đź’µ Tuition Reimbursement Window Opening, đź’˛Save with PerkSpot, âś… Register as a Volunteer

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 08/26/2025 07:20 PM EDT
A man points to a worksheet a young student is working on with a crayon


Assistant Principal Keith Eck checks on a student in a kindergarten class at Oakton Elementary School.

đź’µ Tuition Reimbursement Window Opening

The portal to apply for reimbursement for Summer 2025 courses will be open Monday, September 15, through Monday, October 13. Contracted employees may apply for up to $700 in reimbursement for one course that ended between May 16 and August 31, 2025. 

Tuition reimbursement is available on a first-come, first-served basis using the current priority list. Detailed information on how to submit the request and the documents needed for upload are available on the Tuition Reimbursement Atlas page. The priority list will be updated and available prior to the window opening on September 15. 

Apply through the Tuition Reimbursement Portal (VPN Required). You will need your tuition paid receipt and grade report to complete the request. Please email TuitionBenefits@fcps.edu for more information.

đź’˛Set the Stage for Success This School Year with Savings for Staff

FCPS partners with PerkSpot to create Savings for Staff, your exclusive online discount platform to help you stretch your paycheck further. Whether you’re stocking up on school year essentials or planning a well deserved weekend getaway, PerkSpot offers thousands of deals across more than 25 savings categories including:

  • Back-to-school must-haves for kids of all ages.
  • Travel and entertainment: tickets, hotels, car rentals, and more.
  • Tech and electronics.
  • Apparel and shoes.
  • Pet insurance – because furry family members deserve great care, too!

From baby gear to teen tech, and groceries to getaways, PerkSpot helps you make every dollar count through exclusive savings tailored just for FCPS employees.

Log in or register today to start saving.

Find Opportunities and Register as a Volunteer

Volunteer


FCPS recently announced its new volunteer management system, Volunteer FCPS. Through this program, individuals can register and search for volunteer opportunities in the school division. 

All volunteers need to register in Volunteer FCPS. This includes FCPS staff who volunteer at their child’s school, work as student mentors, or help in any unpaid capacity in the school system. 

Visit Volunteer FCPS to view volunteering and mentorship opportunities. 

  • Click on “Schools” to register with a specific school.
  • Click on “Programs” to register as a general volunteer with the county or with the MentorWorks program, which matches individuals with students to meet regularly throughout the year. 

Register and complete a short volunteer orientation. Learn more about Volunteer FCPS.

Presentations for All: Choose Accessible Learning Materials

FCPS Keep C.A.L.M. and Choose Accessible Learning Materials helps teachers provide every student with the tools they can use to learn. This allows all students to get the most out of their classes!

The focus for 2025-26 is Keep C.A.L.M. and Choose Accessible Presentations. Discover ways to support all learners through weekly tips shared in:

Sign up to participate and receive newsletters and emails by joining the conversation on the CALM Zoom Chat or this Google Form.

âś… Verify Eligibility for National Board Certification Incentive

Last year, the Virginia legislature expanded eligibility for the National Board Teacher Incentive Award. Now, National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) employed by FCPS but no longer in classroom teacher positions are also eligible. 

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) requirements for this award are:

  • An active National Board Certification.
  • An active 10-year renewable license issued by the Virginia Board of Education.
  • Employment with FCPS on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. 

The Office of Professional Learning is asking all those with an active National Board Certification to complete the annual verification form by Wednesday, September 24, to confirm eligibility for the VDOE Incentive Award.

Please have your license number ready or retrieve it from Virginia Licensing Online (VALO). 

Additional Opportunities for NBCTs and Aspiring NBCTs

NBCTs currently pursuing Maintenance of Certification (MOC) are invited to join an Academy cohort in September. 

Those interested in becoming a National Board Certified Teacher should register for the NBPTS Candidacy Academy course.

By the way, fees associated with the submission of components or MOC are reimbursable! 

For more information on these programs and other support, please visit the FCPS NBCT website. You can also contact Mary Beth Anderson with questions.

đź’Ż A+ Start to the New School Year

A student wearing a jaguar mascot head poses with Dr. Reid


Check out Dr. Reid’s latest Weekly Reflections to see a wrap-up of her very busy first week of school. She shares some fun first-day highlights, including: 

  • 99.7% of staff positions critical to the opening of school were filled – the highest rate in three years. 
  • 96% of our buses – covering nearly 6,000 routes – arrived on time.
  • Bus driver vacancies were 48% lower compared to this time last year. 
  • More than 74,000 breakfast and lunches were served.

See Weekly Reflections to learn more about FCPS’ strong start. 

Social and Emotional Learning Screener Scheduled for October

Students in grades 3 through 12 will participate in the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) screener in October. School teams and families use this information to develop positive school cultures and support students academically and personally. 

Parents are able to opt their child out of taking the SEL screener. Read more about SEL and related required teaching practices.

🚶‍♀️‍➡️ Step Up to the Walktober Challenge!

Close up of person's feet, with boots, walking in leaves


Walktober is back! Register for this fun, month-long step challenge by Friday, October 10. Participate during October to build healthy habits, connect with colleagues, and move more each day. Track steps or exercise minutes, earn badges, complete Thrive Thursday challenges, and enjoy extras like Walktober Bingo and Community Page sharing.

Join solo or with a team of five to 10 colleagues. Log daily steps to earn points for prizes including gift cards.

Register today or download the Walktober app and enter the mobile code 6G1RNI. For more information, please visit and follow the Employee Wellness page on Atlas.

🚌 People Magazine Features Exclusive on FCPS Bus Driver

A man in a tux stands in front of a school bus.


Bus Driver Lucas Champion had a stylish start to the new school year, wearing a tuxedo to greet his students last week. His look was appreciated by many, including Amy Hard at Fairfax Academy, who snapped a quick photo.

After FCPS shared the photo on their social media channels — and it achieved more than 1,000 likes on Instagram — the people at People took notice and reached out to contact Lucas.

“I think what the world needs is more people smiling and feeling, just happy,” he said. Read more in People. 

✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 1: Strong Start, Pre-K-12

screen shot of a video featuring a pre-k class


FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts. 

Each goal has an equity commitment — the promise we make to every student to support them in attaining these goals. Each goal also has several measures that allow us to track our progress.

The first goal in the strategic plan focuses on each and every student having a strong start in FCPS. Whether they’re joining us in preschool or in high school, we want our students to be set up for success.

See how Goal 1 is being put into practice and watch the video above about pre-K.

🗓️ Calendar Reminder: Labor Day (Holiday)

Friday, August 29, and Monday, September 1, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students. 

Virginia legislation requires that schools opening before Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately before Labor Day. 

We hope that you celebrate the strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends. See the complete school year calendar and employee calendar.

Calendar Adjustment: September Special Election

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has set Tuesday, September 9, as the date for a special election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.

Because more than half of our schools serve as polling locations, the Fairfax County Office of Elections asked us to consider closing for the day. Therefore, all FCPS schools will be closed on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. 

Reference the Friday, August 8, email from Fairfax County Public Schools about the election for details on how this affects staff.

School Board Meeting Thursday, August 28, at 7 p.m.

School board desk


The School Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Thursday, August 28, at 7 p.m., at Jackson Middle School. Agenda highlights include:

  • Additional Advisory Committee Appointments
  • Challenged Materials Interdepartmental Review Committee Appointments
  • Awarding of contracts

View the full agenda. Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.

Staff Staples

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Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Thank you!Â