We, the citizens, parents and students of Anne Arundel County, petition Governor Larry Hogan, our Anne Arundel County Representatives, Karen B. Salmon, Ph.D., State Superintendent of Schools, George Arlotto, ED.D., AACPS Superintendent of Schools, and the AACPS Board of Education to open all Anne Arundel County Public Schools, 5 days a week at 100% capacity, before the end of 2020-2021 school year, but no later than September 8, 2021, 2021-2022 School Year.

The impact of virtual learning for an entire year has had life altering effects on the emotional and social well-being of our young adults. Our students are suffering academically, emotionally and physically. Students from diverse backgrounds who are more at risk of increased vulnerability are less likely to receive the support and extra services they need.  

AACPS has completely abandoned their motto: ELEVATING ALL STUDENTS...ELIMINATING ALL GAPS. In fact, we are widening the gap with a model that:  A. is limited to hybrid instruction, and B. ONLY provides that instruction 2 to 4 days per week.  That is an automatic 20% gap in learning given this statement alone.

Teachers are being granted accommodation requests where they are able to remain home while receiving 100% of their pay and benefits, while working families may not be given the option to work from home or take extended paid leave from their jobs.  They are being forced to take unpaid time off from work to stay home to help their children with their schooling.   Many families are struggling to make ends meet because they must be at home and are not earning a paycheck - some are losing their jobs, losing their homes, and are unable to feed their families.

Maryland is one of four of states with little to no in-person instruction.  The vast majority of Maryland’s public school students have not seen the inside of a classroom in almost a year, while we watched as large private and public schools, in states across the U.S., do the "impossible" by opening safely in August/September and successfully staying open. It must be all hands-on deck.  Let’s get our children back to full, 100% in person learning.  Educate our children inside the classroom, it is essential for their future and our children deserve better.

Your constituents are unhappy. We are stressed, overwhelmed, and ready to be heard.

We urge you, we beg you … bring the students back to the classroom full-time, 100%.