NOTTINGHAM, MD—As early as May 10, Baltimore County Public Schools will offer identified students the opportunity for four in-person learning days per week, an increase from two in-person learning days.  Families may continue to choose five days of virtual learning.

For all students on Wednesdays, teachers will continue to provide virtual learning in addition to the opportunity to meet with small groups of students, provide tutoring, conduct individual student check-ins, plan for instruction, and engage in professional learning.

Through consultation with health experts and while continuing to implement mitigation strategies recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the extent possible, students in the following groups may begin four days of in-person learning on the dates indicated. Schools will provide specific information to families about making the choice, and the deadlines for making the choice are Wednesday, April 21, for elementary students and Friday, April 23, for secondary students.

Four days of in-person learning may begin on May 10 for these students:

• All students in elementary schools, Preschool – Grade 5.
• All students in public separate day schools (Battle Monument, Maiden Choice, Ridge Ruxton, and White Oak schools).
• In Grades 6 – 12, students receiving special education services primarily outside of general education in cluster and regional programs, including Functional Academic Learning Support (FALS), Communication and Learning Support (CALS), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Hearing Impaired, and Visually Impaired).

Four days of in-person learning may begin on May 17 for these students:

• Any student in Grades 6 – 12 with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan.

BCPS has identified May 10 and May 17 as start dates for system planning purposes; however, we have learned that the nature of this pandemic is evolving, which could impact the scheduled timeline as more updated information is provided.

During weeks with previously-scheduled closures for students, there will be three in-person days for students. May 13 is a systemwide professional development day and May 31 is Memorial Day.

The expansion is aligned with recent CDC guidelines adopted by the Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland State Department of Education. Schools will continue to maintain the CDC’s recommended mitigation strategies, including the consistent and correct use of face coverings; social distancing to the extent possible; frequent hand washing and covering of coughs and sneezes; cleaning and disinfecting; and contact tracing.

BCPS phased in two days of hybrid in-person learning for all students from the week of March 1 to the week of April 6.