education | FFXnow

Published February 14, 2025 at 2:15PM | Updated February 14, 2025 at 3:24PM

A community member waves an LGBTQ pride flag at the rally protesting Virginia's model policies on transgender students (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Several Northern Virginia school districts, including Fairfax County Public Schools, are in the crosshairs of the U.S. Department of Education after a conservative legal group filed a complaint challenging their transgender-inclusive bathroom and locker room policies.

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened an investigation this week into Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun and Prince William schools in response to the complaint from America First Legal, a nonprofit founded by former Trump advisor Stephen Miller.

News

Saudi private school in Herndon to shut down, surprising families

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 13, 2025 at 1:15PM

King Abdullah Academy in Herndon, soon to become a Fairfax County public high school (via Google Maps)

The current school year will be the last official one for King Abdullah Academy.

After close to a decade in the Herndon area, the Islamic private school announced in late January that it will close for good after the 2024-2025 academic year, citing challenges with identifying a “viable financial path to self-sustainability.”

News

Local early childhood education center reels from federal funding uncertainty

By James Jarvis

Published February 10, 2025 at 3:45PM

Sen. Tim Kaine walks with High Horizons Executive Director Latisha Howze (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Trump administration’s freeze on federal grants and loans has left early childhood education programs like Higher Horizons in Bailey’s Crossroads facing financial uncertainty, even after a court ruled the funding must resume.

On Friday (Feb. 7), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) met with staff and educators at the nonprofit Head Start provider to discuss the lingering effects of the freeze, which was triggered by a White House directive pausing federal aid while the administration reviewed how the funds align with its policy goals.

Countywide

Fairfax County might ask voters to approve funding for early childhood education facilities

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 31, 2025 at 2:30PM

A preschool kid drawing (via Gabe Pierce/Unsplash)

Fairfax County leaders anticipate asking voters to support funding this fall for early childhood education facilities.

Details of the potential standalone bond referendum, including the proposed dollar amount and projects to be supported, will come when County Executive Bryan Hill unveils his fiscal year 2026 budget and related capital-improvement program on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

News

Reston math teacher honored with top U.S. award for STEM education

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 17, 2025 at 11:15AM

Math teacher Emily Burrell works with South Lakes High School students (courtesy Fairfax County Public Schools)

A math teacher at South Lakes High School has been recognized by the White House as one of the best science and math educators in the country.

Emily Burrell, who has taught at the Reston school for a decade, is among 336 teachers and mentors to receive this year’s Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), which are considered the U.S. government’s highest honor for K-12 math, science, engineering and technology teachers.

News

Private girls’ school in McLean celebrates record $60M donation

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 16, 2025 at 11:15AM

The Madeira School in McLean (courtesy The Madeira School)

A gift from The Madeira School’s past will enable it to plan for the future, the head of the private, all-girls’ school in McLean says.

The Madeira School, a college preparatory and boarding school that serves students in grades 9 through 12, announced this week that an anonymous former graduate has donated $60 million — a record amount not only for this 118-year-old school, but for any independent girls’ school in the U.S.

Countywide

Legislation to translate K-12 assessments into multiple languages advances in Virginia

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published January 15, 2025 at 9:45AM

A student takes a school test (via Ben Mullins on Unsplash)

Virginia students would be allowed to take the state’s annual learning assessments in a language other than English under a bill that advanced out of a House Education subcommittee on Tuesday.

Del. Laura Jane Cohen, D-Fairfax, introduced the legislation, after the Virginia Board of Education recently made changes to include more testing results from English learners, who have typically been excluded because of the language barrier, into a school’s accountability calculations.

Countywide

Fairfax lawmakers propose legislation on abortion, gun control and election reform

By James Jarvis

Published January 9, 2025 at 11:15AM

The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

State legislators representing Fairfax County are taking the lead on major issues in the Virginia General Assembly’s 2025 session, filing proposals addressing reproductive rights, same-sex marriage, gun control and election reforms.

Originally slated to begin yesterday (Jan. 8), the legislative session has been delayed by water service issues in Richmond stemming from the snowstorm on Monday (Jan. 6). Lawmakers will now convene on Monday, Jan. 13 and remain in session through Feb. 22.

Countywide

Casino, budget priorities dominate annual hearing for Fairfax County’s state legislators

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 7, 2025 at 1:15PM

Del. Vivian Watts (via Channel 16 screenshot)

A proposed casino in Tysons and calls for the state to provide more money for education and social services dominated a 3.5-hour public hearing hosted Saturday (Jan. 4) by Fairfax County’s delegation to the Virginia General Assembly.

About 70 people, speaking for themselves or on behalf of organizations, each had three minutes to make their case for priorities in the 2025 legislative session, which convenes tomorrow (Wednesday).

Countywide

School board approves policy to standardize grading across FCPS

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 26, 2024 at 9:00AM

Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

At its final meeting of 2024, the Fairfax County School Board unanimously approved a policy revision that it hopes will lead to more consistent grading policies countywide.

The measure represents “a huge improvement from what was there before,” according to Mason District School Board Representative Ricardy Anderson.