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Fairfax County Public Schools is confronting a projected $150 million funding shortfall while moving ahead with changes to advanced math placement, new school-safety technology and a packed schedule of spring and summer programs.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid recently discussed the advertised fiscal 2026 budget with about two dozen student journalists. The conversation came shortly before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors was expected to finalize a county budget that, in its current form, would leave FCPS underfunded by $150 million.
Reid also presented updated budget information to the School Board. Fairfax County’s final public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2026 budget was scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, April 24.
Advanced math rules are changing
FCPS is simplifying the criteria for seventh-grade students to take Algebra 1 Honors as part of its effort to increase successful completion of Algebra 1 by eighth grade.
Scores from the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test will no longer be a prerequisite for choosing Mathematics 7 Honors or Algebra 1 Honors. Families may still consider the scores when selecting a math course, but the test is no longer required for advanced placement.
Families of students who took the assessment during the winter were expected to receive score reports by the end of April. Students who were scheduled to take it but could not complete it will be able to opt into a makeup test near the end of the school year.
During the 2023-24 academic year, 59% of FCPS eighth graders earned a verified Algebra 1 credit, up from a three-year baseline of 51%.
Students in grades 3 through 12 also completed a social and emotional learning screener in March. Individual results are available in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE, while families without an active account will receive them by mail.
The screener measures areas including goal-setting, emotional management, relationships and responsible decision-making. It also asks whether students feel valued, included and supported at school.
Safety pilot begins at high schools
FCPS is testing a weapons-detection system at randomly selected high schools this spring. The pilot is part of the division’s continuing school safety and security work.
Families also have until Monday, May 5, to complete a five-minute survey about services provided in school health rooms. The clinics, staffed by public health nurses and school health aides, care for students who become sick or injured, need medication or require help managing chronic conditions. The results will guide service improvements and future planning.
Health officials are also urging families to review their measles vaccination status as cases rise nationally. About one in five people who contract measles are hospitalized, and the disease can cause pneumonia, brain inflammation and death.
Typical symptoms include a high fever that may reach 104 degrees, coughing, a runny nose and red, watery eyes. A rash generally develops three to five days after the other symptoms, beginning on the face before spreading down the body.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Families uncertain about their immunization status should consult a health care provider or contact a local childhood vaccination clinic.
National Fentanyl Awareness Day is Tuesday, April 29, with resources available to help adults discuss fentanyl risks with teenagers. Residents can also dispose of unused prescription medications during DEA Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26.
Students and employees earn statewide and national honors
Five FCPS students received corporate-sponsored scholarships through the 2025 National Merit Scholarship program.
Another 182 students were selected to perform during the 2025 All-Virginia Band, Chorus and Orchestra event, held April 24-26.
The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities recognized 13 people and teams with First Class Awards for their work in disability-related education and inclusion.
Nominations are open for the 2025 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award, which honors an employee, student or community member who has made a significant contribution to improving educational experiences and outcomes for marginalized or underserved students.
The award commemorates Bussey, a founding member of the Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee and a longtime advocate for students and families. Nominations must be submitted by Monday, May 19.
FCPS also marked Administrative Professionals Day by recognizing school office employees and observed National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day. The division employs more than 1,800 drivers and attendants who transport an estimated 131,000 students each day.
Among those highlighted was driver Tashima Bradshaw, who works with both small and large buses and was recognized for helping a student through a difficult situation.
Educators turn personal experiences into opportunities
At Fairhill Elementary School, enhanced autism teacher Nuril Kingsley drew her career inspiration from her family’s experience seeking support for her son.
Kingsley, who is from Indonesia, began learning about autism spectrum disorders after noticing that her son Danny was not reaching childhood milestones in the same way as his two older sisters.
The family moved to the United States in 2005 in search of better services when Danny was 4. He enrolled in FCPS’s Preschool Autism Class and later its Enhanced Autism Class. The experience inspired Kingsley to become a teacher herself.
At Clearview Elementary School, Jeanne Lukas-Ross has turned her enthusiasm for nature into outdoor instruction. A certified Virginia master naturalist, she had worked with Get2Green and school environmental clubs before accepting a part-time outdoor learning position offered by her principal several years ago.
Marshall Road Elementary students, meanwhile, have diverted an estimated 300 gallons of lunch waste into compost every week since January 2023. The school estimates that nearly 30 tons have been composted since the program began.
The initiative was developed by PTA President Monica Nuno and operates through cooperation between families and the school.
Spring break also became an academic opportunity for small groups of students at more than 30 schools. Beginning April 14, students met with teachers and instructional staff to strengthen skills and catch up on schoolwork.
Summer programs open to students
Families can explore educational and enrichment opportunities at the free FCPS Summer Extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Woodson High School.
The event will include student performances, face painting, a fire truck, learning activities and information from community and business partners. A student program marketplace will sell student-made goods, with proceeds supporting participating programs.
Registration is also open for FCPS summer camps and enrichment programs. Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts programs will meet in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Transportation will be offered from selected middle and high schools, and registration closes Friday, June 6.
Tech Adventure Camp is a one-week program for current kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Participants can explore science, technology, engineering, arts, math, culinary subjects, health, trades, business and marketing.
The one-week CTE Summer Academy gives students in grades 6-11 opportunities to build technical skills and begin exploring careers.
The Institute for the Arts offers two- and three-week programs for current sixth- through 11th-grade students, with nearly 90 class options in art, dance, music, theater and health and physical education. Its elementary counterpart, E-IFTA, provides weekly arts programming for students in grades 2-5 through four daily classes in dance, music, theater and visual art.
Hiring events continue into May
FCPS will hold a virtual career fair for instructional positions from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 26. School representatives will conduct networking and interviewing sessions.
Transportation job fairs are scheduled for April 30 and May 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as May 6 and May 14 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
A virtual special education information session will be held from 6 to 7:15 p.m. May 8. A teacher candidate licensure session is planned for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 21.
History and military-family initiatives advance
A historical marker unveiled at West Springfield High School commemorates 16 enslaved people whose first names, ages and assigned dollar values appeared in an 1856 property inventory.
The dedication is part of a wider effort by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and History Commission to expand public understanding of African American history through student-led historical-marker projects.
FCPS is also working toward recognition as a Purple Star division, building on programs designed to support military-connected students and families.
The division continues to promote its Family Academy as a way to strengthen connections among families, schools and community partners.
Early dismissal and School Board meeting scheduled
Elementary schools in the Centreville, Chantilly, Fairfax, Herndon, Langley, Madison, Marshall, McLean, Oakton, Robinson, South Lakes and Westfield pyramids will dismiss students three hours early Monday, April 28.
The School Board’s regular business meeting was scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at Jackson Middle School. Agenda topics included a proposed Mason District pilot involving K-12 school start times and the awarding of contracts.