|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Note: This newsletter contains links to translated versions of the content for your convenience. These translations are generated by Google Translate and are not intended to be a substitute for professional translation services.
Virginia’s New Accreditation Framework Penalizes Schools for Following Federal Law Protecting Special Education Students Among Other Problems
Dear Providence District Families,
A few days ago, I had the pleasure of attending the Virginia School Board Association’s Legislative Advocacy Conference in Chesterfield County with our School Board’s legislative liaisons, Melanie Meren of Hunter Mill District (state liaison) and Dr. Ricardy Anderson of Mason District (federal liaison).
In addition to chatting with school board members from across the Commonwealth about the importance of encouraging our leaders in Richmond to adopt the JLARC recommendations and fully fund public education, I had an opportunity to ask Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons about some of the most troubling aspects of the Virginia Board of Education’s (VBOE) new school accreditation standards (video):
Earlier in her presentation, Coons spoke about how important it is to keep children at the center of the work we do, so I was curious how that would be possible under the new accreditation framework, which penalizes school divisions for providing special education students with their rights under federal law, expects multilingual learners to become English-fluent within three semesters, and appears to put more weight on high school students receiving a college-level associates degree than a high school diploma.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. VBOE has already adopted the new standards despite dozens upon dozens of unanswered questions and inconsistencies. In fact, initial assessments indicate most of Virginia’s schools would be considered “off track” under the new framework, despite the Commonwealth being recognized as the best place in the U.S. to do business because of its exceptional public schools.
Unfortunately, Superintendent Coons defended the framework, denied the accuracy of these troubling aspects (even though they are sadly true), and quickly moved on before rushing off stage and leaving the event.
As I noted in my comments, these new standards begin in the middle of the school year with no phasing in process and no additional resources. For additional information, I strongly encourage you to watch Superintendent Reid’s entire presentation on this topic and the extended conversation that followed during our last school board meeting.
Stay tuned – I will be sure to keep you posted with developments on this matter in the weeks and months to come.
Thank you for your continued partnership in support of student success.
In service,
Karl Frisch
Chair and Providence Representative
Fairfax County School Board
Providence District Families Newsletter
Thursday, September 26, 2024
This installment of the Providence District Newsletter includes important updates on the following topics:
Don’t Miss Out: Providence Day and Back to School Celebration
Saturday, October 5 | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Marshall HS
Breaking News! The dazzling Marshall High School Cheer Team will make a special appearance to welcome our community to the Celebration – you won’t want to miss that performance! And you won’t want to miss the food trucks, pumpkin painting, face painting, Vocal Arts Fairfax performing Broadway tunes, Mr. Zig Zag the Magic Man and so much more! Join us on Saturday, October 5, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Marshall High School, which is easily accessible by car, bus, or bike. Shuttle services will also run from the Jim Scott Community Center (3001 Vaden Drive) and the James Lee Community Center (2855 Annandale Road).
Providence Students Named 2025 National Merit Semifinalists
Congratulations to the 16 students from Providence District who are among the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s semifinalists for 2025:
-
Marshall HS: Shrey Desai, Ethan Stregack, Yue Xin Wang
-
Oakton HS: Christopher Campbell, Bumkyu Kang, Lisa Sun
-
Madison HS: Robert Martirosyan
-
Woodson HS: Chloe Choi, Sean Cranford, Elizabeth Doan, Stephen Labys
-
Thomas Jefferson HS: Jude Caldwell, Dhruv Chandna, Jason Hao, Symthasree Koganti, Julia Zherdetski
The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in the spring.
School Board’s Student Leadership Development Program
Reminder to high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in good academic standing: submit your application to your principal for the 2024-25 Student Leadership Development Program before September 30, 2024. This is a great opportunity for students interested in pursuing futures in law, government, or public policy.
Selected students will partner with their School Board Member to observe how the school division is governed. They will also learn about the board’s various committees and functions, develop and debate their own policy proposals, and acquire details about the process for running to be Student Representatives on the School Board.
The nine magisterial district School Board Members will each select one student from their respective districts, and the three At-Large Members will select one student each from among all applicants.
Virginia Senate and House Page Program
Applications for the VA Senate and House Page Programs are now open for students who are residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Applicants seeking admission must be 13 or 14 years of age on the first day of session (second Wednesday in January 2025). The Senate Page application is due Tuesday, October 1, at 5 p.m., while the House of Delegates Page application is due Friday, October 18, at 5 p.m.
Help Shape the Future of Social Studies in Our Schools
Are you passionate about ensuring our Social Studies educational resources are academically rigorous, historically accurate, culturally responsive, and inclusive? FCPS will soon adopt new K-12 Social Studies instructional materials, and we are seeking a Providence District resident to serve on the Instructional Resource Review Committee (IRRC).
If you are interested in serving on the Social Studies IRRC, please complete this Google Survey to apply by 5:00 p.m. on September 30, 2024. This is a unique opportunity to play a hands-on role in selecting textbooks, online tools, and other resources that will shape Social Studies instruction beginning in the 2025-26 school year. I hope you will consider applying!
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
During Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15, Fairfax County celebrates the vibrant history, culture and diversity of the Hispanic community. Demographically, 28% FCPS students are Hispanic which enriches our school by bringing diverse cultural perspectives, languages, and traditions that foster a more inclusive and vibrant learning environment.
On September 26th from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., join Supervisor Palchik to celebrate the vibrant culture and talent of our Latinx and Hispanic communities at an Art Opening Reception for Hispanic artists to showcase their art at her Providence District office.
The exhibit will be on display through October at the Providence District Office (3001 Vaden Drive, 2nd Floor), Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fueling Student Success: New Food Options Cooked up at FCPS
Students now have more than a dozen new options for lunch and breakfast in school cafeterias. New menu items were either favorites at last year’s food show — including Korean BBQ wings, sweet Thai chili wings, chicken tikka masala, and barbacoa street tacos — or were tested with student focus groups and tastings.
The Office of Food and Nutrition Services’ updates to lunch menus align with FCPS’ Strategic Plan Goal #2 - Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered. The new menu options reflect the many voices and cultures represented around every FCPS lunch table. View school menus to see all the new options and when they will become available.
No-Cost Online Mental Health Tele-Therapy for High School Students
Is your high schooler experiencing anxiety, behavior changes, or challenges with peer and family relationships? Do they seem withdrawn or uninterested in their usual hobbies?
Parents or caregivers can refer their children for free weekly therapy with a licensed therapist through Hazel Health. Visit FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for information on this service.
Superintendent’s Community Conversations
Superintendent Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns with her. Community Conversations will be held from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. on the following days:
-
Monday, September 30, at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary (register)
-
Monday, October 14, at Fairhill Elementary (register)
-
Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary (register)
-
Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle (register)
Registration is not required but helps with planning. Childcare and interpretation services are provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Upcoming School Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Upcoming School Board Work Session (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 10:30 a.m.
All meetings are broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. Meetings are also recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS YouTube channel. Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at regular meetings or public hearings.
Reuniones de la Junta Escolar de FCPS en Español: Para ver las reuniones de la Junta Escolar grabadas o para ver en vivo durante las reuniones regulares en YouTube, por favor vaya al canal de YouTube de FCPS en Español.
The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
|
