CENTREVILLE, Md. — Queen Anne’s County is the latest public school system in Maryland planning to start the 2020-2021 academic year virtually.
The County Board of Education approved the proposal on July 22, after receiving more than 500 public survey responses.
"Virtual learning this fall will be richer and more robust than was possible when schools closed early this spring and will include direct instruction and graded work for students,”said Superintendent Andrea Kane.
The school is trying to work within CDC guidelines to allow small groups of students in programs such as special education and ESL to come in.
Meanwhile efforts to provide technology and internet access to needy students and educators are underway.
So far the school system says they've purchased 400 mobile hotspots for teachers and students without home internet access. Wi-Fi is also being installed outside all public school buildings. Church Hill, Grasonville, and Sudlersville Elementary Schools, and Sudlersville Middle School have already had theirs installed.
The county will submit their plan to the Maryland State Department of Education for final approval by August 14.
Baltimore City, Baltimore, Harford, and Anne Arundel Counties have also decided to start the school year virtually.
