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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.
Dear FCPS Families,
Last night, the School Board passed my motion to direct the Superintendent to begin planning the expansion of AAP Centers to every middle school in the division. I want to thank my colleague, Robyn Lady from the Dranesville District, for seconding this.
Right now, there are 12 middle schools that have no AAP center, representing 10 high school pyramids: Herndon, Madison, Mount Vernon, Centreville, Robinson, West Springfield, Westfield, Hayfield, Lewis, and Annandale. My colleague, Dr. Anderson from the Mason District, moved a separate item to establish an AAP center at Poe Middle School to serve the Annandale pyramid, which I was happy to second and support.
Closing this gap in advanced academic program offerings at the eleven remaining middle schools is a step in the right direction to achieve the School Board’s goal of equitable access to programs. This is to say that each base school needs to have programming to eliminate the need to bus students out of their communities just to access advanced academics.
The motion doesn’t add new costs, it simply asks for a plan. My goal is to look closely at staffing and resources so we can assess whether we can do this in a cost-neutral way. Academic rigor, and access to advanced academic programming are core tenets of FCPS, and I was proud to bring this forward.
The Superintendent will return to the Board in March, 2026 with a plan for our consideration
Sincerely,
Kyle McDaniel
Fairfax County School Board
Member, At-Large
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Meeting information and materials will be posted to BoardDocs.
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October 7th at 10 a.m. - Work Session: New Western High School Programming/Boundaries; AI at FCPS
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October 9 at 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting: Review of Strategic Plan Goal One; Performance & Policy Review on Financial Planning
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October 23 at 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting: New Western High School Discussion, Secondary Course Offerings
Please note that times and topics are subject to change.
The work sessions and meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and the FCPS website. Both will be recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.
For Spanish speakers, to watch recorded School Board meetings or live during regular meetings, visit the FCPS en Español YouTube channel.
Visit the Community Participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas, and handouts.
Other Updates
⏰ K-12 School Start Times Survey
FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of beginning the middle school day at 8 a.m. or later. In order to minimize any cost for this project, elementary and high school start times would need to shift as well.
Providing feedback opportunities for the community is a critical part of this effort. Since 2024, FCPS’ consultant has hosted five community forums and administered two surveys. A new School Start TImes Survey is open through Tuesday, September 30. It includes two options that are designed to support student well-being, align with research, balance transportation logistics, and minimize costs. Staff, parents and caregivers, students, and community members may provide input on the two options by taking the survey. Find more information about adjusting school start times.
🗺️ Participate in an Upcoming Community Boundary Review Meeting
As a reminder, FCPS will hold two sets of community boundary review meetings this fall — one in September and another in October. Each set of meetings will focus on two pyramids per meeting.
All September meetings will include an overview of where FCPS is in the comprehensive boundary review process, an opportunity to take the School Start Times Survey, the ways community input is informing the process, and next steps in the boundary review process.
Please register by clicking “in person” or “virtual,” depending on how you would like to participate.
Child care for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed.
Visit the FCPS website for a full list of meeting dates and information about the October meetings.
🧱 What Will the 2025 Bond Referendum on the November Ballot Fund?
The $460M bond referendum on the November ballot is expected to fund the next stages of several ongoing projects, as well as others referenced in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
The building and renovation of our schools is not funded through the division’s operating budget. Voter-approved bonds allow payment for these projects over time. Read more about the 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote. Make a plan to vote by Tuesday, November 4.
📅 Calendar Reminder
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Yom Kippur - Wednesday, October 1, will be an evening-only observance day for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. There is school that day, but important events will not occur after school. Thursday, October 2, is a holiday and schools and offices will be closed.
- FCPS will participate in International Walk and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 8, in an effort to promote physical activity and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools.Students and employees are encouraged to bike or walk to school and work where safe to do so. Get more information about Walk to School Day
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Indigenous Peoples’ Day - Monday, October 13, is a student holiday and staff development day for Indigenous Peoples' Day.
See the complete school year calendar.
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
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