Number Of Hybrid Students Announced As PGCPS Prepares For Return

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — At least 30 percent of students will take hybrid classes when they start in April, Prince George's County Public Schools announced Monday. That equates to about 36,600 students who will head back to the district's 208 schools and centers.

"Educators and families have gone above and beyond in a new normal necessitated by a global pandemic," PGCPS CEO Monica Goldson said in a letter to families. "However, we know that nothing can replace the interaction between students, teachers and classmates."

Goldson announced Feb. 17 that schools would soon reopen. The school system sent families a form asking whether their students would opt into hybrid classes or continue virtual learning.

About 122,000 learners responded to the survey. That leaves about 9,000 people unaccounted for. PGCPS will reach out to these families to confirm their plans.

Failure Rates Up

Goldson said many residents asked why she didn't wait until fall to reopen schools. She pointed to increased class failure rate among English Language Learners since instruction went online. The CEO hopes that returning to school will help the county combat the digital divide.

Failure rates have decreased for Black students, however. Goldson did not disclose the trends for other demographics.

"Whether students continue learning at home or return to our school buildings on a hybrid schedule, we will keep making every effort to improve instruction and provide academic support for learners who are struggling," Goldson added.

Safety Measures

Goldson mentioned that schools and offices upgraded their air filters to slow the spread of coronavirus. Each school will also have a compliance committee to make sure safety needs are met.

The CEO indicated that PGCPS warehouses will stock up on personal protective equipment for students and staff. Masks will be required in buildings and on buses. The school system is also continuing its teacher vaccinations.

"When our schoolhouse doors closed last March, I imagined they would reopen in a few weeks," Goldson wrote. "As the weeks turned into months and eventually the remainder of one school year and most of the next, the issue of reopening safely for students, employees and our broader community has remained my highest priority."

Prince George's County has moved slower than most jurisdictions in every stage of reopening. Many Maryland school districts started hybrid classes Monday, but Prince George's County has battled the most infections and slowest immunization rollout in the state.

For more information on the county's reopening plan, head to pgcps.org.

To see when you'll be eligible for the inoculation, read Patch's explainer. Check out our how-to guide to learn how to sign up for the shot. Catch up on the latest coronavirus infection and vaccination metrics in Prince George's County by heading to our latest numbers update.

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