Dept. of Education to Resume Some In-Person Learning Sept. 7; Grades 4-12 to Continue Virtually

The V.I. Dept. of Education announced Friday that it will resume in-person learning on Sept. 7 for students in grades PreK-3rd, Special Education self-contained classes, and Career & Technical Education students enrolled in a specific career pathway. Students in grades 4-12 will continue to learn virtually. Parents of students slated to return to campuses may also choose to have their children continue to learn virtually, the department said.

D.O.E. Commissioner Racquel Berry-Benjamin, in consultation with Governor Albert Bryan and Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion, planned a phased approach to returning students to school campuses as the territory continues to respond to the highly contagious Delta variant, Education said in its release.

“We are prepared and excited to bring our most vulnerable student populations and those needing hands-on training back to our school campuses, as we did in March,” Ms. Berry-Benjamin said. “This approach will ensure we are providing students with that all-important face-to-face instruction, but in the safest way possible. We have established safety protocols on our campuses that students and employees will practice, and school administrators will enforce. The Department of Education continues to work closely with Governor Bryan and Commissioner Encarnacion concerning the safe operation of schools during the pandemic.”

Said Mr. Bryan, “It was important for the Bryan-Roach Administration to get our students back into physical classrooms, but also give parents the benefit of choosing how their children would learn – whether virtually or in-person. Last school year, the Department of Education had an extremely successful return of students to the school campuses, and we believe now is the right time to begin the process of bringing students back, as vaccinations have seen an encouraging increase territory-wide in recent weeks.”

According to the release, school administrators will return to campuses on Aug. 31, while teachers, other professionals and support staff will return on Sept. 1. Teachers who will resume in-person instruction will conduct virtual classes from 8-10 a.m., Sept. 1-3, and use the remainder of the workday to prepare their classrooms.

Return to In-Person Learning

Schools that open for in-person learning on Sept. 7 will revert to virtual learning, if guided by the VIDOH to do so, should an increase in COVID-19 cases impact in-person operations

Students or staff exhibiting any signs of illness should remain home and seek medical attention

The Department of Education has equipped its schools with the necessary technology to seamlessly move from in-person operations to virtual operations when necessary

All students needing a laptop or MiFi internet device have been issued these items -additional MiFi devices will be made available in early September

Students are required to be dressed in full uniform while on campus

Visitors, including parents, are not allowed on school premises without an appointment