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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.
Hello, Springfield District,
I want to start by sharing amazing news that has been several years in the making! Fairfax County Public Schools received word late last week that we are a Purple Start Division. This means that every one of our schools and centers is a Purple Star Designated School. From 53 schools just a few years ago to 200 schools and centers today shows the FCPS commitment to our military families. As the spouse of a retired service member, I stood by my husband through every step of his 20 years of service to our country. I feel immense gratitude for our division's commitment to stand by all our military-connected students during their unique time with FCPS!
At our last Board meeting, a member raised questions about the Governance Committee’s process for reviewing policies this year. I thought this would be a good time to explain how the Governance Committee is approaching this important work this year.
As Governance Chair, I met with the Superintendent over the summer to discuss the Committee’s agenda for the year. We agreed that an important goal this year was to bring outdated policies up to date and ensure they comply with current laws and requirements. We will also continue to review important new policies and consider a revision to the Board’s Strategic Governance Manual.
For each meeting of the Governance Committee, I share a group of policies that have been reviewed by the department doing the work, our legal team, and the Superintendent in advance. This gives committee members time to review the proposed changes, offer feedback, and suggest additional language.
So far, this approach has been working well. Committee members have had the time to come prepared to discuss their recommendations, and we have been able to consider them together. When we reach agreement, the policies move forward for full Board review and a vote at a subsequent meeting, after any needed grammatical edits and formatting updates. Board members who do not serve on the Governance Committee, as well as the public, also have an opportunity to review the policies and share feedback in advance.
I encourage community members to join us online or in person to see the process for themselves. I’m grateful to the Governance Committee members for the time and care they’ve put into reviewing these policies and sharing their feedback. I look forward to the progress we can make throughout the upcoming year together.
I will be in touch soon,
Sandy
This newsletter includes information on the following issues:
 School Board Work
Updates on Tech Use for Elementary Learners:
At last week’s School Board meeting, we had an important discussion regarding technology use for our youngest learners.
We started the discussion related to Kindergarten students who need support in literacy interventions. As a brief moment of background, students in grades K-3 take the Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS) assessment each year. If a student is determined to be in a high-risk category after this assessment, they will receive an additional 2.5 hours of targeted, state-mandated intervention. For several years, to meet this requirement, half the intervention time has been conducted through Lexia (or a similar program) to strengthen the small-group instruction these students receive for the additional 75 minutes.
The Superintendent's recommendation to the School Board was to allow this small group of Kindergarten students to be included in the exception the School Board carved out as a result of the July 2026 motion prohibiting the distribution of one-to-one devices for our pre-K and Kindergarten learners. This recommendation followed a review by the Education Technology Review Committee (ETRC) and provides targeted support while maintaining our overall goal to limit general screen time in early grades. The recommendation also included an opt-out option for families.
The opt-out offered for these students caused several board members to consider the choices that all our elementary families have the ability to make. Working with several of my colleagues, I introduced a motion that would allow families of elementary-age students the right to opt their students out of Lexia and ST Math.
I did want to touch base about this choice. We all have the goal that our students use technology with intention in our classrooms. I believe strongly that activities like Lexia and ST Math are the fastest way to ensure that our students have real-time differentiated instruction in our classrooms. These programs are used for short chunks of time to reinforce classroom instruction, usually while small-group work is going on for other students with the classroom teacher. This opt-out will take some time for the division to implement. Families can use this time to talk with your students and teachers about whether the opt-out is the best decision for your child.
Meeting Materials | Video
Instructional Digital Applications:
Building on the device decisions mentioned above, the Board also took important steps last week to ensure that every digital tool we put in our classrooms is both cost-effective and truly helps our students learn.
When we invest in educational software, we need to know it delivers real results. To that end, the Board approved two key motions directing the Superintendent to evaluate our digital applications:
Motion 1: We directed an expedited review of Lexia’s cost and instructional effectiveness. Crucially, this will include independent research, not funded by the vendor, comparing Lexia’s outcomes to alternative, non-digital instruction (like staff-led tutoring) that meets state reading requirements.
Motion 2: We also asked for a division-wide evaluation of other centrally provided elementary software and apps (excluding standard productivity tools like Google Suite or Microsoft Office). This review will assess whether these tools are backed by independent research and explore alternative teaching methods where appropriate.
As your representative, I am committed to making sure our district spends taxpayer dollars wisely on proven tools that directly support student achievement and well-being.
Meeting Materials | Video
FCPS School Board Legislative Priorities:
Every year, the School Board adopts state and federal legislative priorities to ensure lawmakers in Richmond and D.C. clearly understand what our schools need. Establishing these priorities allows us to speak with a unified voice on critical issues like special education funding, competitive pay, and student safety.
To strengthen this advocacy, the Board voted last year to form a dedicated Legislative Committee. Led by a Chair and Vice-Chair, this committee helps us stay proactive, align our strategic goals, and build stronger relationships with our elected representatives.
During our recent federal discussions, I spoke specifically on the vital need to protect school-based Medicaid reimbursements for students with disabilities.
FCPS relies on an estimated $3.6 million in projected Medicaid reimbursements, essential revenue for our local budget.
Congress benchmarked federal IDEA funding at 40%, yet currently covers only 10.2%. Protecting Medicaid reimbursements helps cushion this massive federal shortfall.
I stand with my colleagues in urging federal leaders to keep school-based Medicaid simple and accessible, avoiding administrative barriers for our students and families.
Advocating for our public schools requires active engagement at every level of government, and I’m grateful to our legislative partners who listen and work alongside us for our kids.
Meeting Materials | Video
At Our Last Work Session:
At our last Work session, the School Board tackled two important topics focused on student well-being and early academic foundation.
Strengthening Student Safety and Belonging:
We held a robust forum discussion focused on creating an environment where every student feels secure, supported, and connected at school. We discussed proactive measures, school climate, and community partnerships that enhance safety while fostering strong belonging. Following the discussion, the Board voted to direct the Superintendent to take concrete action steps based on our feedback and bring back finalized policy recommendations for formal Board review.
Strategic Plan Goal 1 Update:
Dr. Reid provided a thoughtful presentation on Strategic Plan Goal 1: Strong Start (Pre-K- 12). The presentation highlighted our ongoing efforts to expand high-quality early childhood learning, support early literacy, and set a strong foundation for lifelong learning from a student’s very first day in FCPS.
Looking ahead, this goal presentation will be coming to the dais at an upcoming regular school board meeting in the near future for full discussion and action, so stay tuned!
Meeting Materials | Video
Information from the Superintendent
Executive Limitations:
You might occasionally hear us reference Executive Limitations (ELs) during Board meetings, and I wanted to briefly share what that means in practice!
In simple terms, while the Superintendent manages the daily operations of our school system, the School Board sets the overarching boundaries, or executive limitations, within which those decisions must be made. Think of them as guardrails that outline what practices, conditions, or financial decisions are off-limits. Our role as a Board is to establish these clear expectations and continuously monitor compliance, ensuring our district operates transparently, responsibly, and always in the best interest of our students and community. Below, you will find the most recent EL we discussed at our recent meeting.
Executive Limitation 5: Financial Planning
Last Thursday, the School Board reviewed the monitoring report for Executive Limitation 5: Financial Planning, which establishes clear guardrails for how our division manages long-term fiscal strategy, transparent budgeting, and resource allocation. Dr. Reid and the finance team presented a comprehensive overview demonstrating how our financial planning directly aligns with our Strategic Plan goals, ensures responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and incorporates stakeholder input throughout the budget process. Following the presentation and detailed discussion regarding fund balances, enrollment projections, and long-term fiscal health, the Board officially voted to find the Superintendent in compliance with EL-5. Continuous oversight remains central to our work, and I am committed to maintaining fiscal transparency as we prepare for our upcoming budget cycles.
Meeting Materials | Video
Recent Presentations:
Opening of Schools
At our recent Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Reid shared an inspiring update on how Fairfax County Public Schools kicked off the new school year. From day-one operational milestones to academic progress, our division is off to a phenomenal start!
Here are a few highlights from the report;
- We opened the year at 99.7% staffing for critical positions, our highest rate in three years! On day 1 alone, our transportation team ran almost 6k bus routes with a 94% on-time rate, and food services served over 107k meals!
- Our students continue to excel on state SOL tests, consistently outperforming state averages in Reading, Math, and Science. Plus, 85% of our 8th graders are enrolled in Algebra 1 or higher!
- High-impact tutoring is closing achievement gaps, yielding a 19-point growth in Reading and an 11-point growth in Math for participating students.
- We welcomed students to Skyview High School, the first new FCPS high school built in over 20 years, and completed summer facility upgrades across our district, including HVAC, roofing, and playground improvements.
Our schools are strong because of the incredible teachers, support staff, families, and community partners who rally around our students every day. Thank you for making the start of this year such a success!
Meeting Materials | Video
Academic Matters: On-Time Graduation Summer Supports
At our recent Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Reid shared an update focused on a topic close to my heart: ensuring every single student has the support, tools, and flexible pathways they need to cross the graduation stage on time.
Earning a high school diploma isn’t always a straight line, and when a student faces a setback, our goal in FCPS is to meet them with wrap-around support rather than closed doors. Dr. Reid highlighted several key summer and ongoing programs designed to help students rebuild academic momentum:
- The centralized summer program offers hands-on project-based learning and wrap-around services for students recovering course credits or preparing for End of Course exams. This past summer, 1,089 students participated, achieving an impressive 98.6% pass rate.
- To keep students from falling behind in the first place, this new school-based pilot gives students at risk of failing extra time, small group instruction, and targeted support to master state standards and earn course credits. This year, 1,382 students participated, recovering 1,572 credits.
- Beyond summer programs, FCPS continues to strengthen multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) throughout the regular school year, giving students continued opportunities to demonstrate course mastery.
Behind each of these numbers is a student who stayed the course, supported by dedicated educators who believed in them. I am so proud of our students’ hard work and thankful for the programs that ensure every child stays on track toward a bright future!
Meeting Materials | Video
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