Fall 2021

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Expand All

  • 1/3/22 – WHAT WILL MY STUDENT NEED IF THEY NEED TO LEARN VIRTUALLY FROM HOME IN THE NEW YEAR?

    Due to inclement weather or COVID-19, students may need to learn from home at some time during the winter or spring of 2022.  If the need arises, they will need the following to successfully learn from home virtually:

    • Fully charged and functioning AACPS Chromebook
    • Quiet space to set up their learning environment – a place where they can watch, listen, and engage with their teacher and peers virtually without distraction
    • Writing utensils (pencil, pen, marker) and paper
    • Headphones (if available)

    Your student will need to log into Brightspace daily or routinely as this is where their assignments can be found while learning from home.  Additionally, it is the place where they can find classroom/course resources and it is the way they will communicate with their teacher.

    Live synchronous virtual learning will take place using the Google Meet platform as it took place during the 2020-2021 school year.

    NOTE:  This is a support page for Classlink should you need additional assistance with Brightspace or Google Meet. Additionally, there are supports available within each student’s Brightspace classrooms.

  • 8/24/21 – Will my student be expected to log into Brightspace daily and if so, how do they do so?

    Yes, your student may need to log into Brightspace daily or routinely as this is where their assignments can be found.  Additionally, it is the place where they can find classroom/course resources and the way to communicate with their teacher.

    They will access Brightspace through ClassLink.  There is a Brightspace icon on every student’s ClassLink page.

  • 8/23/21 – How do I learn more about Brightspace for Families?

    Please visit the following two sites:  www.aacps.org/lms and www.aacps.org/BrightspaceForFamilies  There are videos available on these sites that explain our new Learning Management System that our students will be using this year.  These videos will also explain how families will be able to engage more easily to support their student’s learning via Brightspace.

  • 8/2/21 - There are some families that do not have access to the internet at home or who need additional devices for their students. How can I help my neighbors who may need assistance?

    We are always willing to accept help.

    Thank you for your willingness to increase students’ access to technology at home.  The 21st Century Education Foundation has established an eLearning fund, so that individuals and organizations can make tax-deductible contributions for equipment/devices and internet service.  Click here for more information  https://63610.thankyou4caring.org/elearningfund

  • 8/2/21 - Does my student need to bring their power cord (charger, charging cord, etc.) with them to school to charge their Chromebook?

    All students in grades 3-12 will need to bring their Chromebook to and from school daily.  We may be using the Chromebooks as tools within our classrooms at times during the day and students will be using them at home in the evenings to complete assignments or access virtual tutoring.

    We will have charging stations set up for Chromebooks to be recharged during the day in the elementary classrooms.  Please send your elementary student to school each day with a fully charged Chromebook.  We do not want your elementary student to lose their charging cord. As such, please do not send the charging cord to school with your elementary student.

    Secondary students (middle and high school students) should bring their labeled Chromebooks with their charging cables to and from school daily. 

    Please have your students label their Chromebooks and charging cables with their names and the name of their school.

  • 8/2/21 - WILL I BE ABLE TO SEND IN MY STUDENT’S OWN COMPUTER TO SCHOOL FOR THEIR USE IN THE CLASSROOM? WILL MY FAMILY BE COMPENSATED SHOULD LOSS OR DAMAGE OF MY STUDENT’S PERSONAL COMPUTER (NOT AACPS CHROMEBOOK) OCCUR AT SCHOOL?

    We have purchased Chromebooks for all of our AACPS students and have them set up to work on our networks easily. We expect students to use our AACPS-assigned Chromebooks during this school year.  Our Technology Support Technicians can only work on AACPS devices. We want all of our students to have a seamlessly smooth transition into learning daily; using the AACPS Chromebook will aid in this transition.

    If your student has not yet been issued an AACPS Chromebook, please contact your school and arrange to pick up a device.

  • 8/2/21 - What is the process if a family-owned device becomes broken/unusable during the school year?

    AACPS will not be responsible for any non-AACPS devices that are brought to school.  Lost or damaged personal devices are the responsibility of the student and their family.

  • 8/2/21 - WE ARE NEW TO THE DISTRICT AND MY THREE CHILDREN WILL NEED CHROMEBOOKS. HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING THEM?

    AACPS provides Chromebooks to all preK-grade 12 AACPS students.  We are a 1:1 district where every student is issued a Chromebook to use for learning throughout their schooling in the school district.  If your students are in need of a Chromebook, please contact your students’ school and set up a time to pick up your issued devices.