Dr. Greene presents revised reopening plan for DCPS

DCPS Duval County Public Schools

By Hannah Lee

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene has released the new reopening plan and includes new options for students and parents.

The plan was initially to be released the first week of July but was changed due to the executive order put out on July 6 by the Florida Department of Education.

Some of the changes include at-school learning for all grade levels five days a week. Elementary schools can start that the first day of school, and secondary students can go five days a week starting after labor day. Middle and High Schoolers will be working in a hybrid setting until after Labor Day. That means students will be at school on some days and at home doing work online on other days.

There is also now a Duval Homeroom option for all grade levels. The exception will be electives in the secondary level as those classes are limited. Registration for Duval HomeRoom is now open and will run through July 24. You can register through FOCUS.

Face masks will also now be required on the bus and in school. Pre-K through second grade students will be issued a clear plastic face shield, which may be used instead of a cloth face mask. Students with disabilities or medical conditions that prevent a face covering may also use a clear plastic shield or another reasonable accommodation. Face masks and other coverings will not be required in P.E., recess, band, music and other classes in which the facial covering is an obvious impediment to learning activities.

Parents do have a choice on how they want their students to be enrolled. Students can be enrolled for in-school options, distance learning through Duval HomeRoom, or fully virtual learning through the Duval Virtual Instruction Academy.

“Whatever enrollment option you choose, we are excited and ready to return to teaching and learning on Aug. 10. With courage, flexibility, and understanding, we will get through this pandemic together. I hope you join us on this bridge as we begin the slow, steady walk back to normal,” Greene said.

When it comes to the Exceptional Student Education programs, it varies depending on the school.

  • Students in Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Assigned to General Education Inclusion Classrooms -- All Grades
    • In-School/At Home Hybrid- Refer to grade-level scheduling for non- disabled students.
    • Stay-at-Home- Refer to grade-level options for non-disabled students.
  • Exceptional Student Center Schools- All Grades (Mt. Herman, Oak Hill, Palm Avenue, and Alden Road)
    • In-School- Students will attend school five days a week with appropriate precautions.
    • Stay-at-Home - Students have the option of Duval HomeRoom. Registration for Duval HomeRoom opens on July 14-24 through FOCUS.
  • Low Incidence Self-Contained Programs- All Grades: PK Varying Exceptionalities (PK/VE), Communication Social Skills (CSS), Physically Impaired (PI), Participatory Level Academics (PLA), Supported Level Academics (SLA), Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH), Behavior Supports (BSC)
    • In-School- Students will attend school five days a week with appropriate precautions.
    • Stay-at-Home
      • All Grades: Students on access points standards have the option of Duval HomeRoom. Duval HomeRoom registration is open in FOCUS from July 14-24.
      • All Grades: Students on general education standards have the option of Duval HomeRoom or K-12 Duval Virtual Instruction Academy.
  • PRIDE Academy Grades PK-12
    • In-School
    • Students in PRIDE will follow the same grade level attendance pattern as their non-disabled peers.
    • For secondary school students, the in-school option is a hybrid option until Labor Day. See elementary, middle, and high school enrollment option one for details.
    • Stay-at-Home
      • All Grades: Students on access points standards have the option of Duval HomeRoom. Duval HomeRoom registration is open in FOCUS from July 14-24.
      • All Grades: Students on general education standards have the option of Duval HomeRoom or K-12 Duval Virtual Instruction Academy.

For magnet and choice student who are enrolling in Duval Virtual Instruction Academy will retain their seat for their choice school in 2021-2022. However, because Duval Virtual Instruction Academy is it’s own school, parents will be required to withdraw their student from their current school in order to enroll in Duval Virtual Instruction Academy.

For athletics, DCPS says they are implementing a phased approach to resuming athletics. Conditioning and weightlifting have already resumed for high school students, however no decisions have been made about reopening competitions or involvement of spectators.

Teachers can submit an application to teach virtually for DVIA and/or Duval Homeroom. Applications will be available Wednesday, July 15 through the 22nd. Teachers will be informed of placements starting July 27.

Protocols will be put in place to make sure schools are cleaned and sanitized throughout the day and have nightly cleanings. Deep cleaning and sanitizations on a weekly basis will also occur. Staff will shift to the daytime and overtime will be used in order to cover night time work, if it’s needed.

The full plan can be read here.