Half of Loudoun parents choose distance learning from home

Parents of school-age children in Loudoun County have expressed their desires for their childrens’ form of instruction this fall.  The choices were a hybrid learning model where students are in school two days a week and do the rest of their work at home or fulltime distance learning with no time spent in school.  A little more than half, 50.55%, chose fulltime learning from home.

From the Patch.com,

The deadline for parents to select the mode of instruction for their child was Wednesday. On Friday, the school system released the preliminary results of the choices made by parents:

• The 100-percent distance learning option was chosen by the parents/guardians of 41,880 students, or 50.55 percent.
• The hybrid model of learning was chosen by the parents/guardians of 31,890 students, or 38.49 percent.
• No choice was indicated for 9,077 students, or 10.96 percent. These students are assigned by default to the hybrid model of learning.

A total of 82,847 students are registered to attend LCPS schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Information about the choices registered by parents at each LCPS school and other data is included in the LCPS Return to School 2020 Student Choices and Teacher/Teacher Assistant Preferences report.

Among teachers, 54.2%, 3708, chose the hybrid model, and 3,128, or 45.8%, chose distance learning.  Loudoun County Public Schools will attempt to match the teacher’s choices with the students’ preferences.  Ultimately schedules will be determined by the needs of the students.  (Or so they claim.)

I think the schools should send the kids back to school fulltime since there is no indication that children transmit the coronavirus.  They won’t “bring it home to Grandma” as King Northam insists.  If they contract the virus children have few if any, symptoms.

If LCPS and King Northam won’t allow students to return to the classroom fulltime, then the schools should be closed, and we should get a refund on our taxes.  There will be no need to maintain schools, build new schools, or run buses.  A few teachers could do video learning sessions.  Or, better yet, let every child have a voucher that can be used at a private school, a public school course at home, homeschooling, or an established online course of study.  The county would save a large percentage of money spent on LCPS and taxpayers would get a hefty refund.