DPS employees who want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will be vaccinated beginning next week. Staff will receive the second vaccine four or five weeks later, depending on whether we receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. 

If everything goes as expected and the vaccines arrive and are given to staff, students can return to the classroom sometime in March. Although an official date in March has not yet been determined because we do not yet know which vaccine staff will receive,

The intent is for students to return to full-time face to face instruction 5 days per week. Until then, students will continue with virtual instruction with their DPS teachers.

If you do not want your student to return to normal, face-to-face instruction, there is the option to remain remote and use a learning software for the remainder of the school year. Please note that this is a self-paced learning software and students will NOT be working with their DPS teachers, as those teachers will already have a full class to teach daily beginning in March when we return to full-time face-to-face instruction.

A survey is now available for parents to select their choice for the March reopening of school.  Parents may select either full-time, in-person instruction or totally remote, self-paced instruction for the remainder of the school year. This survey must be completed for EACH DPS student in your household.

Survey Information

• Parents can visit this link to take the survey. (https://bit.ly/dpsmarch2021)
• Parents/guardians must select their instruction preference for a March reopening of schools. This survey will be closed on February 19.
• If you need assistance filling out this survey, please call 937-542-3011 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. If you call outside of business hours, please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
• This survey must be completed for EACH DPS student in your household. This is your official decision.
• You MUST select a preference to receive vital information for school reopening. If you do not complete the survey for each child in your household, we will assume your child is returning for face-to-face instruction in March.
• If your student has an IEP, please complete the survey sent by your child’s intervention specialist. You should complete that survey instead of this one.
• PreK will only be in-person. A call will go out to all pre-k families so please stay tuned.

Timeline

An official date in March has not yet been determined. We are waiting until teachers have had a chance to receive their second COVID-19 vaccination.

DPS employees who want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will be vaccinated beginning next week. Staff will receive the second vaccine four or five weeks later, depending on whether we receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.

If everything goes as expected and the vaccines arrive and are given to staff, students can return to the classroom sometime in March.

In-Person vs. Remote

In-Person

Normal full time, face-to-face instruction in the classroom, 5 days per week with DPS teachers

Remote

REMAIN REMOTE: Remote learning will be a learning software provided by the Montgomery County Educational Service Center called SchoolsPLP. Learn more at schoolsplp.com. Remote students will have access to an online coach to provide assistance on a weekly basis. Please note that this is a self-paced learning software and students will NOT be working with their DPS teachers for the remainder of the school year.

Remote learning for students in grades 9 – 12 will be APEX. APEX is a standards-aligned digital learning platform. Students work independently at their own pace through modules. A teacher manages the students’ progress through each course. Students may enroll in multiple classes at a time or may enroll in a few classes at a time, finish them, and then move to new courses. A final grade for each course will appear on the student report card and transcript.

Questions?

Have a question about the March return? Hear a rumor? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions section for your answers. This page will be updated regularly as we receive your questions.

Worried about returning to school safely? Visit our Myths. vs Facts page for regularly updated answers to the misinformation, you may hear about a safe return.