Northam tells school districts to offer in-person learning by March 15 [View all]

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