Prince William orders 15,500 laptops for students, outlines remote education plan

Prince William County Public Schools has ordered 15,500 HP touchscreen laptops that will be distributed to students by May. 

The $6.4 million purchase is part of a $10 million plan supported by the county School Board to put digital devices in the hands of all of the county’s 27,000 high school students.

The School Board seeks an additional $5 million from the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in order to purchase additional computers for students, accelerating the school divisions’ pre-existing multi-year plan to ensure the school system is able to supply one computer for each of its students.

For students with disabilities and English learners (E-L), teachers will offer virtual support and accommodations. E-L teachers will still focus on teaching reading, writing, and speaking with virtual resources.

“Our local, state, and federal leaders recognize that services on [individulized education plans] will not be met in the same way as they would if schools were open,” said Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Walts.

Teachers and counselors are now required to have virtual office hours when they will be available to assist students.

On March 13, schools gave out available computers and books to students who needed them.

The news of the laptop purchase comes as Walts laid out his plan for how the school system will address the coronavirus pandemic at an emergency virtual school board meeting on April 1. 

The main takeaways are that the school system will continue with a virtual continuity of learning plan in which no grading will occur, but feedback is encouraged.

There will be no fourth-quarter marking period, and final grades from quarters one, two, and three will be averaged to determine the final end-of-year grade. 

Third-quarter will be extended to April 24, and students will have the chance to redo assignments or submit optional work to bring up their grades and help fulfill graduation requirements. Grades can only go up from where they were on March 13, the last day of school.

The superintendent has promised students that “If they were on track to graduate, they will graduate.”

Senior graduation status will be finalized on May 29, and all other students will continue to have learning resources through June 12. 

The county school division has created a home learning webpage that has academic resources for parents to utilize. 

Teachers will be trained and given virtual professional development to help assist them in creating online materials for their students. 

When Spring Break ends on April 10, principals have been directed to devise schedules that give each subject 60-120 minutes (depending on school level) of review and instruction per subject per week. 

Our team members will continue to work to find alternative methods and positive proactive strategies to continue engagement in learning for our special education students.

— Steve Walts (@SuperPWCS) April 2, 2020

Counselors will still be available to support the emotional needs of students. Students can reach out to counseling staff at [email protected]. 

“My highest priority remains the physical and mental health of students and staff,” Watts said.

As for the graduation ceremony, there remains no clear answer. 

“Our high school principals have been working together virtually to discuss potential alternatives, including virtual operations, or potentially an in-person graduation in early August,” Watt said.

Moving forward, summer school plans have not been finalized. Regardless, the Superintendent has indicated that the first weeks of the next school year will be spent reviewing and reinforcing material from this year.

Food services will continue, even though spring break, and on April 6 three additional locations will open at Potomac View and River Oaks elementary, and Saunders Middle School. 

Parents with appropriate ID will be able to pick up these meals, no longer is the student required to be present as this national law has been waived.