DoDEA provides additional updates for school year 2020-2021

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is releasing its operational guidelines and protocols for schools and is providing additional student learning options for the upcoming school year 2020-2021.

At the DoDEA Return to School website, DoDEA published its DoDEA COVID-19 Operational Guidelines and Protocols for Schools, which provides DoDEA district and school leaders with general guidelines and protocols for establishing and maintaining safe school environments that reduce the risk of COVID-19 virus spread. To the maximum extent possible, DoDEA schools will operate brick and mortar schools on a regular full-time schedule when installations are in Health Protection Condition (HPCON) Alpha or Bravo conditions. There will not be alternating days, half-days, or staggered schedules.

For students and families with health vulnerabilities related to COVID-19 or for those who are concerned about their students returning to brick and mortar schools, DoDEA is offering a virtual option for students in kindergarten to 12th grade for the first semester. Student registration for the virtual option is open from now until July 28 with a school start date of Aug. 24.

“We understand that some families may have circumstances where they do not wish to or are unable to send their child(ren) to the brick-and-mortar setting," said Dr. Judith Minor, the DoDEA Americas Director for Student Excellence. "While we have confidence in our communities to enact mitigating measures in conjunction with local health and CDC guidance, we will also provide a virtual platform for higher-risk students to continue to learn virtually.”

The virtual school will now include elementary (K-5) and middle school (6-8) grades. Families who elect the virtual option will have dedicated online DoDEA teachers in a cohort model with other students from their school and/or the district and region. This expansion is focused solely on responding to current needs. DoDEA already has a fully accredited virtual high school high (grades 9-12), and there is no plan to permanently expand DoDEA Virtual High School to grades K-12.

Additionally, DoDEA is accepting intent forms from current DoDEA teachers who are interested in a detail to the virtual school for a semester or the full school year. Teachers will have from now until July 28 to submit the DoDEA Virtual School Educator Detail Interest Form for a short-term detail to the virtual school.

To learn more, visit the DoDEA Return to School website.