwest D.C. 7 passengers taken to hospitals after turbulence diverts flight to Dulles. As COVID-19 vaccination rates stall and the delta variant spreads across the United States, school districts in the D.C. area are announcing their plans on whether to require masks this fall. The updated guidance places less emphasize on positive cases and more focus on hospital strain. Visit their official sites here: Virginia | Maryland | D.C. WTOPs Jessica Kronzer contributed to this report. Glenn Youngkin has said hell sign it, perhaps with an emergency clause requiring it be implemented immediately. If the student continues to refuse, school services personnel, including counselors, will be called in to stress to the student the school policy of universal masking. Maintaining the layered prevention strategies is our only way out of this pandemic that has now taken more than 1,400 lives just in Fairfax County.. FCPS Superintendent Dr. Scott Brabrand told WUSA9 that schools are still encouraged to be creative and innovative as social distancing will likely be impossible with over 99.5% of the 180,000 students in the county returning to classrooms. At a public hearing Thursday night, Kimberly Adams, president of the Fairfax Education Association, said, We appreciate requiring masks for all employees will continue until we meet the moderate transmission numbers in our county., In a statement Friday, Adams said, Protecting our most vulnerable staff and students remains our priority. Fairfax County was also one of seven Virginia school systems that sued Gov. "We are also sharing with our students and school leadership that we're asking students that when they're not eating even during lunch time to put their mask on when they're in very close quarters.". Learn more about the process for obtaining information under the VFOIA. The school system said community transmission levels dropped into the substantial category and they hope it could reach moderate community transmission as early as next week. Starting March 14, a test-to-stay program will also be available at every county school in the case of an outbreak. Download the WUSA9 app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips. Like WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Twitter and Instagram to engage in conversation about this article and others. 2023 WTOP. On Thursday, the 12-member school board voted to authorize the countys legal counsel to file an amicus brief in the pending federal case challenging Executive Order No. What's the Difference Between a Crisis and a Concern? Whether anchoring the news inside the Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center or reporting from the scene in Maryland, Virginia or the District, Dick Uliano is always looking for the stories that really impact people's lives. Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter:Your forecast. Brabrands announcement makes the school system the latest to announce plans to comply with a recently passed state law enabling parents to decide if their kids wear masks to school. , the schools student newspaper to a variety of users with differing needs among eligible students is still too,. And follow WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Facebook and follow on! Would announce an update to their policy later Friday federal and state regulations and in reference industrial. 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