OCDSB students have two weeks to decide on virtual school, in-person learning in fall

Parents with students in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board will have two weeks to decide if they want their child or children to attend in-person or virtual schooling this fall.

In a letter sent to parents Saturday, the OCDSB said parents will get a form on Monday, which they are required to return by March 14, indicating their decision on how they’d like their kids to proceed with their school in the coming 2021-2022 school year.

If forms aren’t filled out, then students will automatically be placed into in-class learning.

“We believe that student learning and well-being is best supported through in-person learning,” the note said. “We also recognize that for some families, the return to in-person learning presents challenges and the Ottawa-Carleton Virtual schools is an attractive alternative.”

The school board said it recognizes this is as an important decision, but that parents should remember that the decision they make will be for the entire school year as it will be difficult to transition students later unless it’s a critical situation.

“We know from experience that with appropriate protocols in place, schools can safely operate with limited evidence of transmission of COVID-19,” the letter said. “Over the course of the 2021-2022 school year, we hope to resume regular operations incrementally and as it is safe to do so, continuing to work closely and be guided by the advice from Ottawa Public Health.”

As the OCDSB anticipates more students returning to in-class learning, the virtual school model may have fewer elementary virtual class setups, but will continue to have one virtual secondary campus.

For students in special education, though, they are expected to return to in-person learning only.

The decision deadline Ottawa Catholic School Board students who want to continue with virtual schooling, on the other hand, was due on Friday.

Parents who wish their child or children to return to in-person learning do not need to register for school.

The board said they will automatically place all students back at their in-person schools for next fall.