MCPS 'Deeply Disappointed' By Last-Minute Back-To-School Plan

SILVER SPRING, MD — Maryland's largest school system said on Thursday it was "deeply disappointed" by the state's last-minute announcement that all 24 school districts could begin fully reopening for in-person classes.

Gov. Larry Hogan's announcement comes four days before many Maryland schools start their 2020-2021 academic year. Montgomery County Public Schools has already decided to hold classes online for the fall semester.

"We are deeply disappointed by the last-minute announcement of this critical information for school systems," Montgomery County officials said in a statement. "MCPS will begin the school year in a virtual-only instructional model on August 31, as scheduled. We know many in our community will have questions about what this new guidance means for our students. Please allow us time to thoughtfully assess these important developments and continue to prepare for a successful start to the school year."

Hogan cannot force schools to reopen for in-person instruction, but he did urge local school systems to reconsider their plans for the upcoming academic year.

"There is broad and overwhelming agreement that finding a way to begin safely returning children to classrooms must be a top priority," Hogan said. "There is no substitute for in-person instruction."

All school districts had to submit plans for the upcoming school year by Aug. 14 to the Maryland State Department of Education. Eight jurisdictions, including Montgomery County, did not submit reopening plans that would allow students to return for any in-person instruction in any capacity, Hogan said.

"Perhaps it was easier for a local school board to simply say they don't want to open than to say they have developed no plans to safely reopen," the governor said.

State health authorities and education officials said they have developed metrics for allowing school systems to bring children in for some in-person learning.

Those reopening metrics include:

• having a test positivity rate below 5 percent over a seven-day period
• having five cases or fewer per 100,000 people

Jurisdictions with higher case rates should be able to put in a hybrid model with some in-person instruction, according to Acting Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Jinlene Chan.

In a statement posted on the MCPS website, school administrators say they are working with county health officials on possibly letting small groups of students, such as those in special education programs, return to school in a safe manner.

They added that the county's Board of Education will meet in the coming weeks to discuss a plan for the upcoming school year.

Montgomery County continues to have the highest number of deaths in the state. It also has the second highest number of confirmed cases, after Prince George's County. As of Friday, Aug. 28, Montgomery County has recorded 779 coronavirus deaths and 19,806 infections.

SEE ALSO:

• Maryland Schools May Begin Safely Reopening: Governor Hogan