COVID-19 In-Person Learning Matrix
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133 cases or more: Stage 5, purple, substantial risk: All schools are closed. Students are not physically attending school and are completing coursework through Non-Traditional Instruction/ Differentiated Distance Learning (NTI/2DL).
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83 to 132 cases: Stage 4, red, significant risk: FCPS will consider moving to remote learning with targeted services provided for students who need extra support. Based on FCPS transition factors and the COVID-19 In-Person Learning MATRIX, a graduated in-person learning model will be considered.
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34 to 82 cases: Stage 3, orange, moderate, but increasing risk: Schools are open for graduated in-person learning. Short-term closures may occur for virus-affected classrooms or buildings because of transition factors. These closures will be communicated by the school and district.
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3.3 to 33 cases: Stage 2, yellow, minimal risk: Schools are open for in-person learning. However, short-term closures may occur for virus-affected classrooms or buildings. These short-term closures may be affected by one or more transition factors and will be communicated to families by the school and the district.
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3.3 cases or less: Stage 1, green, low risk: All schools are open. Curriculum delivered on campus via face-to-face instruction, with blended learning strategies that integrate digital resources. FCPS will monitor and be prepared to respond to identification of COVID-19 positive tests that affect staff members or students. We might enact additional health and safety guidelines in consultation with the county’s health department.
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About the matrix
When conditions warrant, Fayette County Public Schools will offer traditional, on-campus, in-person instruction for all students whose families choose that option. We will implement significant health and safety procedures to meet guidelines set by federal, state, and local health officials to minimize the risk of COVID-19 spread. Since the number of students in the building is determined by family preference, social distancing will be implemented as much as possible, but will not be possible in all situations. To determine the appropriate mode of instruction, district leaders have developed a COVID-19 In-Person Learning Matrix. This tool, which builds on the state’s color-coded incidence rate map, includes five stages based on the seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in Fayette County.
In addition, district leaders will consider orders from the governor, student and staff absences, isolations and quarantines, operations and support considerations, community vs. institutional spread, community trends, and vaccine uptake when determining the appropriate mode of instruction. Data will be tracked daily, and decisions for the next two-week period will be announced each Tuesday. Regardless of the in-person learning stage, we will provide remote learning five days a week for students whose families prefer that option.
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Marlene Helm
Read the acting superintendent's April 6 letter to families (click photo); the translations are archived below.
April 6, 2021
Dear Fayette County Public Schools families:
Welcome back from spring break! I hope each of you had the opportunity to spend time – safely – with loved ones last week. We have hit the ground running this week, excited to finish the last six weeks of school.
Today’s meeting with our partners from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department revealed continued good news with low numbers of community spread, and a 7-day average of new cases of just 25. The doctors advised us that any uptick caused by spring break travel or gatherings would not be visible for roughly 10 days to two weeks. We remain hopeful that our community followed best practices and everyone remains healthy.
While we were on break, you may have seen that the Kentucky Department of Education updated its Healthy at School Guidance and schools are no longer expected to screen students for temperatures before entering buildings or riding the school bus. We discussed this new information with the health experts from the Health Department this morning, and they are in agreement with this change. Thus, as a district, we will discontinue daily temperature checks for students beginning Thursday, April 8, 2021.
We still need our families to monitor their children for signs of illness, included a fever. Children exhibiting a fever should be kept at home. Please do not give your child fever-reducing medication and send them to school.
We will still take the temperatures of students who experience illness while at school. If a student begins displaying symptoms of COVID-19, we also have the option of offering rapid testing for families who want that opportunity. Tests are administered only with parent or guardian permission, and only in the presence of an adult designated by the family.
We continue to face intermittent challenges with bus driver staffing. Changes with our transportation supports have made a difference, and we have only had a handful of routes cancelled or delayed. It is critical that families have accurate contact information on file so that we can reach you about last minute changes to school bus routes and schedules. Please be sure your child’s school has your updated phone number in case our transportation team needs to reach you.
Greater numbers of people are now fully vaccinated, and it’s especially encouraging that vaccines are now available to everyone 16 years of age and older. Appointments to receive the vaccine, which is free and safe, are available at:
- UK HealthCare for the Pfizer vaccine, available to anyone 16 or older
- Lexington-Fayette County Health Department for the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine, available to anyone 18 or older
- Or check online for other locations.
- Free rides to COVID-19 vaccination clinics are available through Federated Transportation Services of the Bluegrass. Please call (888) 848-0989 in advance to schedule a ride.
Thank you for your continued support and flexibility as we navigate the landscape of in-person schooling during a pandemic. It takes all of us working in concert to ensure our students continue to have this opportunity, and we appreciate all you are doing to help!
Sincerely,
Marlene Helm,
acting superintendent
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Contact us
For questions about the matrix or content on this webpage, please email district spokeswoman Lisa Deffendall.
