School System Re-entry - West Virginia Department of Education

Message from West Virginia Superintendent of Schools W. Clayton Burch

When Governor Jim Justice closed schools on March 16, 2020, life changed for most West Virginians. COVID-19 was advancing across the nation, and it was only a matter of time before cases of the disease would be confirmed in the state. All sectors and institutions had to react and regroup as the 267,000-plus children in our state moved to a remote learning model, and families would instantly become homeschoolers working with teachers to keep students engaged… read more

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Re-entry Toolkit

The West Virginia School Re-entry Toolkit serves as guidance for counties as they complete their local plans for the return to school. It provides a framework of requirements and recommendations and is subject to change as the COVID-19 virus evolves in West Virginia.

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Re-entry Toolkit

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Possible Re-Entry Scenarios

County boards of education are presently undertaking the important task of developing school re-entry plans that best address the needs and safety of their students in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The West Virginia Department of Education has proposed various scenarios and considerations that counties may contemplate when determining re-entry. This guidance has been designed to offer flexibility within the fluid nature of COVID-19 in the state. This gives counties a range of allowances when deciding what their particular school days will look like for the upcoming school year.

Scenarios for in-person instruction are designed to create options for counties to make local decisions that best meet the needs of their students. County superintendents working with stakeholders and boards of education will decide the structure of the school schedule. Whether it be reduced days each week or reduced hours each day, re-entry plans must engage all students in learning five days a week.

If utilizing a blended model for learning, schools must consider developmental appropriateness of schedules and use of technology as well as equity and access to broadband.

Close
In-Person and/or Blended Instruction

West Virginia school systems are diligently making operational adjustments to create a safe school setting where students can learn while physically present in the school building. While all efforts are being made to protect students, educators and staff, many families may feel uncomfortable sending their children back into actual school buildings. That is why it is very important to offer West Virginia families of children in grades K-12 virtual public school opportunities and choices for the upcoming academic year. This will ensure parents have some control in the public school choices they make for their students’ education, while allowing students to remain part of their local school family.

There are several virtual learning opportunities for our West Virginia students. Importantly, county virtual school options are free to West Virginia public school students in grades K-12 and may be offered fulltime or part time depending on the students’ needs. Instruction will be provided to students using a West Virginia certified teacher and families can expect the same instructional quality and rigor for their virtual school student as would otherwise be provided in a traditional classroom setting, including in many cases, daily live virtual interaction with the student’s teacher. The virtual school year begins on September 8, 2020, unless there are other COVID-19 concerns which will prevent school from starting statewide on that date.

Virtual school opportunities are not limited to public school students. Both nonpublic and homeschool students may also take advantage of the virtual offerings in their county.

Virtual schools throughout the state are operated by each county board of education. For more information about local virtual school options, please contact your local county board of education.

Close
Existing Virtual Options

or

Districts must be prepared to implement full remote learning should it be required by the Governor. Full remote learning plans require students to complete school assignments and engage remotely five days a week. This will require the teacher and students to communicate regularly and develop a process for monitoring, reviewing and/or grading of student engagement activities.

Close
Full Remote Learning

Scenarios for in-person instruction are designed to create options for counties to make local decisions that best meet the needs of their students. County superintendents working with stakeholders and boards of education will decide the structure of the school schedule. Whether it be reduced days each week or reduced hours each day, re-entry plans must engage all students in learning five days a week.

If utilizing a blended model for learning, schools must consider developmental appropriateness of schedules and use of technology as well as equity and access to broadband.

Close
In-Person and/or Blended Instruction

West Virginia school systems are diligently making operational adjustments to create a safe school setting where students can learn while physically present in the school building. While all efforts are being made to protect students, educators and staff, many families may feel uncomfortable sending their children back into actual school buildings. That is why it is very important to offer West Virginia families of children in grades K-12 virtual public school opportunities and choices for the upcoming academic year. This will ensure parents have some control in the public school choices they make for their students’ education, while allowing students to remain part of their local school family.

There are several virtual learning opportunities for our West Virginia students. Importantly, county virtual school options are free to West Virginia public school students in grades K-12 and may be offered fulltime or part time depending on the students’ needs. Instruction will be provided to students using a West Virginia certified teacher and families can expect the same instructional quality and rigor for their virtual school student as would otherwise be provided in a traditional classroom setting, including in many cases, daily live virtual interaction with the student’s teacher. The virtual school year begins on September 8, 2020, unless there are other COVID-19 concerns which will prevent school from starting statewide on that date.

Virtual school opportunities are not limited to public school students. Both nonpublic and homeschool students may also take advantage of the virtual offerings in their county.

Virtual schools throughout the state are operated by each county board of education. For more information about local virtual school options, please contact your local county board of education.

Close
Existing Virtual Options

or

Districts must be prepared to implement full remote learning should it be required by the Governor. Full remote learning plans require students to complete school assignments and engage remotely five days a week. This will require the teacher and students to communicate regularly and develop a process for monitoring, reviewing and/or grading of student engagement activities.

Close
Full Remote Learning

Resources

Remote Learning/Re-entry Resources

As we continue to navigate what school looks like during the COVID-19 pandemic, student engagement is a top priority. Click on the button to find and submit resources for student engagement and remote learning.

Resources

Focus Areas

Additional re-entry information is available within the nine focus areas below. This work is the result of the ongoing collaboration between WVDE and more than 42 stakeholders and partners. Click on each focus area for more details.

The West Virginia Department of Education has worked closely with the COVID-19 Outbreak to Recovery Advisory Council to vet, review and inform guidance for school re-entry in the fall and the recovery of the education system through the year 2021 and beyond. The product of this work has been distilled into nine focus areas to serve as a framework for counties to consider when making local-level decisions.

Instruction & Learning

Physical, Social-Emotional & Mental Health Wellness

Career Technical Education (CTE)

Child Nutrition

Special Education

Safe Schools & Transportation

Finance

Extracurricular & Extended Activities

Technology

Safe Schools & Transportation

Finance

Extracurricular & Extended Activities

Technology

Partners

The West Virginia Board Education and county superintendents joined the WVDE and more than 40 national and state agencies and organizations to serve as partners in developing the re-entry and recovery plans for West Virginia. These partners continue to provide insight, research support and expertise as the pandemic evolves in the state. The fluid nature of the virus and its impact on our schools and communities require the council of partners to remain engaged moving forward to support counties with guidance.

List of Partners