What You Need to Know About the 2020-2021 Brevard County School Year
Posted: August 25th, 2020
Delaying the Start of the School Year
In an effort to protect our youths and eliminate crowded gathering spaces, schools were among the first institutions to close down when the coronavirus outbreak began. Students in Brevard County and across the country spent the spring semester at home, participating in virtual learning sessions to complete their school years. Now, as the summer quickly comes to an end, parents and educators alike have had to readjust to prepare for the fall semester.
While virtual schooling was the best solution to keep everyone safe at the onset of COVID-19, researchers have noticed a decline in academic performance since students started learning from home. Professionals have long touted the importance of in-person learning and active social lives for children as they progress through their formative years. The classroom setting creates social pressures and collaborative benefits that help inspire progress.
Everyone’s circumstances are different in these unprecedented times. Some parents are essential workers who require in-person school or childcare for their children while they’re at work. Others are able to stay home and administer virtual learning courses. To help accommodate parents and students in a variety of situations, Brevard Public Schools pushed back the start date of the school year to August 24th as they prepared to implement several changes.
New Protocols for Schools
According to Brevard Public Schools, “Local school leaders, public health experts, educators and parents must be at the center of decisions about how and when to reopen schools, taking into account the spread of COVID-19 in their communities and the capacities of school districts to adapt safety protocols to make in-person learning safe and feasible.” With that in mind, the ultimate goal is to have all Brevard Public schools open in August with a few different options for parents and students.
Full-Time In-Person at School
Brevard Public Schools faculty and staff spent extra time implementing extra provisions in their classrooms to help keep their students safe and healthy. Safety protocols include increased cleaning, adjustments to classroom spaces to allow for distancing, and extra guidelines for parents and students. School officials note the importance of flexibility as they monitor the course of the coronavirus in upcoming months.
Learning from Home with Brevard Virtual School or eLearning
There are a couple available options for students to stay at home during the school year. The eLearning program allows students to interact with their teachers and peers as usual from a virtual setting. Brevard Virtual School is an institute of its own that allows students to complete their coursework on their own schedules.
Blended At-Home and eLearning
Students can also adopt a schedule that varies between learning at home and going to school. This schedule should be confirmed with school officials before the start of the school year. Brevard Public Schools recommends scheduling 9-week increments of eLearning instruction and alternating between at-home and in-school learning so that students can reap the benefits of socializing at their young age.
As students, educators, and parents adjust to their new education systems this fall, school officials will continue to adapt and provide the best care possible for students as information is updated. To learn more about living in Brevard or to get in touch with one of our relocation specialists, call Ellingson Properties at 321-750-7050 today.