Gwinnett County Public Schools will return to in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year. This decision takes into account students’ academic and social-emotional needs, the improving pandemic conditions (lower rates of infection), the availability of vaccinations for teachers and other school staff, and guidance from health experts and organizations. Plans for the fall reflect the district’s commitment to safety for its students and staff, with continued mitigation efforts such as the wearing of masks, provision of PPE, and strict cleaning regimens. GCPS will continue to rely on guidance from the CDC and other health partners in developing plans for the return to in-person learning in the fall.
While all students will be scheduled for in-person instruction for the fall as the default, the district will offer families the opportunity to opt out of in-person learning, allowing their children to participate in a modified digital learning option. This modified version—which will have digital students learning from digital teachers, some of whom may be at a different location including Gwinnett Online Campus—is intended to eliminate the need for teachers to teach concurrently.
Parents contemplating the modified digital learning option for their children for next school year should consider the following in making their decision:
- For staffing and scheduling purposes, parents are asked to consider the decision to opt out of in-person instruction as a year-long commitment. However, if a family later determines it is best for their child to return to in-person learning, there will be an opportunity for them to do so at the end of the first semester.
- Digital learning will be different in the fall. For example, a student may be taught by a teacher from a school other than his or her own school. Middle and high school students may take some courses through Gwinnett Online Campus or Georgia Virtual School. In addition, course offerings for digital learners may be more limited than those available for students attending school in-person.
- Digital learning is not optimal for every student. Some students did not do as well academically, socially, or emotionally in the digital learning environment. Parents should consider how their child did during digital learning in making the decision for the 2021-22 school year.
- Parents may opt out of in-person learning for one child if they feel it best serves that child and choose to have another child attend school in-person.
Please note that only those families that wish to opt out of in-person learning for their students will need to complete the online form available in the Parent Portal or using the ParentVUE app for those that have Parent Portal accounts. The deadline to submit the opt-out form is Sunday, April 4, at 11:59 p.m.
