All VA Schools Are Now Open For Full-Time, In-Person Learning; Northam Touts Safety

VIRGINIA — All 132 school divisions in Virginia are now open for full-time, in-person learning as of this week, according to a release from Gov. Ralph Northam's office.

Getting all of the state's 1.2 million public school students back in their classrooms for in-person instruction has been a priority of the governor's administration.

“Students learn best when they are in their classroom, and I am proud that all of Virginia’s school divisions are now providing safe, in-person instruction,” he said, in a release on Thursday. “The Commonwealth’s teachers and families have worked hard to adjust to virtual and hybrid learning during the pandemic — because of their continued work, Virginia’s children are now safely back in school.”

Northam's announcement came on the same day as the University of Mary Washington released the result of a survey saying the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic by Virginia's school districts was generally effective. This was despite the protests of a small percentage of residents who believe their local school systems were not taking the right measures to address the crisis.

Both announcements coincided with First Lady Pamela Northam wrapping up her yearly Back-To-School Tour, in which she visited 28 schools and 26 school divisions, as well as all eight superintendent regions. The tour was a chance for the First Lady and her husband's administration to demonstrate in-person learning could be done safely.

“After four years on the road at over 200 schools and programs, we have never seen students so excited to be back in the classroom totally engaged in learning with their peers,” Pamela Northam said, in the release. “Thanks to superhero educators, Virginia's children will emerge from this pandemic stronger and more resilient than ever before.”

The First Lady's advocacy for earth childhood education is credited with helping the administration to assure that a record number of 3- and 4 year olds — 25,000 — now have access to early learning programs.

Related: VA Schools Get Passing Grades In Handling COVID-19: UMW Survey

On Sept. 10, Pamela Northam visited Main Street Child Development Center in Fairfax City to see how recent state, local and federal funding is being used to provide affordable childcare for working families.

"What joy was in the children's faces," Northam said, after the visit. "To see their amazing enthusiasm for learning in-person here in this school. Not only are they safe, they're learning. They're being challenged by their peers and their wonderful teachers, and making great progress."

Thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act; the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020; and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Virginia schools are receiving $3.6 billion in federal funding to assist them in their recovery and reopening efforts. Virginia has also kicked in $205.8 million to mitigate the decline in per-student funding due to the pandemic, as well $40 million to help with the problem of unfinished learning.