Department of Education Outlines Plans for Virtual Reopening of 2020-2021 School Year

Virgin Islands Department of Education Commissioner Racquel Berry-Benjamin, along with District Superintendents Carlos McGregor and Stefan Jurgen, Thursday outlined the Department’s plan to open the 2020-2021 school year on a fully virtual schedule. Highlights from the plan include students and school-based staff will learn and work from home, Sept. 8 – Jan. 20, 2021; laptop and Mifi internet devices, as well as desks and chairs will be distributed to students needing those items; and a new online technology that will serve as a hub for teachers, students and parents to engage will be implemented. 

The announcement was made during Government House’s weekly “Press Box” Facebook live townhall, following Governor Bryan’s midday revelation that the territory would return to the “Stay-at-Home” reopening phase, effective Aug. 17, due to a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases. 

“After careful consideration and guidance from Department of Health officials, the V.I. Department of Education has made the decision to conduct the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year virtually,” Berry-Benjamin said. 

Key areas of the plan to reopen USVI public schools virtually are outlined below: 

SOFT OPENING 

A ‘soft opening’ is planned for the first two weeks of school. This will allow students and staff to:  

 

SCHOOL DAY  

Each grade level will meet the minimum number of instructional hours, as per the VI Code: 

NOTE: After a period of assessment with the Department of Health, a determination will be made whether schools are to transition to a hybrid model for the second semester. This will involve some days learning on campus and other days learning from home. Parents will also have the option to have their children continue learning from home. 

 

ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORMS 

COMPUTER DISTRIBUTION 

NOTE: Students who have laptop or desktop computers at home are asked to use those, as the VIDE’s current inventory is limited and will be distributed to students without those electronics first. Parents who wish to purchase a laptop computer for their children, may visit the Department’s website, www.vide.vi, and download the spec sheet. 

 

SCHOOL UNIFORMS 

 

LEARNING SPACES AT HOME 

 

MEALS 

 

TRAINING 

 

SPECIAL EDUCATION & ENGLISH LEARNERS 

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION  

CTE classes engage in learning activities that require critical thinking and hands-on application.  

NOTE: After a period of assessment with the Department of Health, a determination will be made on whether special student groups, identified above, can safely report to the physical building for in-person teaching and learning. 

 

LEARNING LOSS 

 

The complete plan to open V.I. public schools virtually will be available for download on the Department’s website, www.vide.vi, by close of business on August 14. It will include in-depth details of students’ daily schedules by grade level, grading guidelines, support services for students and staff, and more. 

“Let us all remember to remain flexible throughout this process,” Berry-Benjamin said. “Our goal is to educate our students in the safest most effective way possible.” 

 

Download PDF:  pdf DOE Education Commissioner Details Plan for Virtual First Semester (211 KB)

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