Are all students eligible for virtual learning?

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Yes. All DCPS students in grades PK-12 who provide a medical consent form signed by their doctor/nurse practitioner will be eligible for virtual learning. Students with medical needs unrelated to COVID-19 should follow the guidelines for the Home and Hospital Instruction Program (HHIP).

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What if my child does not have a medical need for virtual instruction, but I prefer to keep them in remote learning?

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DCPS believes that the best place for a student to learn is in the classroom and that is why we will fully reopen for every student, every day with their teachers and classmates this fall. Virtual learning in SY21-22 is limited to students with medical needs. All other students are expected to attend school in-person.

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My child does not have a medical need, but their sibling/parent/caregiver does. Can I still register my child for virtual?

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Virtual learning in SY21-22 is limited to individual students with medical needs as documented by their physician or nurse practitioner.

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What if I register for virtual learning but then I change my mind?

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Registering for virtual learning is a semester commitment. If your child’s health condition changes and you no longer need virtual learning, you are not guaranteed the opportunity to return to in-person learning until the start of the second semester which begins at the end of January 2022.

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I can’t get a doctor’s appointment in time to meet the July 30 deadline. What do I do?

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To support school planning we are asking families to complete their virtual learning medical eligibility form by July 30. If you know you are unable to obtain a physician note by that date, please complete the forms when they are fully signed but note that student scheduling may be impacted.

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What medical conditions qualify for virtual learning?

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Medical eligibility is determined by each child’s healthcare professional.

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What if I don’t have access to a medical provider?

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Families can review this list of primary care providers that offer services to children at this link.

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Can my child attend in-person part of the time, and virtual part of the time?

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DCPS believes that the best place for a student to learn is in the classroom and that is why we will fully reopen for every student, every day with their teachers and classmates this fall. Virtual learning is a full-time alternative to in-person learning. DCPS is not offering hybrid schedules.

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My child is in a dual-language program, Montessori program, or specialized high school. Will the virtual program provide these options?

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DCPS will offer a rich learning environment for students who need to participation in virtual learning, but we cannot guarantee access to all courses or programs. However, virtual students in grades 6-12 will have access to all courses required for graduation.

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What is the attendance policy for virtual students?

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More details about the attendance policy will be shared in the coming weeks. Virtual students will be expected to attend live instruction.

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What if I want to register for virtual but I do not have a device or internet for my child at home?

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We are committed to providing all students enrolled in virtual learning with the tools to participate fully, including a technology device or internet access support.

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How will virtual students access breakfast and lunch?

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Virtual students will be eligible for meals. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.

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When will my virtual student find out about their teachers?

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Virtual students will be assigned to a DCPS teacher, but in some cases virtual students may be placed in other schools for specific courses or for the whole day depending on enrollment numbers. We will share more information about schedules with virtual students in August.

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What will instruction look like for virtual students?

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We will provide additional updates on the structure of classes over the summer months. To help aid in our planning, we encourage families to return the medical consent form by July 30.

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How do I register for virtual if I am new to DCPS?

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First, please enroll in your new school for the 2021-2022 School Year. Only enrolled DCPS students are eligible to register for virtual learning. More information about enrollment is available at enrolldcps.dc.gov.

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If I have more questions about virtual learning, who should I contact?

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For general questions on virtual learning in SY21-22, you can reach out to the Office of Integrity at dcps.cio@k12.dc.gov, or 202.442.5885 (Option 2). If you have questions about medical eligibility for virtual learning, or the medical consent and certification form, please contact the Health team at medicalconsent@k12.dc.gov.

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