Yes, there are options to access the amended locally-awarded verified credit process for students who earned a standard unit of credit in a course prior to the spring of 2020. These flexibilities are as follows:

Students graduating in 2020-2021 or beyond who earned a standard credit prior to the spring 2020 semester, may be eligible for ONE verified credit using the amended locally-awarded verified credit process if they: (1) had not passed the corresponding Standards of Learning (SOL) end-of-course test needed for verified credit with any scaled score; and (2) were scheduled to take the SOL end-of-course test in the spring 2020 test administration; and (3) in spring or summer 2020 were provided with targeted and sustained remediation or enrolled in a course intended to prepare them for taking the previously failed SOL end-of-course test; and (4) demonstrate mastery of the standards, competencies, and objectives of the entire course through a locally-determined verification process.

Students graduating in the fall of 2020 or spring or summer of 2021 ONLY may also be eligible for an additional TWO verified credits using the amended locally-awarded verified credit process if they: (1) pass the corresponding high school course; and (2) have attempted the associated Standards of Learning assessment and receive a score within the 350 – 399 range regardless of when the test attempt was made; and (3) have received targeted and sustained remediation on course content prior to having attempted the SOL end-of-course assessment; and (4) demonstrate mastery of the standards, competencies, and objectives of the entire course through a locally-determined verification process.

Please review the Emergency Guidelines for Locally-Awarded Verified Credits (Word) carefully for additional detail on student and course eligibility for the use of the revised locally-awarded verified credit process.

The CCPS School Board has voted to delay the opening of schools until August 24th, 2020 and has released a Revised 2020-21 School Calendar.

No. Teachers and school staff are considered part of Phase 1B and are eligible to receive a vaccine when their local health districts enter Phase 1B. The January 2021 Interim guidance does not require staff to be vaccinated before schools offer in-person instruction.

In addition to using guidance from the Virginia Department of Education and the Recover, Redesign and Restart Comprehensive Plan, Culpeper Schools has continued to work closely with the Virginia Department of Health related to reopening planning.

Culpeper Schools surveyed parents and staff about concerns and potential instructional models.

CCPS developed a Return to School Task Force comprised of parents, teachers, community members, and representation from the Virginia Department of Health, Emergency Management, Social Services and others. In addition to providing personal input, Task Force members reviewed data from surveys, considered potential mitigation strategies and reviewed potential instructional options. Feedback from the Task Force was shared with the School Board July 13, 2020.

The School Board charged the Superintendent with requiring parents to declare their preferred for their child to receive their education, either:

a) Online- 5 days a week at home with a school division issued device

b) Blended- 2 days a week at school, either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday with 3 days learning remotely from home. Wednesdays would be set aside for cleaning and teacher planning/preparation.

c) Traditional- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with Wednesday set-aside for cleaning and teacher planning/preparation.

July 27, 2020 The CCPS School Board voted to start the school year using a blended model with the option for parents to choose a online-at home option.

The phases for reopening schools provide the parameters of maximum flexibility for in-person instruction that a division may utilize. Nothing prohibits a locality or region from being more stringent than options permitted here, and some divisions or regions may choose to provide fewer in-person offerings in any given phase based on local public health conditions.

The state has outlined the details of the first three phases of reopening schools and resuming in-person instruction. Phase I continues remote learning as the predominant mode of instruction but permits some very limited in-person options including extended school year, special education programs, and child care for working families in school buildings. Phase II expands options to more children, including summer camp in school settings, and in-person instruction for preschool through third graders, and English Learners - for whom in-person instruction is not as easily replaced. Phase III permits in-person instruction for all students, but with strict physical distancing that may require staggered schedules. In all phases, schools should follow school guidance from the CDC, including enhanced social distancing measures, physical distancing, and cleaning, disinfecting and other mitigation strategies.

The Culpeper County School Board has approved their Remote/Blended Learning Plans under Phase III guidance, but understands a shift to full Remote Learning for everyone would be needed if the Governor moves Culpeper back to a lower phase. The School Board will also continue to work on a plan to transition to full in-person learning should Culpeper move beyond Phase III.

Yes. Students will need to have a properly fitted mask covering their nose and mouth in order to enter a building or school bus (with exceptions for documented health reasons). The school will provide a professionally-made, reusable cloth mask to students and will have extra disposable masks in case one is soiled or damaged. These masks will be distributed to parents at a time and location to be announced later.

Generally, all students will be allowed to remove their masks when prompted by staff when sitting in desks or chairs that are six (6) feet apart.

Students will remove their masks once seated for meals and are seated six (6) feet from other

persons.

Masks may be removed when at outdoor recess in elementary schools with six (6) foot distancing. (Recess activities will be structured or modified to promote proper distancing and teachers will watch interactions and separate students accordingly.)

Masks may be removed for physical education (P.E.) activities outdoors with ten (10) feet physical distancing.

Masks may be removed indoors for physical education (P.E.) activities with a physical distance of fifteen (15) feet.

Masks may be removed indoors in large spaces such as an auditorium or cafeteria for choral or wind instrument playing when a physical distance of fifteen (15) feet can be maintained.

CCPS has adopted a six (6) foot physical distancing between desks, chairs, and seats in all spaces. This means not all students attending school will be there on the same day and daily schedules in the schools will be adjusted to lessen the numbers of students in the hallways, at recess, or in the cafeteria. Some students may have to eat meals in their classrooms or other locations.

Just like with wearing a mask, establishing new habits and routines is critical to our effort to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus. Training, training, and more training of children and teens in physical distancing will be provided. As you may have seen in stores and restaurants, floor markings, signs, and spacing of tables, desks and chairs by staff will aid in keeping proper distances.

If the student refuses or continues to not follow physical distancing rules after being re-directed, parents will be notified by the principal or assist principal. If the issue is only on the bus, then the student will be denied bus transportation service. If school is an issue, students may be suspended short-term or have their in-person learning revoked depending upon circumstances. Students who are removed from in-person learning will be provided the online only learning program.

Stay home! Parents, students, and staff are expected to monitor at home for symptoms of COVID-19 before leaving for the bus, school, or work. If they suspect they have symptoms, they are to call their health care provider, and then notify the school nurse or their supervisor.

“Close contacts” are defined by the CDC and VDH as being within six (6) feet of a person who has COVID-19 for at least fifteen (15) minutes or having exposure to respiratory secretions by being coughed or sneezed on, sharing drinking glasses or utensils, or kissing while contagious”.

No. The local Virginia Department of Health (VDH) office will conduct “close contact” tracing whereby they seek to determine who may have had “close contact” with the infected person. Those identified persons will be contacted by VDH staff and it will be public health officials who determine if someone is quarantined or tested.

Children with chronic health conditions may attend in-person learning under a “Health Plan”made in consultation with the child’s healthcare provider. Reasonable accommodations will be made by the school in order to allow the student to attend in-person learning. Some children may be deemed too medically at-risk to attend in-person learning.

The Fall 2o2o Parent Preference Survey was designed to gather data for the CCPS School Board to make a decision about how schools can open. Parents can make a change to their preference when you complete the Annual Returning Student Registration Update that starts August 3rd.

Parents are being asked to commit to their learning preference for the 1st 9 weeks or until Culpeper moves to the "Beyond Phase III" status. Individuals requesting a change after schools open may do so by contacting their child's school; however, a move to Blended Learning will be based on available seats in the building.

CCPS issued Chromebooks to all students Pre-k through 12th grade. Chromebooks were distributed from the student's school in August. New enrollees should check with their schools to receive a device.

Call the CCPS Helpdesk at 540-829-2040 if you need technical assistance.

CCPS is required to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with IEPs by ensuring that they have access to a learning platform that is comparable to those being provided to their peers. The context of the general education offering will be considered as the basis for appropriate and reasonable special education services to ensure the provision of FAPE to students with IEPs.

Special education case managers will begin contacting parents to amend IEPs to reflect the instructional model that will be in place for each student with an IEP at the start of the 2020-2021 school year. To the greatest extent possible within the context of the available instructional model(s), CCPS will provide students with disabilities with the services contained in their current IEPs. However, revisions will need to be made to reflect that at least part of this school year will not be the same as in previous years.

In many cases, instructional accommodations may be met in a virtual environment by providing additional supports, such as an individualized telephone call or video conferencing. IEP Teams will determine any changes in services, accommodations/modifications, and supports that are needed for students to access remote or blended instruction.

Based on guidance from the VDOE, staff will spend the first several weeks of school engaged in instructional and assessment activities to determine each student’s present level of performance. If necessary and/or requested by parents, staff will schedule IEP meetings to consider additional services and/or accommodations to mitigate the impact of the recent school closing.

Special education staff will provide intensive instruction and supports to address skill and performance deficits related to mitigating the spread of the coronavirus (eg, wearing masks, washing hands, and physical distancing etc). If, after specialized instruction, students cannot adhere to required health and safety measures, IEP teams may need to convene to consider an alternate instructional model.

More information about how the modified opening of schools will impact CTE courses can be found at the CCPS CTE Website.

Yes. Generally, employees are to wear a properly-fitted mask covering their nose and mouth to enter a school, CCPS department building, or in a shared CCPS vehicle.

Employees are to wear a mask when walking through main hallways, when in restrooms, and when in other shared areas such as staff kitchens, workrooms, breakrooms, and lounges (unless eating or drinking).

Employees interacting with others less than six (6) feet distance are to wear a mask.