Deadline to submit application is Friday, March 10, 2023. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD Face masks must be worn in all schools and district buildings within Prince George's County Public Schools starting Aug. 15. endobj Related: CDC Eases COVID Restrictions: What Remains In Maryland. Instead, the agency is recommending those exposed to someone with COVID-19 wear a mask for 10 days and test for the virus on the fifth day. The vaccination rate in the county for residents 5 and older is 81.5 percent, according to state health department data. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. UPPER MARLBORO, Md. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. endobj Get The 7 DMV newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. bD,pI-2E4n[ >-Q_N@ZN@^w $KS@y/~LO-ud)x%|$c|}J7B"C`R$~uwB!A|jS6|V">}XpaebmVY# All Rights Reserved. The latest: Updated coronavirus booster shots are now available for children as young as 5. 2022 WTOP. WTOP was the first to report on the policy change. WTOP has obtained a short email, dated July 1, that PGCPS sent to teachers and staff. According to a press release, the changes will be in place until further notice. Wearing a mask is optional for students in Montgomery County. Prince Georges County was a center of the pandemic, reporting the most cases among counties in Maryland. Many of the conspiracy theories contradict each other and the findings in the Energy Department report. For Read Across America Week, check out our many resources that encourage a love of reading. The school system had kept the mandate in place and was not planning to lift it until the countys vaccination rate reached 80 percent, system leaders said previously. <> Read More Questions? 2023 WTOP. He is a reporter and photographer focusing on politics, political activism and international affairs. School system CEO Monica Goldson announced the policy change in a newsletter to parents Monday evening, at the end of the first day of school. As of Monday night, the county is in the low community level as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are no language selections available at this time. When responding to public health threats like COVID-19, Maryland school districts have the flexibility to determine mask-wearing policies," the school district posted on Facebook. Uline Arena Building Using This Site. See something? The county has the lowest transmission rate in Maryland at 44.98 . But MCPS announced this week, when there are three or more positive cases in a class, students could be required to wear a mask.. Goldson reinstated a mask mandate in schools earlier in August because coronavirus transmission levels were high. Sasscer Administration Building On Tuesday, the Prince Georges County website still stated masks are required on public transportation, in public schools, and in businesses that choose to require them., The state of Maryland says 81.5% of residents 5 and older in Prince Georges County are considered fully vaccinated.. ACT and SAT testing have rebounded modestly since the massive disruptions early in the coronavirus pandemic, and many colleges are also easing mask rules. Prince George's. Donna Christy, president of the Prince Georges County Educators Association, previously told WTOP that the union supported the move to start the year with a mask requirement. Students who meet PGCPS criteria for TAG identification may apply for the lottery. Like WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Twitter and Instagram to engage in conversation about this article and others. California will stop requiring masks in K-12 schools as of March 12, leaving it up to counties and school districts to keep or ditch the pandemic mandate as tension mounts among parents . CDC eases school guidance on quarantines, testing, screening. Masks will be required inside Prince George's County Public Schools again starting Monday, Aug . Monica Goldson, chief executive of Maryland's. On July 7, PGCPS also announced the new policy within an email newsletter to parents. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. 3 0 obj Wayne K. Curry Administration Building 1301 McCormick Drive Largo, MD 20774. It was the last school system in the state to return to in-person instruction. 5425 Wisconsin Ave Goldson cited improving coronavirus levels in her decision to make masking optional. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. ,;=d!DEJ\0 Mask policy is subject to change according to local and/or state health department guidance and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, PGCPS said in the email. Site Map. <> In February 2022, the Maryland State Board of Education lifted its statewide mandate that students and staff wear face coverings in school. Students can now benefit from free virtual medical visits with Hazel Health! Juanita Miller, chair of the countys school board, directed questions about the new policy to CEO Monica Goldson, who is in charge of day-to-day operations for the school system. Higher education: College and university enrollment is nowhere near pandemic level, experts worry. Mask mandates are quickly becoming a thing of the past in the D.C. region: The last two local jurisdictions with mandates in place are lifting those requirements this week. PGCPS continuar tomando decisiones relacionadas con la salud y la seguridad en consulta con los expertos en el rea de la salud. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 23 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Larry Hogan (R) and the State Board of Education weighed in on the move, but school system leaders argued that the extension was critical after consulting with the local health department. Con la disminucin de las tasas de positividad de la COVID-19 a nivel local, la Dra. Departments and Offices. All Rights Reserved. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM. Prince Georges County infection rates throughout the pandemic have been consistently among the highest rates in Maryland. Dr. Frances Toni Draper announces retirement from pastorship at Freedom Temple AME Zion Church, 130 years of excellence: AFRO Gala set to kick anniversary celebration into high gear. While PGCPS is working hard to overcome its staff shortage, Prince George's County Schools will lift the mandatory mask mandate, and become "mask optional" on September 6. 8:30 PM, 7:15 PM Contact Information. In the classroom: Amid a teacher shortage, states desperate to fill teaching jobs have relaxed job requirements as staffing crises rise in many schools. Guidelines from the CDC recommend that schools enforce universal masking when virus levels are high, although most school districts across the country have abandoned masking requirements. The mandate extends to all indoor public locations at all. Like WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Twitter and Instagram to engage in conversation about this article and others. School system CEO Monica Goldson announced the policy change in a newsletter to parents Monday evening, at the. 14201 School Lane WTOPs John Domen contributed to this report. In a tweet on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, called . The announcement. x]o ~TXE`vM{rrnzD"e7}gf2%"@HQ{_~o[W_QRX$7XO_D~y/|mb:r#82d }*c1]JcXu^`k|:^v>Ro}|s}uJspk{uM3' }? Prince George's County Public Schools: . As a parent that has a child in PG county schools, I would like it to make it my choice and their choice whether they choose to wear a mask," Facebook user Ray Abrams posted. Some say that policy change was not clear. Baltimore, MD Office Students in Prince George's County will be required to wear masks when they return to school in late August, school officials said Monday. Washington, DC 20002, Prince Georges County has suffered higher than normal COVID-19 infection rates since the start of the pandemic. When the school year ended in late June, students and staff were still required to wear a mask inside all school buildings. In a poll of its members a few weeks ago, she said, around 60% favored the return of a mask mandate. Neighboring Montgomery County, Maryland, dropped its mask mandate in public schools back in March after a unanimous vote by its school board. Staff are encouraged to exercise good judgment and are expected to be supportive of co-workers mask-wearing choices.. Numerous other parents posted in that same Facebook thread that they will be sending their students to school without masks. PGCPS had transitioned to a mask-optional policy in July, the first time it had dropped mandatory masking since the onset of the pandemic. Prince Georges County schools initially transitioned to a mask-optional policy in July. They should isolate for five days and may end isolation after that time if they are fever-free for 24 hours without medication and their symptoms are improving. Mask policy is subject to change according to local and state health department guidelines and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, according to the PGCPS website. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. The same day, the system also published its policy change on their website. Children ages 2 to 5 must wear masks while indoors in Prince George's County unless they are eating or drinking, County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D) announced Wednesday, citing a. 5425 Wisconsin Ave John Henry Murphy Sr.; Slave. Alejandro Alvarez joined WTOP as a digital journalist and editor in June 2018. Soldier. The AFRO knows what its like to endure challenging times. PGCPS had transitioned to a mask-optional policy in July, the first time it had dropped mandatory masking since the onset of the pandemic. Prince George's County Public Schools the last system in the D.C. area that required students and staff to wear masks lifted that mandate in early July. (7News) Prince George's County will lift its indoor mask mandate Monday, Feb. 28, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced Friday. Prince Georges County Public Schools will head into the upcoming school year with a mask-optional policy. Chevy Chase, MD 20815. the County will lift its indoor mask mandate on Monday, February 28, 2022, as COVID-19 case rates continue to drop significantly in the County following the peak of the Omicron variant. The new policy notes that mask-wearing rules could change based on guidance from local or state health officials, or if there is additional guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prince George's County Portal. Prince George's County Public Schools will end its indoor mask mandate next week, CEO Monica Goldson said in a note to the school community. In a poll of its members a few weeks ago, she said, around 60% favored the return of a mask mandate. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Instead, the decision about masking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 was left to each local jurisdiction and its respective school board. Michael A. McCoy for The Washington Post Monica Goldson, CEO of Prince George's County Public Schools,. The decision comes as some school systems have considered reviving their mask mandates as coronavirus variants have led to rising case numbers. WTOP has obtained a short. Fentanyl-related overdoses among teens are rising. %PDF-1.7 "After consulting with our health officials, we are confident in our decision to lift the indoor mask mandate on February 28," said Alsobrooks. 233 E. Redwood Street Suite 600G PG county officials, focus your attention on making our schools better and stop putting distractions like a mask mandate," Abrams continued. The latest: Updated coronavirus booster shots are now available for children as young as 5. Marshals Service involved in fatal shooting in Southeast DC, Southeast triple shooting suspect identified by police. PGCPS will continue to make health and safety decisions in consultation with health experts.. Se anima a todos los empleados, estudiantes y familias a apoyar las decisiones personales de uso de mascarilla. Also, public schools in D.C. went mask-optional in March, while state lawmakers in Virginia voted to ban school mask mandates in February. Highlighting Kenmoor Middle School counselor Dr. William Clay and Heather Hills Elementary School counselor Monique Bartley, NBCT, Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan, 7:00 PM . John H. Murphy, Sr., a former enslaved man founded the AFRO in 1892 with $200 from his wife, Martha Howard Murphy. The change in policy was listed among other items about the upcoming school year, including immunizations, online learning and fall class registration. The schools do not have enough teachers to start in 2 weeks nor enough bus drivers. John started working at WTOP in 2016 after having grown up in Maryland listening to the station as a child. All staff, students and families are encouraged to support personal decisions on mask-wearing. D.C. Public Schools new reading curriculum is designed to help improve literacy among the citys youngest readers. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. Accessibility. Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks has re-instituted a mask mandate for the county starting Sunday August 8. Report a Website Problem /QuickLinks.aspx. Miller said the board of education hadnt discussed the issue yet, since it has been on break since early July. All Rights Reserved. In a newsletter highlighting moments from the first day of school across the county, Marylands second-largest school system said it plans to implement a mask-optional policy beginning Sept. 6. Earlier this month, the county announced plans to reinstate its indoor mask mandate,noting the high transmissibility of the omicron subvariant. Although the city's mask mandate was lifted on March 1, Mayor Muriel Bowser did not lift the school mask mandate for public and private schools. On Monday, August 29, the Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) system in Maryland announced it would drop its mask mandate effective Tuesday, September 6. Before then, the school system briefly had a mask-optional policy in place in July. Students will return to school in Prince George's County on August 29. Quick Links. The community levels are determined by the number of hospital beds being used by covid-19 patients, the level of covid-19 hospital admissions and the total number of new cases in an area. I have known people who have taught in PG county and who are traumatized by the upper administration. Los distritos escolares de Maryland tienen flexibilidad para determinar las polticas de uso de mascarilla cuando responden a amenazas de salud pblica como la de la COVID-19. School officials announced. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. This decision reverses one from July, which made mask wearing optional in Prince George's County schools. While he got his on-air start at small stations in Pennsylvania and Delaware, he's spent most of his career in the D.C. area, having been heard on several local stations before coming to WTOP. A South Florida native, Scott graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019. Some children who are learning English have struggled to keep up in classrooms because the masks prevent them from seeing their instructors mouths form words. Plus I wouldn't be surprised if the facilities are not prepared for students. In light of the highly contagious COVID-19 BA.5 variant, Prince Georges County Public Schools (PGCPS) will return to a mandatory mask policy in all schools and facilities until further notice, effective on Aug. 15, according to the website. En raison de la baisse des taux de positivit du COVID-19 dans la rgion, Dr Monica Goldson, la directrice excutive, a annonc que la politique du port du masque optionnel reprendrait au sein de tous les tablissements de PGCPS le mardi 6 septembre. Great stories teach, transport and transform! American students test scores have even plummeted to levels unseen for decades. Maryland Gov. A mask should still be worn through the 10th day after testing positive, according to the guidelines. stream Baltimore, MD 21202, Washington, DC Office We are one of the last counties in the country to still have a mask mandate. But MCPS announced this week, when there are three or more positive cases in a class, students could be required to wear a mask. endobj This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. In schools with a COVID-19 outbreak, students and staff identified as close contacts of a positive case must quarantine, regardless of vaccination status or the presence of symptoms. 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Donna Christy, president of Prince Georges County Educators, said Prince Georges County teachers are supportive of returning to a mask mandate if infection rates require it. Read Across America activities - student dressed as book character parade; During Black History Month, staff at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School celebrate Historically Black Colleges and Universities. , noting the high transmissibility of the omicron subvariant learning and fall class registration if the are... A few weeks ago, pg county schools mask mandate said, around 60 % favored the return of a mask inside all buildings. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got covered!, testing, screening Executive Angela Alsobrooks has re-instituted a mask inside school... Among other items about the upcoming school year with a mask-optional policy in July Republican Georgia... A tweet on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, called policy change policy. 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