Download the apps today for live newscasts and video on demand. View important information about our policy and find out who to contact if you have questions or concerns. 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. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Reverts to original layout including graphics and images, Gloria Addo-Ayensu, M.D., M.P.H.,Director of Health. We want all families to be confident that their children are learning in a safe, supportive environment. 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. WebFairfax County Public Schools unveiled plans to scale back mask rules and other COVID-19 restrictions. We want all families to be confident that their children are learning in a safe, supportive environment., At Thursday nights school board meeting, Fairfax County School Board Chair Stella Pekarsky shared a statement on behalf of the board, noting: We strongly recommend that parents and students continue to have their children wear masks in school.. Learn more about the process for obtaining information under the VFOIA. Fairfax, VA 22035. Several school systems are lifting their mask mandates early. Web accessibility ensures access to the web for everyone, regardless of disability. But now is not the time, at the greatest surge we ever had in the pandemic. FCPS says student screening testing will be available during moderate, substantial and high community transmission to the greatest extent possible, in alignment with CDC guidance. Gov. Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here. All Rights Reserved. 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. Please wear a mask. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order stating that parents can choose whether their child wears a face covering to school as of Monday, Jan. 24. Superintendent Scott Brabrand briefed school district principals Friday on the updated mask policy, which says, Any student who refuses to wear a face covering while indoors on school property or during FCPS-provided transportation, and who is not otherwise exempt will be precluded access to face-to-face instructional programming until Test-to-stay enables unvaccinated close contacts to remain in school if they test negative for the first five days after exposure. ). Neal Augenstein has been a reporter at WTOP since 1997. According to the school system, FCPS will implement our roll back strategy when the Fairfax Community reaches moderate transmission and remains there for seven consecutive days,. January 26, 2022. Citing new information about the variant's ability to spread among vaccinated people, the CDC also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors at schools nationwide, regardless of vaccination status. #OneFCPS, RELATED: CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday. While the county says its rollback plan will be triggered by a drop in cases, the plan may become moot if lawmakers in Richmond continue to advance mask-optional legislation that would prohibit local school boards from imposing mask mandates. MPD: 26-year-old man arrested for engaging in unwanted sexual contact with a woman in NW DC, Man under arrest for engaging in unwanted sexual contact with a woman in Northwest DC, police say, 7 injured on flight to Germany that had emergency landing at Dulles, Snowy and cold or dry and warm? Now is the time to stay the course, Fairfax County schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand said. However, a ruling by Circuit Court Judge James Fisher immediately barred the countys public school system from enforcing its mask mandate. 2023 WTOP. Glenn Youngkins executive order prohibiting school mask mandates. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. You can read the full item I introducedhere. "Masks will be worn at all times by both staff and students indoors and on school buses, but are not required when eating or when outside during recess, PE, or other activities," FCPS said in its letter to parents. As Fairfax County public school students return to classes Tuesday, following an extra-long weekend, school officials have outlined a plan to enforce the policy of mask-wearing in schools. 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. Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story. Here's where mask mandates are in effect in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. 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. If the House passes the bill, Gov. WebFor Rent - 4850 Slatestone Ct, Fairfax, VA - $4,300. Must have good credit. We all seek a moment when we can go to creating mask-optional conditions. Scott Gelman | sgelman@wtop.com. Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Wearing masks will be optional for students beginning March 1. Fairfax County Public Schools issued a reminder that its policy on wearing masks has not changed. Remove all graphics and images from the website so that only the text and links are visible. 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. Here's what we are predicting for winter this year, Find out what your school district is doing about masks this upcoming semester, Masks required in Montgomery County schools for 2021-2022 school year, DCPS will require masks for all teachers and students in the fall, VERIFY: Here's why the CDC recommends masks for vaccinated people, CDC reverses course on indoor masks in parts of US where COVID is surging. Virginia, at the state level: State officials strongly recommend that many students and staff members wear masks inside schools this fall, but they opted to give individual districts flexibility to set rules that take local coronavirus data into account. In a 8-1 vote, the Board passed my motion to support the Fairfax County School Board in their decision to require masks in school only until such time as it is safe to not require them. 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. Health department authority may be applied in significant outbreak situations. This announcement comes after Virginia Glenn Youngkin to stop his executive order making masks in schools optional, questioning the order's constitutionality. Glenn Youngkin signed into law a bill that requires schools in the Commonwealth to make mask-wearing optional by March 1. Spotsylvania County: The school board voted 6-1 on Monday night to strongly urge students in all grades to wear masks this fall. Policies under review by the School Board are listed inBoardDocs under the library tab. The school board said they endorsed the interim superintendents decision in order to protect students and staff. "We do not expect to be in a position where we need to close classrooms or schools this year.". Like WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Twitter and Instagram to engage in conversation about this article and others. Fairfax County Public Schools is also dropping its mask requirement based on a new state law allowing a mask opt-out for students. This page explains how FCPS gathers information on our web site and with whom and under what conditions we share this information. "If there is a need to do something with an individual student - we're not looking at classroom or school-wide closures," Brabrand said. Chevy Chase, MD 20815. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM, plans to comply with a recently passed state law enabling parents to decide if their kids wear masks, previously announced plans to make masks optional once, county was listed as experiencing substantial community transmission, seven Virginia school systems that sued Gov. Neighboring counties in Virginia such as Prince William, Loudoun, Arlington and the City of Alexandria have also made masks optional in schools. Fairfax County Superintendent Scott Brabrand says this year, they'll likely only require the people who test positive to quarantine. D.C., Maryland and Virginia are each releasing more data every day. If there is an exposure in schools, the school will notify affected families, per FCPS. Contact the Health Department Call Center with questions, 703-267-3511. The school pointed to its dress code policy as a reference for how it will handle any situation where a student won't wear a mask. WebRestraint and Seclusion Policy The Fairfax County School Board has approved a new policy on Restraint and Seclusion, effective 12/17/2020. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. Fairfax County was also one of seven Virginia school systems that sued Gov. During his time in College Park, he worked for The Diamondback, the schools student newspaper. 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. 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. FAIRFAX, Va. Fairfax County Public Schools will make mask-wearing optional on school property starting Tuesday. WebCONTACT INFORMATION: Our administration office at 10777 Main Street in Fairfax is open during regular business hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. 5425 Wisconsin Ave There are still many anxious staff and parents of immunocompromised students. Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter:Your forecast. News4's Julie Carey reports. We must continue to respect and serve all our students, including our most vulnerable.. Through the years, Neal has covered many of the crimes and trials that have gripped the region. I have a child in the school system, and Ive been really worried about her going into the schools without universal masking, so I really, really appreciate that you are staying the course, Joan Goldfarb said. In a letter to parents, the school district announced that masks will be required for all students and staff regardless of vaccination status. To the Fairfax County Community, In a 8-1 vote, the Board passed my motion to support the Fairfax County School Board in their decision to COVID-19 call center hours are MondayFriday, 9am5pm. Arlington County will leave their mask mandate in place until March 1. A called the #SeeOurSmiles campaign said it planned to rally in protest at Langley High School and Forestville Elementary School Tuesday in opposition to the mask policy, but News4 visited both schools and no rallies were underway. In a Monday evening Zoom session for the community, officials said that any student without a religious or medical exemption not wearing a mask in school will first be reminded of the requirement. The superintendent of the Fairfax County, Virginia, public schools said the school mask mandate will be lifted March 1 in accordance with a new law, but remains in place for now. Instead, the Virginia school system is defying the states governor and enforcing a pointless universal-masking regime. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. Fairfax County Public Schools will require masks for everyone inside schools whenever students are present, regardless of vaccination status, information The Virginia Senate passed a bill on Wednesday allowing parents to ignore local school boards mandates on children wearing masks in school. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. All Rights Reserved. Parents taking part in the Zoom staked out both sides of the dispute. Fairfax, VA 22035. 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. As Fairfax County public school students return to classes Tuesday following an extra-long weekend, school officials have outlined a plan to enforce the policy of mask-wearing in schools. FAIRFAX, Va. Fairfax County Public Schools will make mask-wearing optional on school property starting Tuesday. The Fairfax County Health Department is responsible for contact tracing. Efforts to vaccinate students are ongoing. D.C., Maryland and Virginia are each releasing more data every day. If that effort fails to persuade the student to mask up, parents will be contacted to direct the student to comply. 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.. To change the language of this website, click the drop-down list and select the desired language. Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable and supportive school environment. The updated guidance places less emphasize on positive cases and more focus on hospital strain. FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. Fairfax County Public Schools will require masks to be worn at all times by students and staff indoors and on school buses to To change the language of this website, click the drop-down list and select the desired language. If you test positive for COVID-19, isolate and inform your contacts to stop the spread. A South Florida native, Scott graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019. Glenn Youngkins executive order giving parents the right to decide whether their student wears a mask in school, school officials said mask-wearing in schools will be enforced. Seven school districts in Virginia sued Gov. Make an appointment at www.vaccines.gov or find a location near you. All Rights Reserved. 5425 Wisconsin Ave "I feel like it's totally fine and I'm happy to send them back to school with masks," parent Megan Jaster said. The news comes as the CDC reversed course on mask wearing, now recommending that people in certain areas should wear masks indoors even if they have been vaccinated against the virus. If the student still refuses, school official said the student will be excluded from in-person learning. We think this will likely put a burden on the system because more educators will be forced to apply for ADA accommodations, take leave, or depart the field of education entirely. School districts in Northern Virginia are taking different approaches to mask guidelines. By the school board has approved a new policy on Restraint and Seclusion policy the fairfax County Schools. Student newspaper or concerns, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Health WTOP on Facebook and follow on... Fcps gathers information on our web site and with whom and under what conditions we share this information school! Call Center with questions, 703-267-3511 find a location near you focus on strain. 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