Category Archive

Dear DCPS Community, Across DC Public Schools, it is exciting to see students are settling into their classes and new routines, building friendships, and connecting with their teachers. The well-being of our students and staff is our priority. We recognize that with our robust health and safety measures in place, this school year feels different for most students and families. We know families have questions, and we are committed to keeping you informed about our health and safety measures. Today’s email covers:       What happens when there is a COVID-19 positive case at your child’s school.     What to do if your child feels unwell or tests positive for COVID-19.    What should I do if my child doesn’t feel well?  Each day, families should follow our daily symptoms checklist (often referred to as “Ask. Ask. Look.”) to monitor for any symptoms of COVID-19 before your student leaves for school. If your child is not feeling well or is showing any symptoms, they should stay home.   Your school can also provide information about the learning materials available for your student while they are unwell and can arrange for an at-home technology device to be available if you need … Read More

Dear DCPS Community, DC Public Schools has a responsibility to provide every student with an equitable, rigorous, and joyful education — no matter if they are learning at home or learning in school. While we planned to offer in-person learning at the start of Term 2 for select elementary school students, this timeline will need to be adjusted. This means all students in grades PK-12 will now begin Term 2 on Monday, November 9 with learning at home. Please also note that this week’s academic calendar will not shift as previously announced. We apologize for any inconvenience this update may cause. Monday, Nov. 2 — Instructional day Tuesday, Nov. 3 — Election Day; no school for students and teachers Wednesday, Nov. 4 — Instructional day Thursday, Nov. 5 — Instructional day Friday, Nov. 6 — No school for students; 1/2 Records Day and 1/2 Professional Development Day for teachers We commit to supporting our students, families, teachers, and staff in our urgent mission to safely reopen schools. We have heard feedback from many in our community about #ReopenStrong plans, and we will use this moment to adjust our timeline and staffing plans for reopening. We are still taking steps to reopen and will … Read More

Dear DCPS Community, Since the onset of the COVID-19 public health emergency, DC Public Schools has remained grounded in the firm belief that to best serve students furthest from opportunity, learning should take place in the classroom with clear safety precautions. This is a responsibility we take very seriously, and we would not present school reopening plans that did not prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and families. While our current reopening plans are focused on elementary schools, our health and safety commitments apply to anyone who may return to the classroom. We cannot reopen our schools without our educators. DCPS has engaged in more than 100 hours of discussions with the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) around reopening plans, including health and safety matters. We will continue to act in good faith with everyone, including the WTU, to ensure students are able to access high-quality instruction and the resources they need and deserve. Earlier today, I joined Mayor Bowser to detail how DCPS will implement all health and safety precautions for school reopening outlined by DC Health, as well as additional safeguards recommended by our union partners. You can review our full presentation here (begins on … Read More

Dear DCPS Students and Families, DC Public Schools (DCPS) stands with our community in grieving the recent tragic deaths of George Floyd, a Black man in Minnesota, and Tony McDade, a Black Trans man in Florida. I share in the hurt, confusion, and anger about what is happening in the District and around the nation. Our community will not tolerate any actions or policies that sanction or perpetuate racism and racial violence. Now more than ever, we must turn attention to our ray of hope, our children. DCPS and the District will continue to support our young people by having courageous conversations with them around race to cultivate a brighter future. As a support to our families who are grappling with extremely difficult events and engaging in complex, challenging conversations, DCPS is providing access to anti-racism resources for you and your family. As our community navigates this moment together, I encourage you to take time to reflect, listen, and engage with one another. Event: Talking about race with your child As a part of our DCPS Parent University series, we are offering a free online workshop, “Talking about Race with Your Child” this Wednesday, June 3 at 5:30 p.m. You … Read More

Dear DCPS Community, During this unprecedented public health emergency, DC Public Schools (DCPS) remains committed to ensuring the well-being of our students, staff, and school communities. Thank you for your continued support as our district works to mitigate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). In challenging times like these, we see our DCPS values in action every day: Students First as our incredible educators create dynamic lessons so that our students can continue learning;Teamwork as our district works closely with our interagency partners under the leadership of Mayor Bowser; andCourage as our dedicated operational staff take steps to continue necessary services and clean school buildings for our staff and students. I am writing to provide an update on our district’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19) and to share additional resources to support your student and family. DCPS at Home: Distance Learning Lessons for Students Distance learning will start next week on Tuesday, March 24 after Spring Break (March 17 to March 23.) DCPS prepared printed packets of materials for every grade level from Pre-K through 8th grade and each graduation requirement course for 9-12th grade. Some students may have already received these materials last week from their teachers prior to closing for … Read More

Dear DC Public Schools Community, On March 11, 2020, in order to provide additional coordination for the District’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), Mayor Muriel Bowser declared both a state of emergency and a public health emergency. During this unprecedented public health emergency, DC Public Schools (DCPS) remains committed to ensuring the well-being of our students and school communities. Therefore, starting Monday, March 16 through Tuesday, March 31, DCPS will modify operations to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in our region. In our ongoing efforts to address community health risks and ensure the continuity of learning for our students, DCPS will follow an updated schedule between March 16 and March 31: Monday, March 16 — Teachers and staff will report to school to plan for distance learning. No school for students.Tuesday, March 17 to Monday, March 23 — DCPS will take its Spring Break for students and teachers. There will no longer be a Spring Break period in April.Tuesday, March 24 to Tuesday, March 31 — Students will participate in distance learning.Wednesday, April 1 — Schools will resume operations. During this period, there will also be no school-sponsored activities such as athletics, extracurriculars, field trips, events, or afterschool … Read More

Dear DCPS Community: Following guidance issued by DC Health on canceling non-essential mass gatherings, DC Public Schools (DCPS) is taking preventative measures around travel and high-attendance events for students and staff. Effectively immediately, DCPS will enact the following: • Restrictions on Large Gatherings: Non-essential District-wide and individual school events that accommodate approximately 500 people in one room will be canceled through March 31. This may include assemblies, athletics events, and field trips. To that end, tomorrow night’s 5th Annual Math Bowl at Roosevelt High School is canceled. Recognizing the situation is dynamic, we will continue to provide critical updates around this guidance, as needed. • Student Travel: DCPS-sponsored student travel outside the District of Columbia is suspended through May 1. This includes out-of-state and international field trips. • Staff Travel: DCPS-sponsored staff travel is limited to essential duties only. Reminder: No School for Students on Monday, March 16 Earlier today, we also notified students and families of a change in our school schedule for next week. Students will not be in session on Monday, March 16 to accommodate a Professional Development Day for staff to ensure that our educators are fully equipped to support distance learning as needed. Students will no longer have the day off on … Read More

Good morning DCPS Community, DC Public Schools (DCPS) continues to prioritize student and staff safety as the region addresses the coronavirus (COVID-19). As part of DCPS’ emergency response planning, there will be a shift in school schedules for the week of March 16. This announcement affects both teachers and students. The scheduled Professional Development Day for teachers on Friday, March 20 will now take place on Monday, March 16. Schools will be closed for students on Monday, March 16, with classes resuming for the rest of the week. Students will no longer have the day off on Friday, March 20. Calendar for week of March 16 DC Health continues to report no widespread community transmission of COVID-19, and prevention remains our priority. However, this situation remains dynamic, and preparation is critical every day. With this in mind, DCPS is accelerating our planning timeline with teachers and school leaders to ensure that our educators are fully equipped to support distance learning as needed. As part of their Professional Development Day next week, teachers and school leaders will focus on academic contingency planning that best serves the entire DCPS school community. Instructional contingency plans are underway that will allow meaningful, relevant learning … Read More