There are no language selections available at this time. County will reinstitute an indoor public mask mandate due to a continued rise in COVID-19 metrics. The Maryland school district said Friday that it had returned to a mandatory mask policy in all schools and facilities until further notice due to the easily spread BA.5 Omicron strain. Prince George's County Schools (PGCPS) are requiring masks again starting Aug. 15, citing the spread of COVID-19, according to the district. "All staff, students and families are encouraged to support personal decisions. One D.C. school is using COVID relief funds to target students on the verge of failure. The new policy for Prince Georges went into effect July 1. 1 0 obj American students test scores have even plummeted to levels unseen for decades. 6, Residents Budget Hearing For FY2024 Cycle Will Be March 13, 3 Bowie Area New Open Houses Coming Up Soon. Elected Officials. It states the system was lifting its mask mandate an announcement that has not been clear to many parents. 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See something? School system CEO Monica Goldson announced the policy change in a newsletter to parents Monday evening, at the end of the first day of school. We are one of the last counties in the country to still have a mask mandate. Site Map. Neighboring Montgomery County, Maryland, dropped its mask mandate in public schools back in March after a unanimous vote by its school board. In an email to the school community, administrators said they made the decisions on recommendation from county health officials. Students can now benefit from free virtual medical visits with Hazel Health! All staff, students and families are encouraged to support personal decisions on mask-wearing, the message to parents said. As a parent that has a child in PG county schools, I would like it to make it my choice and their choice whether they choose to wear a mask," Facebook user Ray Abrams posted. Donna Christy, president of Prince Georges County Educators, said Prince Georges County teachers are supportive of returning to a mask mandate if infection rates require it. This decision is personal; students and staff are asked to respect the choices of others. Parents were also notified in a newsletter the following week. 2022 WTOP. Prince Georges County Public Schools will reopen on Aug. 29. They should isolate for five days and may end isolation after that time if they are fever-free for 24 hours without medication and their symptoms are improving. 3 0 obj Marshals Service involved in fatal shooting in Southeast DC, Southeast triple shooting suspect identified by police. Departments and Offices. 1 of 2. Some children who are learning English have struggled to keep up in classrooms because the masks prevent them from seeing their instructors mouths form words. (veradavidovacuz/unsplash), AFRO endorsements for the 2022 midterm elections, A time to dance: Rev. The mandate extends to all indoor public locations at all. Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, 2023, Prince George's County Public Schools, Website Accessibility Requests and Feedback Form. Students will return to school in Prince George's County on August 29. It ended up being one of the last times county leaders would publicly discuss lifting the mandate. PGCPS will continue to make health and safety decisions in consultation with health experts.. Using This Site. UPPER MARLBORO, Md. On Monday, August 29, the Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) system in Maryland announced it would drop its mask mandate effective Tuesday, September 6. WTOPs John Domen contributed to this report. Together they created a platform to offer images and stories of hope to advance their community. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. Mask mandates are quickly becoming a thing of the past in the D.C. region: The last two local jurisdictions with mandates in place are lifting those requirements this week. Prince George's. "After consulting with our health officials, we are confident in our decision to lift the indoor mask mandate on February 28," said Alsobrooks. DMV news: Most of Prince Georges students are scoring below grade level on district tests. Prince Georges County Public Schools in Maryland will end its indoor mask mandate next week, CEO Monica Goldson said in a note to the school community. California will stop requiring masks in K-12 schools as of March 12, leaving it up to counties and school districts to keep or ditch the pandemic mandate as tension mounts among parents . Chevy Chase, MD 20815. The public school system of about 128,000 students was the last in Maryland to keep a mask requirement in place, even as other jurisdictions dropped them earlier in the spring. Prince George's County Public Schools the last system in the D.C. area that required students and staff to wear masks lifted that mandate in early July. All rights reserved. Learn about the latest metrics from our county, building closures and more. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. 5425 Wisconsin Ave XM x0r\1+'O5l,QUc4]@4\h\xLF:Q>Xo`&2&\g . Con la disminucin de las tasas de positividad de la COVID-19 a nivel local, la Dra. Goldson has previously said she exercises an abundance of caution when making decisions about coronavirus protocols. Prince George's County is the only D.C.-area jurisdiction that had a mask mandate on the first day of classes. The AFRO provides readers with good news about the Black community not otherwise found. Donna Christy, president of the Prince Georges County Educators Association, previously told WTOP that the union supported the move to start the year with a mask requirement. On July 1, PGCPS announced it was lifting its mask mandate in public schools. Officials in Prince Georges County have announced that students will start the 2022-2023 school year with masks on. School system CEO Monica Goldson announced the policy change in a newsletter to parents Monday evening, at the. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD Face masks must be worn in all schools and district buildings within Prince George's County Public Schools starting Aug. 15. the county announced plans to reinstate its indoor mask mandate, initially transitioned to a mask-optional policy in July, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prince Georges Co. council votes to temporarily cap rent hikes at 3%, Millions invested into Blue Line corridor by Prince Georges Co. developers, Cardinal Gregory meets with descendants of slaves buried on Bowie church hillside, Grand jury indicts DC employee charged with killing 13-year-old boy, Virginia state superintendent Jillian Balow announces resignation, Maryland food bank braces for more hungry mouths after emergency benefits are reduced. Now they're the first to bring it back. OFFICE OF THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANGELA D. ALSOBROOKS PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: August 5, 2021 . Baltimore, MD Office The Maryland school district is among the 20 largest in the country, with more than 136,000 students and nearly 22,000 employees. Kristin Danley-Greiner 8/15/2022. In light of the highly contagious COVID-19 BA.5 variant, Prince Georges County Public Schools (PGCPS) will return to a mandatory mask policy in all schools and facilities until further notice, effective on Aug. 15, according to the website. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM, Prince Georges Co. council votes to temporarily cap rent hikes at 3%, Millions invested into Blue Line corridor by Prince Georges Co. developers, Cardinal Gregory meets with descendants of slaves buried on Bowie church hillside, Grand jury indicts DC employee charged with killing 13-year-old boy, Virginia state superintendent Jillian Balow announces resignation, Maryland food bank braces for more hungry mouths after emergency benefits are reduced. Dr. Frances Toni Draper announces retirement from pastorship at Freedom Temple AME Zion Church, 130 years of excellence: AFRO Gala set to kick anniversary celebration into high gear. 31pCMS_DO` }kam~x1J`v3T`m(EAv>}uDIE -,0 The change in policy was listed among other items about the upcoming school year, including immunizations, online learning and fall class registration. To date, more than 10.5 million children have lost one or both parents or caregivers during the coronavirus pandemic. 5425 Wisconsin Ave All Rights Reserved. Of the policy shift announced Monday, Goldson said families have varied on whether children should wear masks in schools. Mask policy is subject to change according to local and/or state health department guidance and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, PGCPS said in the email. One D.C. school is using COVID relief funds to target students on the verge of failure. On July 7, PGCPS also announced the new policy within an email newsletter to parents. x]o ~TXE`vM{rrnzD"e7}gf2%"@HQ{_~o[W_QRX$7XO_D~y/|mb:r#82d }*c1]JcXu^`k|:^v>Ro}|s}uJspk{uM3' }? Prince George's schools where the last in the region to drop their mask mandate in July. PGCPS will continue to make health and safety decisions in consultation with health experts. "The decision was recommended by the Prince George County Health Department. Some say that policy change was not clear. The fully vaccinated rate increases to 85.7 percent for residents 12 and older. The guidelines for those who test positive remain unchanged. All staff, students and families are encouraged to support personal decisions on mask-wearing. Schools 135 #1 IN GREEN SCHOOLS PGCPS tops all Maryland districts in total number of green schools certifications Schools 10 HISTORIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION 10 schools under construction or to be delivered in next 4 years Schools 198 NUMBER OF SCHOOLS FOR 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR Get the Latest Information WTOPs John Domen contributed to this report. The Centers for Disease Control rate of transmission for the BA.5 variant indicates that the county is experiencing a low rate of transmission, but the rate was designated as high when the decision was made for PGCPS to restart the masking policy. "AGu_zs_=v21>] Yfy2eV*L.Fq|x7\p#~{/T#=D?6CqV$+c('id;\8G|y+K/pUK6fD2?D)1'N9"VG+*C#j=IS+\bL/a2XLiKQGFmp ']vUn1]xOpV\(r'(gBm@Ib'ngMm*/!z6H1t{Jo[kf&vvVVdHwmE+gY$1f TGAP~ /?'}TGY~ @`~)>Zboip?__ww?DN*X. Like WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Twitter and Instagram to engage in conversation about this article and others. A South Florida native, Scott graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019. Juanita Miller, chair of the county's school board, directed. Goldson reinstated a mask mandate in schools earlier in August because coronavirus transmission levels were high. Prince George's County Portal. Get The 7 DMV newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. <>/Metadata 79 0 R/ViewerPreferences 80 0 R>> In one, a massive study of more than 340,000 residents of rural Bangladesh, the study found that mask programs that promoted but didn't mandate masks "increased mask usage and reduced . Maryland Gov. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD Face masks must be worn in all schools and district buildings . This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. "All staff, students and families are encouraged to support personal decisions on mask-wearing," the message said. In late February, PGCPS CEO Monica Goldson wrote an email to parents stating, I anticipate easing our mask mandate by the end of the school year, once 80% of the countys population was vaccinated. Many of the conspiracy theories contradict each other and the findings in the Energy Department report. American students test scores have even plummeted to levels unseen for decades. The announcement. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM. Related: CDC Eases COVID Restrictions: What Remains In Maryland. Mask Mandate Returns To Prince George's Schools Effective Aug. 15. 233 E. Redwood Street Suite 600G 2023 WTOP. Prince Georges, Montgomery, D.C. schools begin a new year. The latest: Updated coronavirus booster shots are now available for children as young as 5. Report a Website Problem /QuickLinks.aspx. "Once again, this is the county officials pushing their agenda of fear. The email stated: Effective immediately, all PGCPS schools and facilities will be mask optional. . Michael A. McCoy for The Washington Post Monica Goldson, CEO of Prince George's County Public Schools,. Also, public schools in D.C. went mask-optional in March, while state lawmakers in Virginia voted to ban school mask mandates in February. Instead, the decision about masking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 was left to each local jurisdiction and its respective school board. endobj Prince George's County Public Schools CEO Monica Goldson said she expects students to be required to wear masks at her schools until COVID-19 "no longer exists," WTOP reported Monday. Alejandro Alvarez joined WTOP as a digital journalist and editor in June 2018. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member subscribers are now members! "It's sad that what this truly is a distraction. Wayne K. Curry Administration Building 1301 McCormick Drive Largo, MD 20774. Some teachers have indicated that they will continue to wear masks even after the policy shift, especially if they see a large number of students through the day, Goldson said. WTOP was the first to report on the policy change. All staff, students and families are encouraged to support personal decisions on mask-wearing. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The same day, the system also published its policy change on their website. Prince George's County is the only D.C.-area jurisdiction that had a mask mandate on the first day of classes. Prince Georges County is the only D.C.-area jurisdiction that had a mask mandate on the first day of classes. Contact Information. Joinhere! Miller said the board of education hadnt discussed the issue yet, since it has been on break since early July. 9:15 PM, PGCPS tops all Maryland districts in total number of green schools certifications, 10 schools under construction or to be delivered in next 4 years, Prince George's County Public Schools There are no language selections available at this time. The decision was recommended by the Prince Georges County Health Department. The updated Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook addressing the policy change reads: The mask-optional policy enables individuals to choose whether to wear a mask in schools and offices. Communicating the official change in policy has not been entirely consistent. Its neighbor, Montgomery County Public Schools, dropped a systemwide mask mandate in March. Sasscer Administration Building As of Monday night, the county is in the low community level as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Get The 7 DMV newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. Prince Georges County school system will end its mask mandate Sept. 6. In the classroom: Amid a teacher shortage, states desperate to fill teaching jobs have relaxed job requirements as staffing crises rise in many schools. Prince Georges County was a center of the pandemic, reporting the most cases among counties in Maryland. All Rights Reserved. NEWS ALERT: California board denies parole for Robert F. Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan, Scott Gelman | sgelman@wtop.com. UPPER MARLBORO, Md. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of Aug. 11 is no longer recommending people quarantine when exposed to someone with COVID-19, and is also dropping its guidance for people to stay 6 feet apart. Read Across America activities - student dressed as book character parade; During Black History Month, staff at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School celebrate Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Soldier. Heres what you should know. NEWS ALERT: California board denies parole for Robert F. Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan, John Domen | jdomen@wtop.com. endobj READ MORE: Prince George's County recommending mask-wearing in indoor public places as COVID-19 cases rise. endobj WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM, dropped its mask mandate in public schools back in March, Prince Georges Co. council votes to temporarily cap rent hikes at 3%, Millions invested into Blue Line corridor by Prince Georges Co. developers, Cardinal Gregory meets with descendants of slaves buried on Bowie church hillside, Grand jury indicts DC employee charged with killing 13-year-old boy, Virginia state superintendent Jillian Balow announces resignation, Maryland food bank braces for more hungry mouths after emergency benefits are reduced. Los distritos escolares de Maryland tienen flexibilidad para determinar las polticas de uso de mascarilla cuando responden a amenazas de salud pblica como la de la COVID-19. 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