In Thursday’s situational update DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), Chancellor of DC Public Schools (DCPS), Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee DC Health Director LaQuandra Nesbitt and Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) Christopher Rodriguez spoke about the District vaccine rollout and DCPS plans for the 2021-2022 school year.
Vaccine Eligibility
Bowser announced that starting tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 19 at 6:00 p.m., DC Health will make 2,450 appointments available for eligible DC residents. This week grocery store workers, social services workers and individuals working in food packaging or manufacturing are now eligible to receive the vaccine.
Grocery store workers include individuals who work at larger chain grocery stores and superstores as well as those who work at smaller establishments that sell food such as convenience stores, neighborhood markets, bodegas, and delis.
Beginning the week of March 1, the vaccine will become available to DC residents over the age of 16 with qualifying medial conditions.
DC residents and workers can schedule an appointment when eligible by visiting coronavirus.dc.gov or by calling (855-363-0333).
DCPS Budget
Bowser and Ferebee laid out plans Thursday for future DCPS funding. He said the District’s public schools are looking to “build back stronger” in the coming year through funding a variety of programs.
Ferebee announced the proposal for these funds that includes $15 million for teacher growth, recruitment and retention, $27 million in student and educator technology, $33 million in student learning acceleration and social emotional supports, $3 million in new school programs and $9 million in learning innovations such as outdoor learning.
As a part of the $33 million effort to accelerate student learning, DCPS plans to offer Acceleration Academies and individualized support through tutoring. The Acceleration Academies are expected to serve 20-35% of students would provide small group support outside of school to help students achieve grade level benchmarks. Tutoring is expected to serve 10% of students and would consist of one-on-one or small group sessions two to five times per week.
Sarah Payne is a History and Neuroscience student at The University of Michigan interning with HillRag. She writes for and serves as an assistant news editor for Michigan’s student newspaper, The Michigan Daily. You can reach her at sarahp@hillrag.com.
