Our Mission

Working together as a team, we will end the predictive value of race, class, gender, and special capacities for our children’s success through high quality teaching and learning for all. We seek to build relationships with families and communities to ensure that every student succeeds. We will know every student.

Our Mission

Hybrid Learning Model, 2020-21

A hybrid learning model includes a combination of face-to-face instruction and virtual learning.

Stages 3 and 4 of the division's 2020-21 Stages of Returning provide varying degrees of hybrid learning. In either stage, families may elect for their child to participate in a fully virtual learning model.

General Info

In order to adhere to social distancing guidelines, Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) has developed a learning approach that combines face-to-face and virtual learning—a hybrid learning model. The school division has drafted scheduling scenarios for returning to school that include in-person attendance, with social distancing as a key feature:

In Stage 3, the division will offer face-to-face instruction two days per week for all students in Grades PK-3.
In Stage 4, the division will offer face-to-face instruction four days per week for all elementary students and one or two days per week for all middle and high school students.
Alternatively, in either stage, families may elect for their child to participate in a fully virtual learning model.

Elementary Schools

Stage 3 Hybrid Learning Model

In Stage 3, ACPS is able to offer a hybrid learning option to all students in Grades PK-3, including students in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE). The Stage 3 hybrid plan includes two days per week of face-to-face instruction and three days per week of asynchronous, at-home learning. Half of the PK-3 students participating in the Stage 3 hybrid model will attend school in person on Mondays and Wednesdays, while the other half will attend school in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Stage 4 Hybrid Learning Model

In Stage 4, ACPS is able to offer face-to-face instruction to all elementary students Monday through Thursday. Students will be spaced out across the building in small groups of 8-15 students, depending on the size of the space they occupy. If a large space is used for the class (art room, music room, cafeteria, etc.), it may be possible to keep the entire class (20-22 students) together as one group while maintaining social distancing guidelines.

Interaction among students will be limited to the children in their homeroom and no more than three adults. Students will eat in their classrooms, whether they pack their lunch and snack(s) or eat a meal prepared by the cafeteria. School breakfast may be served using a grab-and-go format as students enter the building; otherwise, meals prepared in the cafeteria will be delivered to the classroom. Weather permitting, students will take several outdoor breaks daily.

An elementary student’s school week would include instruction in all content areas, including “specials” (also called “extensions”), such as art, library, music, physical education, and school counseling. These lessons may be posted or sent to students as asynchronistic experiences, whereby students access the activity or lesson on their own. Any group movement in the halls would require students to wear masks and practice social distancing. Classroom routines will include social distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands.

All students will participate in independent/asynchronous learning on Fridays. Fridays will provide teachers time for planning, family communications, and grade-level and department-level meetings.

Middle & High Schools

In Stage 4, depending on the transportation needs of our students, ACPS will offer face-to-face learning either one or two days per week for middle and high school students. This hybrid learning model will provide students with face-to-face learning experiences as well as both synchronous and asynchronous virtual learning experiences. Monday through Thursday, students will attend classes in-person one day a week or two days a week using an alternating daily schedule. Fridays will be an asynchronous (independent) learning day for students that allows teachers to engage in planning, student and family communications, and grade-level and department-level meetings.

Middle and high school students will move between classes during the day. Students will practice social distancing in their classrooms and during any transitions throughout the day. We will stagger classroom changes, and hallways will clearly indicate one-way traffic flow whenever possible. Classroom routines will include social distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands, and disinfection and cleaning will occur between classes. Students will eat lunch in their classrooms.