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. In one, a massive study of more than 340,000 residents of rural Bangladesh, the study found that mask programs that promoted but didn't mandate masks "increased mask usage and reduced . This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. The PGCPS website recently notified parents that masking is now required. A mask should still be worn through the 10th day after testing positive, according to the guidelines. Great stories teach, transport and transform! This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. . Montgomery County Board of Education drops mask mandate for schools WTOP was the first to report on the policy change. The decision comes as some school systems have considered reviving their mask mandates as coronavirus variants have led to rising case numbers. 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. This decision is personal; students and staff are asked to respect the choices of others. Parents were also notified in a newsletter the following week. The vaccination rate in the county for residents 5 and older is 81.5 percent, according to state health department data. Donna Christy, president of the Prince Georges County Educators Association, told WTOP that the union supports the move. We are one of the last counties in the country to still have a mask mandate. Bradley Beal hits season high as Wizards fight to the finish in Atlanta, For Ovechkin in winter, a deadline sell-off makes sense this spring, Commanders cut Carson Wentz and Bobby McCain, clearing cap space, coronavirus booster shots are now available for children as young as 5, 10.5 million children have lost one or both parents, students test scores have even plummeted, ACT and SAT testing have rebounded modestly, Prince Georges students are scoring below grade level, D.C. Public Schools new reading curriculum. <>/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>> Alejandro Alvarez joined WTOP as a digital journalist and editor in June 2018. Prince George's County will lift its indoor mask mandate on Monday, Feb. 28, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced Friday. 2023 WTOP. All staff, students and families are encouraged to support personal decisions on mask-wearing. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, 2023, Prince George's County Public Schools, Website Accessibility Requests and Feedback Form. School officials indicate they reserve the right to change the masking mandate at any time. Like WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Twitter and Instagram to engage in conversation about this article and others. Prince Georges County schools initially transitioned to a mask-optional policy in July. The PGCPS website recently notified parents that masking is now required of Prince Georges County Public Schools (PGCPS) students and employees. John H. Murphy, Sr., a former enslaved man founded the AFRO in 1892 with $200 from his wife, Martha Howard Murphy. WTOPs John Domen contributed to this report. Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Report a Website Problem /QuickLinks.aspx. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM. 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. Other school systems in Maryland elected to drop mask mandates last school year, but Prince Georges kept a requirement in place until the county reached over an 80 percent vaccination rate for the coronavirus. County will reinstitute an indoor public mask mandate due to a continued rise in COVID-19 metrics. Sasscer Administration Building 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. NEWS ALERT: California board denies parole for Robert F. Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan, John Domen | jdomen@wtop.com. PGCPS will continue to make health and safety decisions in consultation with health experts. 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. In a poll of its members a few weeks ago, she said, around 60% favored the return of a mask mandate. 8:30 PM, 7:15 PM 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. All staff, students and families are encouraged to support personal decisions on mask-wearing. American students test scores have even plummeted to levels unseen for decades. Montgomery County Board of Education drops mask mandate for schools. Prince Georges County Public Schools will head into the upcoming school year with a mask-optional policy. "All staff, students and families are encouraged to support personal decisions. WTOPs John Domen contributed to this report. Some say that policy change was not clear. In February 2022, the Maryland State Board of Education lifted its statewide mandate that students and staff wear face coverings in school. To date, more than 10.5 million children have lost one or both parents or caregivers during the coronavirus pandemic. Higher education: College and university enrollment is nowhere near pandemic level, experts worry. Baltimore, MD Office Michael A. McCoy for The Washington Post Monica Goldson, CEO of Prince George's County Public Schools,. One D.C. school is using COVID relief funds to target students on the verge of failure. Nearly 77% of residents are fully vaccinated, meaning theyve received at least two shots, according to CDC data. 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Mask Mandate Returns To Prince George's Schools Effective Aug. 15. 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 July 2022, PGCPS transitioned from a mandatory mask-wearing policy to an optional-wear policy for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began. Also, public schools in D.C. went mask-optional in March, while state lawmakers in Virginia voted to ban school mask mandates in February. the county announced plans to reinstate its indoor mask mandate, initially transitioned to a mask-optional policy in July, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prince Georges Co. council votes to temporarily cap rent hikes at 3%, Millions invested into Blue Line corridor by Prince Georges Co. developers, Cardinal Gregory meets with descendants of slaves buried on Bowie church hillside, Grand jury indicts DC employee charged with killing 13-year-old boy, Virginia state superintendent Jillian Balow announces resignation, Maryland food bank braces for more hungry mouths after emergency benefits are reduced. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. 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. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. Prince Georges 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. Prince George's County school system will end its mask mandate Sept. 6. College scholarships are available for Class of 2023 seniors! 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. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM, dropped its mask mandate in public schools back in March, Prince Georges Co. council votes to temporarily cap rent hikes at 3%, Millions invested into Blue Line corridor by Prince Georges Co. developers, Cardinal Gregory meets with descendants of slaves buried on Bowie church hillside, Grand jury indicts DC employee charged with killing 13-year-old boy, Virginia state superintendent Jillian Balow announces resignation, Maryland food bank braces for more hungry mouths after emergency benefits are reduced. 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. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The school. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. For Read Across America Week, check out our many resources that encourage a love of reading. 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. Lorsqu'il s'agit de rpondre des menaces de sant publique telles que le COVID-19, les districts scolaires du Maryland disposent d'une certaine flexibilit pour dterminer les politiques de port de masque. School officials say the decision comes in light of the highly contagious COVID-19 BA.5 variant spreading through the county. Prince George's County Public Schools To date, more than 10.5 million children have lost one or both parents or caregivers during the coronavirus pandemic. This year, when the omicron variant hit regional schools hard, Prince Georges chose to extend its winter break beyond any other school systems to slow the spread of the virus. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. She said that she personally hasnt received a lot of feedback from community members yet on the issue. Maryland Gov. Sasscer Administration Building Students will return to school in Prince George's County on August 29. D.C. Public Schools new reading curriculum is designed to help improve literacy among the citys youngest readers. 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. See something? Many of the conspiracy theories contradict each other and the findings in the Energy Department report. The updated Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook addressing the policy change reads: The mask-optional policy enables individuals to choose whether to wear a mask in schools and offices. Goldson reinstated a mask mandate in schools earlier in August because coronavirus transmission levels were high. The mandate extends to all indoor public locations at all. Read More Questions? This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. ACT and SAT testing have rebounded modestly since the massive disruptions early in the coronavirus pandemic, and many colleges are also easing mask rules. Officials in Prince George's County have announced that students will start the 2022-2023 school year with masks on. Together they created a platform to offer images and stories of hope to advance their community. It states the system was lifting its mask mandate an announcement that has not been clear to many parents. Prince Georges schools will be mask-optional for 2022-2023. WTOP has obtained a short email, dated July 1, that PGCPS sent to teachers and staff. Before then, the school system briefly had a mask-optional policy in place in July. Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here. School officials announced the decision on Facebook Friday. READ MORE: Prince George's County recommending mask-wearing in indoor public places as COVID-19 cases rise. Related: CDC Eases COVID Restrictions: What Remains In Maryland. Wearing a mask is optional for students in Montgomery County. %PDF-1.7 Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Miller said the board of education hadnt discussed the issue yet, since it has been on break since early July. Learn about the latest metrics from our county, building closures and more. ,;=d!DEJ\0 The public school system of about 128,000 students was the last in Maryland to keep a mask requirement in place, even as other jurisdictions dropped them earlier in the spring. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. UPPER MARLBORO, Md. By NBC Washington Staff Published August 12, 2022 Updated on August 15, 2022 at 11:22 am. 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