Schools

Some school districts in Northern Virginia appear to be at odds with Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order to lift the mask mandate. News4’s Julie Carey reports.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order saying parents should be able to decide whether their children wear masks to school. Northern Virginia reporter Drew Wilder spoke with parents about what they think of the order.

Here’s what Youngkin’s executive order on masks in schools says, what school districts say they will do and some answers to big questions.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is responding to local school districts that say they will keep their mask mandates in place despite his executive order that bans those mandates in schools.

The school district in historic Selma, Alabama is going remote after many cases of COVID-19 among teachers and staff, and in the community. “We did not have the adults available [for in-person learning], because of either testing positive or having close contact with someone who tested positive,” said superintendent Avis Williams.

Substitute shortages had long preceded the pandemic with schools struggling to retain quality candidates, but recent labor losses has exacerbated the situation.

Dr. Uché Blackstock looked at coronavirus prevention strategies like mask mandates ventilation, testing and rates of vaccination before deciding to sending them to New York City public schools. “This is a decision that no parent should have to make, but here we are having to make this decision,” Blackstock says.

Democrats are speaking out more forcefully against COVID-19 school closures, recognizing a rising anger among parents worried that their kids are falling behind.

“We are having challenges right now securing orders that we’ve put in with our local health department because the tests just aren’t there,” says Superintendent Susan Enfield of the Highline School District, outside of Seattle, Washington.

Storm Team4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer recaps the big snow day and says how the leftover snow will impact our Tuesday morning.

Many of the region’s school systems have announced closures for Tuesday after a major snowstorm dumped as much as a foot of snow on parts of the D.C. area. Here are the latest school closures and delays: Alexandria Public Schools and offices and offices will close for in-person learning and activities on Jan. 4. However, the district says there...

Drivers were stranded all across the DC Capital region on Monday after heavy snow piled up on roads and highways.

Mask requirements are returning in some school districts that had dropped them

Schools are turning to educational programs based on cognitive behavior therapy in an effort to help overwhelmed children stay in school and learn

Prince George’s County Public Schools will move to virtual learning due to rising COVID-19 case numbers and anxiety about the virus. News4’s Tracee Wilkins reports.

Prince George’s County Public Schools will go virtual beginning Dec. 20 through at least Jan. 14, 2022, a spokesperson said.

Anxiety is high for students, families and staff as COVID-19 cases spike at local schools. Prince George’s County Bureau Chief Tracee Wilkins explains what school leaders are doing to keep students safe.

New measures that restrict how race is addressed in classrooms have spread confusion and anxiety among many educators.

Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey reports on the Spotsylvania County School Board reversing a decision on banning sexually explicit books.

Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey reports on some parents pushing back against removing certain books from Spotsylvania County school libraries.