The Fairfax County School Board is asking lawmakers in Richmond to increase state funding for K-12 programs, provide state-funded universal Pre-K programs, and make changes to Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act as part of its 2027 Legislative Program.
In preparation for the General Assembly’s coming session in January, the school board voted unanimously (with the exception of one absent member) on Oct. 8 to adopt eight priority positions for the state legislature and another 11 at the federal level.
During an Oct. 20 work session, the school board discussed adding an array of potential secondary positions to the legislative program, such as requests for new state funding for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and roadway safety improvements. Those positions will be voted on Nov. 12.
“This program, it’s not a one-and-done because that is not how the work is done,” Ricardy Anderson, the board’s legislative chair, said during the work session. “… When things come up that require our attention or change in position, we will be able to bring up the changes and have the board approve them very similarly to how we approach the governance manual.”
The board’s priority positions for the state legislature are:
1. Increase State Funding for K-12 Programs
2. Improve Virginia’s Statewide Assessment System
3. Improve Virginia’s School Accountability System
4. Expand College and Workforce Readiness Programs
5. Provide State-Funded Universal Pre-Kindergarten Programs
6. Increase State Funding for School Facilities
7. Increase Access to Free School Meals
8. Reform Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act
Its priorities for Congress and the federal government include increasing funding for individuals with special needs, students with limited English, and schools with lower-income populations; protecting access to high-quality Head Start programs; boosting funding for career and technical education; and reducing the impact of Temporary Protected Status expirations, including by providing pathways for long-term holders to remain legally employed.
The board would also like the federal government to preserve and increase a longtime discount on telecommunications and technology services for schools and libraries.
At the state level, the broader set of positions the school board is considering advocating for include additional state funding for career and technical education, increased flexibility in Virginia Department of Transportation project approval processes, and increased coordination between the state and localities regarding speed limits on state-maintained roads.
The school board is also seeking more flexibility to determine the school year calendar and school holidays, which have become contentious issues over the past couple years.
After nixing Veterans’ Day as a student holiday and eliminating some early release days for this year in an effort to reduce disruptions to regular class schedules, Fairfax County Public Schools ultimately adopted two calendars for future years that emphasize full five-day instructional weeks, while preserving a full week of spring break and two full weeks of winter break.
At the federal level, the school board’s proposed legislative positions call for avoiding changes that reduce Medicaid enrollment or hinder school division reimbursements, and restoring SNAP benefits cut by the budget reconciliation bill signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025.
