Northam tells school districts to offer in-person learning by March 15

Push has come to shove for Virginia’s school districts that remain fully virtual, as Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday that they must begin to offer in-person learning by March 15.

In a letter to the state’s school superintendents, Northam wrote: “To prevent irreparable learning loss and psychological damage, I expect every school division in the Commonwealth to make in-person learning options available by March 15, 2021, in accordance with the latest guidance.”

About two-thirds of Virginia’s 132 school districts are offering some form of in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic, including phased approaches that prioritize the youngest students. An additional 40 school systems, including Richmond’s, offer no in-person options, according to the state’s tally.

School districts that aren’t offering in-person instruction have seen a large drop in enrollment, according to data from the Virginia Department of Education. About 45,000 students have left since Virginia’s public schools were shuttered last March.

Read more: https://richmond.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/updated-northam-tells-school-districts-to-offer-in-person-learning-by-march-15/article_2795371b-daa6-5d57-a531-4b03d95a9d55.html