Return to Learn
'Return to Learn' Resources
Prince George County Public Schools Resources
Return to Learn Instructional Plan for 2020-2021 (LINK)
PGCPS Health Mitigation Plan (LINK)
PGCPS Preparations of Possible Scenarios for 'Return to Learn' in Fall 2020 (LINK)
Presented to PG School Board on 6-1-2020
Health Requirements for School Reentry (LINK)
Preparing to Safely Reopen Schools for 20-21 School Year (LINK)
Presented to PG School Board on 8-6-2020
Return to Learn Frequently Asked Questions (LINK)
PGCPS Update on Planning for 'Return to Learn' (LINK)
Presented to PG School Board on 7-13-2020
PGCPS 'Return to Play' Plan (LINK)
NEW: Preparing to Safely Welcome More Students Back to Campus (LINK)
Presented to PG School Board on 11-2-2020
'Recover, Redesign, Restart' (LINK, PDF)
Virginia's Return to School Plan - VDOE
Information & Resources from State Officials
Virginia Department of Education (LINK)
School Reopening FAQ (LINK)
Virginia Department of Education
Interim Guidance to K-12 School Reopening (LINK, PDF)
Virginia Department of Education
K-12 Guidance Joint Letter (LINK, PDF)
Virginia Department of Education
Virginia Department of Health - K-12 Resources (LINK)
Virginia Department of Education
COVID-19: A Parent Guide for School-Aged Children (LINK)
Virginia Department of Education
Information & Resources from Health Officials
VDH Crater Health District (LINK)
Virginia Department of Health (LINK)
Centers for Disease Control (LINK)
CDC: COVID-19 FAQ (LINK)
American Academy of Pediatrics (LINK)
AAP: COVID-19 Guidance for Safe Schools (LINK)
This page will be updated regularly with new information. Please check back often for additional content, updates, and other resources.
Return to Learn: Resuming Instruction Safely
On June 9, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam announced a phased reopening of K-12 schools in the Commonwealth, which gradually permits in-person instruction to resume while prioritizing the health and safety of students and staff. To minimize the disparate impacts closures have had on students, this approach prioritizes the needs of students who have been most impacted by school building closures.
It simultaneously recognizes the disruption closures have had on all students and seeks to bring them back to the classroom as soon as it is safe and practicable.
With this guidance, Prince George County Public Schools has begun work to welcome our students back to class in a manner that reflects the guidelines set forth by state health officials to protect our children, their families, and our faculty and staff.
On June 1, the superintendent presented possible scenarios for PGCPS’ ‘Return to Learn’ for Fall 2020. The details of that presentation can be viewed in the ‘RESOURCES’ Panel of our ‘Return to Learn’ page or by clicking HERE.
Before PGCPS can resume in-classroom instruction as part of Phase II or Phase III of Virginia's Return to School Plan, the school district was required to submit a plan to the Virginia Department of Education that outlines our strategies for mitigating public health risk of COVID-19 and complying with CDC and VDH recommendations. That plan was submitted to VDOE on June 17. PGCPS' Health Mitigation Plan can be viewed in the 'RESOURCES' panel of our 'Return to Learn' page or by clicking HERE.
Additionally, as the 2020-2021 School Year approaches, PGCPS will also submit a plan to the VDOE for providing new instruction to our students in the 2020-2021 academic year, including in-classroom, blended education (comprised of in-classroom and virtual/remote instruction), and virtual/remote instruction.
On July 13, the superintendent presented an update on planning efforts related to 'Return to Learn' for Fall 2020. The details of that presentation can be viewed in the ‘RESOURCES’ Panel of our ‘Return to Learn’ page or by clicking HERE.
On July 16, the school district shared a 'Return to Learn' Frequently Asked Questions page that will be regularly updated with answers to questions from our community. That document can be viewed in the 'RESOURCES' panel of our 'Return to Learn' page or by clicking HERE.
On August 6, the school district presented an update that detailed how PGCPS will resume instruction safely for our students through offerings of both in-person and virtual/remote instruction. That document can be viewed in the 'RESOURCES' panel of our 'Return to Learn' page or by clicking HERE.
On August 12, Prince George County Public Schools submitted its instructional plan to the Virginia Department of Education. This plan details how PGCPS will provide new instruction to all students in the 2020-2021 academic year, regardless of phase or the operational status of the school division at the time. This plan also include strategies to address learning lost due to spring 2020 school closures. It also includes a plan for fully remote instruction should public health conditions require it. That document can be viewed in the 'RESOURCES' panel of our 'Return to Learn' page or by clicking HERE.
A well-developed plan is only possible with the valuable feedback of our parents and community whose input will help shape how PGCPS resumes instruction in a manner that continues to provide quality education to all of our students in-person or remotely while protecting the health and safety of our children, their families, and the community.
Use the 'RESOURCES' panel to learn more about PGCPS' efforts to 'Return to Learn' and Virginia's Return to School Plan published by the Virginia Department of Education, along with information from our partners at the Virginia Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control regarding COVID-19.
Key COVID-19-Related Definitions & Information
Isolation: Isolation is used to separate people infected with COVID-19 from people who are not infected. People who have symptoms of COVID-19 are able to recover at home and those who have no symptoms (are asymptomatic) but have tested positive for infection should isolate themselves, monitor their symptoms, and wear a face covering when around others, if possible. (CDC)
Quarantine: Quarantine is used to separate someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 and may develop illness away from other people. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they have the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a quarantine period of 14 days, but options exist to shorten a quarantine for those who are not exhibiting symptoms during daily monitoring. These include:
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Ending an individual's quarantine after ten days without testing if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring, or
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After seven days following a negative PCR or antigen test result (test must occur on Day 5 or later)
The CDC's guidance is being utilized by the Virginia Department of Health as part of its quarantine procedures. (VDH)
Close Contact: Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period* starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated (CDC)
How PGCPS Communicates a Positive Test:
Prince George County Public Schools is committed to protecting the health of our school community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of this is providing communications when someone may have been potentially exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. In accordance with Virginia Department of Health guidelines, individuals who have been deemed to have been in close contact with a positive case of COVID-19 will be notified and asked to quarantine and monitor their health during this time. Close contact is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Virginia Department of Health (VDH) as being within six feet of less of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes cumulatively over a 24-hour period.
Prince George County Public Schools is committed to protecting the privacy of our students and employees by continuing to closely adhere to guidelines put forth in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). As such, we will not disclose any potentially identifiable information regarding individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been asked to quarantine.