Students at Marshall High School meet a U.S. Park Police horse during the Marshall Academy 2026 Future Force Career Pathways Expo.
Updates to 2026-27 School Year Calendar
The School Board voted to direct the superintendent to designate Veterans Day as a standard instructional day for the 2026-27 school year. Because this day was added, the 2026-27 school year will now end for students on Wednesday, June 16, 2027. Get more information on Boarddocs. View the updated complete school year calendar.
The last day of school for the current school year — Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — has not changed.
Statewide Election: No School for Students, Meals Available
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled.
FCPS will offer lunch and a snack at no cost to children aged 18 and under on April 21 at participating schools. The meals must be eaten on site. For more information, visit the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
Adjusted Elementary Early Release Wednesdays
Students will now have a traditional full day of instruction and be released at the regular dismissal time on April 22 and April 29, which were previously early release Wednesdays for elementary schools.
This adjustment allows our staff to still have dedicated time for planning, collaboration, and professional learning without reducing instructional time on other school days.
Services at Dunn Loring Center to Relocate
Several family support services at the Dunn Loring Center will be permanently relocated because the building is being renovated and returned to use as a school.
To support this transition, services at Dunn Loring will stop in May. The Family Resource Center at Dunn Loring will close on Monday, May 4. The last day for student registration appointments will be Friday, May 8, and the last day for early childhood testing appointments will be Friday, May 15.
We are committed to maintaining access to these important services and appreciate your flexibility during this transition. All services will reopen at Pimmit Hills Center beginning Monday, June 1. Learn more about the relocation.
FCPS Teacher Appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show
In her Weekly Reflections, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid highlighted Sherisse Kenerson, a multilingual learner specialist at Holmes Middle School. Kenerson appeared on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” on April 14.
Kenerson advises Holmes’ after-school Cursive Club, which has received national attention this school year from news outlets including The Washington Post and NPR. Kenerson loves teaching cursive handwriting to a new generation, and her students love learning it. Read Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
Connecting with community members across Fairfax County is critical to Dr. Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on:
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but it helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services.
Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement webpage for the most up-to-date information.
FCPS Students Chosen for 2026 All-Virginia High School Band, Orchestra, Chorus, and Middle School Chorus Group
Two hundred seventeen FCPS high school students have been selected to perform at the 2026 All-Virginia Band, Chorus, and Orchestra event, and 56 FCPS students have been selected for the 2026 All-Virginia Middle School Chorus event. View the full list of students.
Our Military Families Serve Too
From deployments and constant change to stepping up at home, military-connected students show resilience, strength, and pride every day. Through their voices, we’re reminded that these children serve too.
FCPS is proud to support military families through strong school communities, Purple Star schools, and programs that help students feel connected, welcomed, and never alone. Today, we wore purple to show our support for military-connected students and families.
This Weekend, Attend the Special Education Family Conference
Join more than 500 families and community members for this year’s 2026 Special Education Family Conference on Saturday, April 18, at Marshall High School. If you plan to attend, please complete the 2026 Special Education Family Conference Registration Form. This form will also help you request special accommodations including language interpretation.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage to learn more about the keynote speaker, the full list of breakout sessions, and the vendor hall list.
Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments
Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where students are in their learning.
This list of assessments for each grade level provides the spring timeframe for required tests. Each school sets specific testing dates and communicates schedules to students and families. Please review school newsletters and emails carefully for this information.
FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.
Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and that the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.
It is important that students attend school on scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify your student’s school as soon as possible. . Learn more about how to support your child and why test participation matters.
The FCPS Budget Sustains Excellence
Nearly half of fifth through ninth graders at FCPS schools pass a Math SOL above grade level. This mark of student success is thanks to the hard work of our students, the support of dedicated parents and teachers, and the resources and opportunities that make our school division excellent.
Provide Fairfax County With Feedback on Its Budget
About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. There are several upcoming opportunities to provide feedback to the county on its budget. The Board of Supervisors is reviewing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Advertised Budget and considering possible adjustments before adoption in May.
You can provide your input during the county’s Budget public hearing on Thursday, April 16, at 3 p.m. at the Government Center Board Auditorium. Register in advance to speak. Visit the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors website to learn how community members can share their feedback and provide input on the county’s FY 2027 Budget.
Strategies to Help Children Stay Safe Online
Technology connects us like never before, but it comes with risks. Learn how to help your family stay safe online. Navigating the Digital World Together, by the FCPS officer of Intervention and Prevention Services, is an interactive workshop that covers today’s most popular apps and social platforms, practical strategies for talking with children about digital safety, and key topics that support healthy online habits from childhood through adulthood.
Register to attend the workshop on Wednesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m., at the Mason District Government Center.
Webinar: Partnering With Your Child’s Middle School
In this webinar, families of rising middle school students are invited to explore ways to stay connected to learning and maintain strong family-school partnerships throughout their child’s secondary education. Register to attend on Tuesday, April 28, at 7 p.m.
Resources to Help Infants and Toddlers Meet Milestones
Are you concerned about your infant, toddler, or preschool-aged child’s development? Resources are available if your child exhibits difficulties in one or more of the following areas: communication, fine and/or gross motor skills, self-help skills, problem-solving, and attention skills. Learn more about typical developmental milestones.
The Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia (ITC) provides evaluations and services for children (0-36 months) who have developmental delays or medical conditions that may affect development. Parents are encouraged to contact ITC at 703-246-7121 to share their concerns.
Early Childhood Child Find is the process of identifying children with potential special education needs between the ages of 20 months and five years (children must be two by September 30, 2026).
FCPS Early Childhood Identification and Services (ECID&S) offers a free referral process to identify potential developmental delays or disabilities. Special education services are provided for all children who are found eligible through the referral process.
Learn more about registering a child to receive services. Parents are encouraged to call 571-423-4121 with questions.
Helping Students See Their Dreams and Reach Their Goals
FCPS CARES gives parents, caregivers, staff, and community members the opportunity to recognize employees who go above and beyond to help others. Among the February CARES of the Month recipients is Chanel Favors, instructional coach at Bucknell Elementary School (pictured above on the left).
Favors was recognized for organizing a career day at her school. “Each presenter shared not only information about their careers, but also powerful messages about perseverance, education, and believing in oneself,” said Principal Rashida Green (pictured above, on the right), who nominated Favors.
“Career Day is more than a single event. It is an investment in our students’ future. By connecting students with real professionals, Chanel helped them see that their dreams are attainable and that their goals are within reach.”
Other FCPS CARES of the Month recipients include:
- Dave Martinez, Merrifield Support Center
- Carlos D’Alvano and Cynthia Stowers, South Lakes High School
- Veronica Perez, Belvedere Elementary School
- Karen Bernat, Centreville Elementary School
- Von-Michael Corpuz, Chantilly High School
- Mallorie Joyner, Lewis High School
To recognize an employee with an FCPS CARES, please visit the submission page.
Spring Sprouts Grow Strong Students
The Spring Sprouts program took place at several elementary schools during spring break. Students enrolled in the program worked in small groups, strengthening core math and literacy skills. Read more about Spring Sprouts.
A Strong Start for Multilingual Learners
In the Strategic Plan Update portion of the School Board meeting, Dr. Reid discussed Goal 1 – Strong Start: PreK-12, with a focus on English Language Development (ELD).
Dr. Reid shared this video about providing a rigorous English language development curriculum for multilingual learners. The impact of these resources goes beyond academics; it builds the self-confidence students need to succeed. Read more in Weekly Reflections.
Start an Unskippable Conversation With Your Teen
When was the last time you talked to your teen about fentanyl and overdoses? Learn how to start an Unskippable conversation, and find resources to share with your teen on how to spot an overdose and how to respond.
National Drug Take Back Day
Drug take-back programs are a safe method for disposing of over-the-counter and prescription drugs, and are organized and closely monitored by local, state, and federal government agencies. Safe disposal of unused or expired medications prevents drug misuse and accidental poisoning. It also protects the environment.
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Dispose of medications on the national Drug Take Back Day, Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., by bringing your unused prescription drugs to a nearby collection site.
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