DC Public Schools (DCPS ) has announced that schools will be closed Monday, March 16, to for emergency planning related to COVID-19, or the Coronavirus. This closure will take place instead of the closure previously scheduled for Friday, March 20.
Parents of Public Charter students should check with their school or visit dcpcsb.org. A list of Public Charter Schools closed for reasons related to the Coronavirus is available at dcpcsb.org/school-closings-over-coronavirus-concerns. On Tuesday, the four Center City PCS locations, including one in Shaw and one on Capitol Hill, were all closed.
As of late afternoon Tuesday, March 10 there were 4 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in the District. 15 results are still pending, and 20 results had come back negative.
DC Health says that there is no widespread community transmission of COVID-19, with most cases traced to a known case of infection. The District is emphasizing prevention, but also preparation.
With this in mind, DCPS said they accelerated the planning timeline to ensure that our that the system can support distance or remote learning if schools are closed and such an alternative is needed. “As part of their Professional Development Day next week, teachers and school leaders will focus on academic contingency planning that best serves the entire DCPS school community,” said a press release.
As part of that planning, DCPS is developing resources for every level in grades PK-8 and for each graduation requirement course for grades 9-12, the system said. The resources will be available both in print and online and accessible to every family.
At the March meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B, a representative of the Mayor’s Office told commissioners that if schools were closed plans were already in place to offer meals to students at recreation centers. Those contracts and bookings have already been made, she said. A list of the locations that will be activated is to be forwarded shortly.
Visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/ for the latest COVID-19 information from DC Health.
Questions about DCPS school closures and planning can be sent to ceo.info@k12.dc.gov.
