Returning Strong

Return to School

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Welcome to the 2021-22 School Year!

We are Returning Strong to five days a week of in-person instruction. 

To ensure a safe start to the school year, layered prevention strategies are in place in all schools, including wearing a mask while indoors. The two most important things you can do to help us keep each other safe this year is to get vaccinated when you are eligible and wear a mask indoors. Read more about why these measures are important and how we’ll practice safety this fall.

Anticipated Bus Delays

Due to the bus driver shortage, we will be increasing “double back” bus runs, meaning a bus is required to run two scheduled routes back to back that would normally have been covered by two separate buses. These “double backs” may impact delivery time to schools or bus stops and may have a domino effect, affecting after-school drop-off times.
What Families Can Expect

Highlights

Return to School - Safety

Read about the prevention strategies, including mask wearing, designed to keep everyone healthy.

Return to School 2021 - Your Questions Answered

Find out more about topics including contact tracing, mask guidance, screening, testing, and vaccinations.

Health and Safety Guidance Document for 2021-22

FCPS is providing guidance regarding school health and safety practices. The daily health screening questionnaires are available in all languages.

COVID-19 Health Metrics

FCPS will be sharing a daily update regarding COVID-19 cases that have been self-reported to us that have impacted our division, both at school sites and central office locations.

Return to School - Layered Prevention Strategies

Read about the prevention strategies, including cleaning and disinfecting, designed to keep everyone healthy.

Resources for Families

Meals for Students During the School Year

Find out how to get no-cost meals for students through June 2022.

Health, Mental Health, and Community Resources

Information on mental health and physical health including resources, medical care, food, assistance, and other community resources is available.

Tech Support and Help for Families

Are you looking for assistance with technology for the 2021-22 school year? Take a look at technology videos/technology resources and learn where to go for help with technology questions. Submit a tech support request ticket if needed.

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III - Plan for Safe Return

This describes how FCPS will maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other school and division staff during and following the return to full in-person instruction under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III Fund.

Communications

New Process to Speed Up the Return of Fully Vaccinated Students to Classroom

FCPS collaborated with the Fairfax County Health Department to speed up the return to the classroom for fully vaccinated, asymptomatic students who are paused from in-person instruction. A pause occurs when someone is identified as a potential close contact to a COVID-19 positive case.

Athletics Vaccination Requirement - Questions and Answers

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) requires student-athletes be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the winter and spring sports seasons as an additional safety measure to support our layered prevention strategies. An increase in positive COVID-19 cases in sports programs results in large numbers of students being paused from athletic participation and, more importantly, classroom instruction. A pause to in-person instruction is a short-term safety measure used by FCPS and the health department to allow time to investigate and determine the safest way to address a positive case within the school community.

FCPS to Require Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Athletic Participation

August 30, 2021
Beginning November 8, FCPS will require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination for any student participating in Virginia High School League (VHSL) winter and spring sports for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year. 

Anticipated Bus Delays- What Families Can Expect

FCPS, along with surrounding school divisions, is experiencing severe bus driver shortages, which could cause bus delays. You can use an app and website to check for potential delays.

FCPS Adopts COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Staff

By late October, all FCPS employees will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to routine negative COVID-19 tests, a move that reinforces existing layered prevention strategies and the division’s commitment to safety.

Reopening Schools Plan - State Submission

The Virginia Department of Education requires divisions to submit their reopening plans, including instruction and health mitigation strategies. the FCPS Reopening Schools Plan communicates the division’s approach to providing ongoing high-quality academic, social-emotional, and wellness supports for students and families for 2020-21.

Return to School Plan - Presentations Shared with the School Board

Months of planning went into the preparation for a strong return to school in fall 2021. Take a look at the presentations shared with the School Board and the work sessions leading up to the Return to School Plan, as well as the key elements of the plan.

Communications

View the communications recently sent to parents and the community regarding school year 2021-22.

Your Questions About Safe Return to School Answered at August 2021 Town Halls

View Return to School Town Halls

Questions?

For answers to questions about Return to School, contact Chief Academic Officer Sloan Presidio at sjpresidio@fcps.edu.