D.C. Public Schools announced Monday morning they will no longer offer in-person learning for students at the beginning of the second term, a reversal after weeks of community protest over the decision.
“While DCPS planned to offer in-person learning at the start of Term 2 for select elementary school students, this timeline will need to be adjusted,” the school system tweeted Monday. “This means all students in grades PK-12 will not begin Term 2 on Monday, November 8 with learning at home.”
DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee, in his own tweet, said, “we have heard feedback from many in our community about #ReopenStrong plans, and we will use this moment to adjust our timeline and staffing plans for reopening.
Ferebee announced last month that some elementary school students would return to some form of in-person instruction on Nov. 9, but the Washington Teachers’ Union announced Monday it gave a vote of no confidence in the reopening plans and encouraged its members to take a “Mental Health Day” in protest, WTTG-TV (Channel 5) reported, while teachers and faculty held a demonstration in opposition last week outside Boone Elementary School in Southeast.
DCPS officials announced a town hall meeting will be held Wednesday to discuss the decision, WTTG reported.