To read the full statement from Fairfax Schools. 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. We recognize our responsibilities to make reasonable accommodations for students to meet their personal religious obligations, ensure that it neither promotes nor discourages religion in the schools, and permit student-initiated religious expression to the same extent that it permits other student speech. "The more protections or layers of protection we can do is important to me," Perez said. 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. Scott Gelman | sgelman@wtop.com. Remove all graphics and images from the website so that only the text and links are visible. 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. 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. Fairfax County Public School students will return to class Tuesday after a long weekend, and masks will still be required despite an order from the Virginia Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The Fairfax County School Board has approved a new policy on Restraint and Seclusion, effective 12/17/2020. Schools follow established guidelines to offer books in their libraries that meet the needs of students and reflect a global society. All rights reserved. However, a ruling by Circuit Court Judge James Fisher immediately barred the countys public school system from enforcing its mask mandate. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM. FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. Fairfax County Public Schools has created a plan that details how they will implement their roll-back strategy on masks and other Your commute. In new guidance Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended masks indoors for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status. Fairfax County was also one of seven Virginia school systems that sued Gov. Contact the School Board Office to request more information or to obtain a copy of a policy, regulation, or notice from the historical records. In the event of a regional surge, FCPS says it may need to adjust its layered prevention strategies to safely provide in-person instruction. 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 Wearing masks will be optional for students beginning March 1. Clinic services are not offered at this location. 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. In a letter to parents, the school district announced that masks will be required for all students and staff regardless of vaccination status. You can read the full item I introducedhere. Adding that clause would kick the bill back to the state House and Senate for another vote. 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. If the student still refuses, school official said This morning 30 Woodgrove students (out of a student body of 1,585) refused to wear a mask. Prince William County said they would announce an update to their policy later Friday. VisitRecent Changesfor policies that have been updated in the last 45 days. Fairfax County Public Schools announced plans to scale back its COVID-19 prevention measures as cases decline. 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%. Masks arent the only policy change FCPS announced will change as transmission rates dip. Tenant occupied. The county had previously announced plans to make masks optional once community transmission, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fell into the moderate transmission range. We all seek a moment when we can go to creating mask-optional conditions. Prince Georges County: Masks will be required for students, teachers and staff inside Prince Georges County Public Schools this fall, officials said Monday. Loudoun County, for example, announced hours after Youngkin signed the bill that they would lift their mask mandate Feb. 22. Our steps forward will be measured and guided by expert recommendations and local health data," said Scott S. Brabrand, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools. The Fauquier County School Board voted Thursday night to comply with Youngkins order, joining Spotsylvania and Culpeper counties in removing the mask Screening testing wont be offered during low transmission. 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., NEW - Fairfax County Public Schools will require face masks this fall for everyone inside schools, regardless of vaccination status, when students are present. These changes are evidence that we are entering a new phase of the pandemic, Brabrand wrote. There are still many anxious staff and parents of immunocompromised students. This announcement comes after Virginia Gov. School districts in Northern Virginia are taking different approaches to mask guidelines. If that effort fails to persuade the student to mask up, parents will be contacted to direct the student to comply. RELATED: Find out what your school district is doing about masks this upcoming semester, RELATED: Masks required in Montgomery County schools for 2021-2022 school year, RELATED: DCPS will require masks for all teachers and students in the fall. 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. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Our layered prevention strategies have proven effective in keeping transmission rates low in our schools.". What's the Difference Between a Crisis and a Concern? Seven school districts in Virginia sued Gov. January 28, 2022 3:26 PM. Make an appointment at www.vaccines.gov or find a location near you. 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. View details, map and photos of this single family property with 5 bedrooms and 4 total baths. Glenn Youngkin. Businesses have the right to set up requirements on their own. Efforts to vaccinate students are ongoing. This site is designed to be accessible to a variety of users with differing needs. Visit their official sites here: Virginia | Maryland | D.C. WTOPs Jessica Kronzer contributed to this report. @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/2BjSPYbs4g. "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.". Schools follow established guidelines to offer books in their libraries that meet the needs of students and reflect a global society. 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. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. In the end, we will respect the legal process, and we are confident that we have a strong legal case, Brabrand said. School Library Collections All rights reserved. Fairfax will begin its roll back strategy after the surrounding community reaches moderate transmission for seven consecutive days, according to FCPAs The following public health prevention measurescan helplimit the spread of the virus in our community. Fairfax County Public School students will return to class Tuesday after a long weekend, and masks will still be required despite an order from the Virginia governor. Fairfax County Public School students will return to class Tuesday after a long weekend, and masks will still be required despite an order from the Virginia governor. 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. Now is the time to stay the course, Fairfax County schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand said. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. 12000 Government Center Pkwy Glenn Youngkin to stop his executive order making masks in schools optional, questioning the orders constitutionality. We want all families to be confident that their children are learning in a safe, supportive environment. Parents taking part in the Zoom staked out both sides of the dispute. Masks will also be enforced on school buses in accordance with the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public transportation federal COVID-19 guidance. Policies under review by the School Board are listed inBoardDocs under the library tab. But, you won't have to wear masks in private businesses like restaurants and groceries. To change the language of this website, click the drop-down list and select the desired language. There are staff who also want to have added protections in place such as better air purification and higher quality masks.. DC: D.C. Public Schools will require masks, officials said Friday. Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines. Under new CDC guidelines, released Friday, people, including schoolchildren, should wear masks when the risk of COVID-19 is high. Universal masking will only be required during high or substantial community transmission rates, the schools system said. 5425 Wisconsin Ave Like WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Twitter and Instagram to engage in conversation about this article and others. 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. Download the WUSA9 app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips. FAIRFAX, Va. Fairfax County Public Schools will make mask-wearing optional on school property starting Tuesday. 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.. This is going farther than what it needs to be, as far this mandate for masks. He's the author of "A Walking Tour of the Georgetown Set" and "I Got a Song: A History of the Newport Folk Festival.". 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. RELATED: VERIFY: Here's why the CDC recommends masks for vaccinated people, RELATED: CDC reverses course on indoor masks in parts of US where COVID is surging. 2023 WTOP. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. FCPS does not plan to regularly test students or staff for COVID-19 so officials are asking anyone who enters our schools is asked to self-assess and stay home if they are feeling ill or experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19. The amendment was proposed by Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, who recently described school mask mandates as an unscientific and inhumane in a letter urging Fairfax County Public Schools to end the policy soon as possible. Scott Gelman is a digital editor and writer for WTOP. Driver killed after crashing stolen Maserati on Beltway in Fairfax Co. Grand jury indicts DC employee charged with killing 13-year-old boy. "We'll have some outdoor classrooms and outdoor areas in many schools for eating," Brabrand said. Fairfax County Public Schools will require masks for everyone inside schools whenever students are present, regardless of vaccination status, information posted on the school districts website said Wednesday. 1 dead, 1 injured after shooting in Northwest D.C. 7 passengers taken to hospitals after turbulence diverts flight to Dulles. Instead, the Virginia school system is defying the states governor and enforcing a pointless universal-masking regime. Schools CEO Monica Goldson said the vaccination rate among eligible students is still too low, at 50%. #OneFCPS, RELATED: CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday. , according to CDC data collected through Sunday. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. COVID-19 call center hours are MondayFriday, 9am5pm. Fairfax County Public Schools will continue requiring face masks after notching a victory in its lawsuit against Gov. "If there is a need to do something with an individual student - we're not looking at classroom or school-wide closures," Brabrand said. 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. Masks are still required for adults on school property, including staff and teachers, Brabrand said. Brabrand is urging parents to have a talk with their child about their family's preference on mask-wearing in school ahead of Tuesday. We must continue to respect and serve all our students, including our most vulnerable.. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Access the current versions of FCPS policies, regulations, and notices using ourpolicies index. 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. After a large group of students at Woodgrove High School, part of Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), decided to defy the schools mask mandate Monday, LCPS has responded. 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.. "If there is a need to quarantine a particular student we would be reaching out to them," he added. Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here. This page explains how FCPS gathers information on our web site and with whom and under what conditions we share this information. "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. 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. Neal Augenstein has been a reporter at WTOP since 1997. 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. The CDC expressed concern about the evolving coronavirus and the Delta variant. 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 Contact the Health Department Call Center with questions, 703-267-3511. The school system, Brabrand said, will orchestrate contact tracing in limited circumstances when identified by local health officials and wont tell students to quarantine unless theyre identified as a close contact during a school-based outbreak. 1 dead, 1 injured after shooting in Northwest D.C. 7 passengers taken to hospitals after turbulence diverts flight to Dulles. 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. when will chaos space marines get 2 wounds, black bird with white stripe on wing, Have the right to set up requirements on their own bill back to the state and! Closely with our partners in the last 45 days sued Gov me, '' Brabrand said Northern Virginia are different! 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