As the August 14 deadline approaches for all local Maryland school systems to send their reopening plans to the Maryland State Department of Education, local boards of education have been releasing information on local plans for the 2020-2021 school year.
The following information covers each jurisdiction and will be updated as local school boards release their plans to reopen schools in the fall.
Last updated: August 11, 9:03 AM
Allegany
Allegany County Public Schools has not yet voted on a final reopening plan, more information will be shared at the next board of education meeting.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 11
Anne Arundel
Anne Arundel County Public Schools will engage in virtual learning for the entire first semester of the 2020-2021 school year under a plan Superintendent George Arlotto will review with the Board of Education at a public meeting on Wednesday, July 22.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 26
Baltimore City
Baltimore City Public Schools will hold classes virtually through the beginning of the fall semester, with a potential start of in-person teaching delayed until a later date.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 12
Baltimore County
Baltimore County Public Schools will engage in virtual classes for the first semester of the year.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 11
Calvert
Calvert County Public Schools will be conducted online for the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year, unless the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic changes significantly. The Board did determine that certain groups of students may need to be in school for specialized instruction, and staff members will make this determination.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 13
Caroline
The Caroline County Board of Education voted to begin the 2020-2021 school year with distance learning for all students, which was presented in June in the Preliminary Recovery Plan as Plan A. The decision included a phased-in approach that safely brings in specific populations and grades of students as CCPS is able to move through Plans B, C, and D of the recovery plan.
Next Board of Education meeting:
Carroll
Carroll County Public Schools will begin the 2020-21 school year virtually. The school system plans to reevaluate whether to move to another model by the Oct. 14 board meeting.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 12
Cecil
Cecil County Public Schools will resume the fall semester September 1 in a ‘Virtual classroom model.’ On September 8, 2020, the school system will begin providing face to face instruction for small groups of students in each school based on the needs of children. After one month of this face to face service delivery model, the performance of this ‘Small group model’ will help to determine if the model can be expanded incrementally.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 12
Charles
Charles County Public schools will be starting the school year with all-virtual learning. Full day instruction will occur four days a week, with Wednesdays specifically for students to do independent studies and meet with teachers and counselors.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 13
Dorchester
Dorchester County Public Schools released a draft reopening plan that includes a hybrid model of A and B week students. Families will also have the choice of Online Distance Learning and there will be a process in place for students with special needs, including English Language Learners, to attend A and B weeks. Employees school-aged children will also be able to attend A and B weeks.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 20
Frederick
Frederick County Public Schools will hold an all-virtual first semester for the upcoming fall. The school system will offer “online learning mentors” with designated office hours. All extracurricular activities will be postponed.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 19
Garrett
Garrett County Public Schools will start the fall semester under a modified “red” term, in which most students will learn virtually. Small populations of students – including those with individualized education programs and on 504 plans – will be in person from the start of the semester. Students will also have the option to remain virtual for potentially the entire school year.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 13
Harford
Harford County Public Schools will be implementing a modified plan that relies exclusively on virtual learning. All instruction during the first semester will be virtual. Chromebooks will be provided for all students in grades K-8, and Windows-based laptops will be provided for all students in grades 9-12. All teachers will receive a Windows-based laptop.
Next Board of Education meeting: September 14
Howard
The Howard County Board of Education voted to push back the start date for the next academic year by two weeks and approved a fully virtual first semester, beginning September 8 and ending January 28.
Next Board of Education meeting: July 28
Kent
Kent County Public Schools has not yet voted on a final reopening plan, more information is expected to be shared at the next board of education meeting.
Next Board of Education meeting: September 14
Montgomery
Montgomery County Public School officials voted to remain in virtual-only for instruction through the first semester.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 25
Prince George’s
Prince George’s County students will start the new school year completely virtual with distance learning and that process will remain in place through January 2021. It will involve more live instruction blended with recorded instruction.
Next Board of Education meeting: September 14
Queen Anne’s
Queen Anne’s County Public Schools (QACPS) will open the 2020-2021 academic year with virtual learning-only for the first semester. Following the CDC guidelines will allow QACPS the ability to bring in small groups of specialized students such as special education, English learners and CTE in accordance with CTE guidelines.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 19
St. Mary’s
St. Mary’s County Public Schools has not yet voted on a final reopening plan, more information is expected to be shared at the next board of education meeting.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 12
Somerset
Somerset County Public Schools will start the 2020-2021 school year virtually for the first four weeks, with a staggered phase-in period beginning in October prioritizing vulnerable students.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 13
Talbot
Talbot County Public Schools will start the 2020-2021 school year in Phase 1 with virtual learning for all students the first week of school, with the goal of transitioning into Phase 2 by the second week of school. The start of the school year will be delayed until September 8.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 12
Washington
Washington County Public Schools will begin the fall with distance learning. Further information regarding the plan will be presented to the board of education on August 4.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 18
Wicomico
Wicomico County Public Schools will start this fall in a completely virtual model.
Next Board of Education meeting: September 8
Worcester
Worcester County Public Schools announced they will begin the school year in Stage One of the Responsible Return model, meaning students will begin on September 8, engaged in distance learning with health and safety condition evaluations every two weeks. As conditions allow, WCPS hopes to transition to Stage Two of the Responsible Return model on September 28, with families having the choice to remain in distance learning.
Next Board of Education meeting: August 18
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for updates.
Previous Conduit Street Coverage: What’s the Deal with Maryland Schools?
