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Fairfax County Public Schools will reopen Tuesday, Feb. 3, after Winter Storm Fern kept students out of classrooms for more than a week. All schools will begin two hours later than usual as snow and ice continue to complicate travel.

Central and school offices will open on time, and 12-month office employees must report at their regular hours.

Morning preschool and special education classes are canceled. Full-day preschool, special education and Early Head Start/PreK classes will begin two hours late, while afternoon preschool classes will follow their normal schedules.

Morning field trips and transportation to morning high school academy classes are also canceled. Academy transportation will be available for classes beginning after 12:45 p.m.

Adult high school and GED courses will start two hours late, while homebound instruction will begin at 10 a.m. Adult and Community Education classes will start on time.

School Age Child Care and Beyond the Bell centers will open at 8 a.m.

The school system expects another two-hour delay Wednesday, Feb. 4, but plans to confirm that schedule in an update Tuesday afternoon.

Students have not attended school since Winter Storm Fern moved through the region Sunday, Jan. 25. Although snowfall totals were not unprecedented, persistent below-freezing temperatures slowed efforts to clear streets, sidewalks, parking areas and bus stops.

Superintendent Michelle Reid said approximately 1,400 custodial employees joined facilities staff, hundreds of bus drivers and food and nutrition workers in preparing buildings for reopening. FCPS operates 199 schools and centers encompassing more than 28 million square feet, along with over 40,000 parking spaces and more than 400 acres of paved surfaces.

The school system also coordinated with Fairfax County and the Virginia Department of Transportation to address roadways, sidewalks and bus stops. Reid urged residents to help remove hardened snow piles and icy patches where possible.

Travel problems may persist Tuesday. FCPS could relocate some bus stops based on road conditions, and families will be notified of any changes. The system’s online tracker will list buses running more than 10 minutes late, while delays exceeding 30 minutes will prompt an email to parents.

Families were encouraged to inspect children’s walking routes, consider carpooling and watch carefully for students during the morning commute. Parents who believe conditions remain unsafe for their children may contact their school to request an excused absence.