education

Countywide

Virginia students make some gains on annual test scores; schools see less absenteeism

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury
A student takes a school test (via Ben Mullins on Unsplash)

Virginia students’ reading and math assessments for the 2023-24 school year saw some improvement over last year after months of recovery efforts, according to data released by the Department of Education Tuesday. However, pass rates in other subjects are still behind results from the 2022-23 school year.

Pass rates for grades 3 through 8 in reading, math, and science Standards of Learning tests all showed increases statewide by at least 1%. Writing showed the highest increase — 17 percentage points — while history and social science saw little gain, less than a percentage point.

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Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools ACE launches over 250 new training, certification programs for adult learners

By Emily Richardson / Inside NoVA
Fairfax County Public Schools Adult Community Education is based in the Plum Center for Lifelong Learning in Springfield (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County Public Schools Adult and Community Education is launching more than 250 new courses for the trades, construction, IT and health care.

The new courses include in-person, hybrid and asynchronous offerings in line with the program’s focus on “new collar” workforce development, according to a school system news release. New collar defines high-paying professions that combine technical skills with specialized education rather than a four-year degree. Those roles are found in industries with high demand for workers in Northern Virginia — especially the trades, health care and technology — according to Paul Steiner, head administrator of FCPS Adult and Community Education, also known as ACE.

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News

Applicants wanted for Fairfax City and Vienna culinary jobs training program

By Angela Woolsey
A Fairfax City restaurant Week worker grills meat (courtesy Fairfax City Economic Development)

Reinforcements are on the way to bolster Fairfax City and the Town of Vienna’s restaurant industry.

The two localities are seeking applicants for a new Culinary Careers Collaborative program intended to train future chefs, bartenders and other food service workers for potential jobs with local businesses.

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Countywide

FCPS plans pilot as Gov. Youngkin seeks to restrict cell phone use in schools

By James Jarvis
A closeup of an iPhone screen (via Adrien/Unsplash)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s recent executive order to limit phone use in Virginia schools may align with a new pilot program being considered by Fairfax County Public Schools.

Signed Wednesday (July 10), the executive order directs the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to gather feedback from parents, teachers, and administrators to create guidelines for enforcing “cell-phone-free” classrooms in public schools.

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News

NEW: Report recommends FCPS look into ‘swing spaces’ for school renovations

By Acacia James
Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

Cub Run Elementary School students could be the first in Fairfax County to attend a “swing space” while their school gets renovated in the future.

The school board’s Facilities Planning Advisory Council (FPAC) recommends that Fairfax County Public Schools consider piloting the concept — where students and staff are temporarily relocated to pre-existing facilities during construction — with the Centreville school.

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News

Tysons wellness clinic to treat competitive gamers

By Angela Woolsey
The Virginia University of Integrative Medicine Clinic in Tysons (courtesy Virginia University of Integrative Medicine)

A wellness clinic in Tysons will soon offer massages, acupuncture and other treatments to competitive video game players.

The Virginia University of Integrative Medicine (VUIM) announced last month that it has been named the official health and wellness partner of the Ultimate Endgamers League (UEL), an esports league based in Stafford. The private university’s clinic at 1980 Gallows Road will provide care to players once the UEL season starts in August.

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News

Fairfax County speller eliminated in semifinals of Scripps National Spelling Bee

By Inside NoVA
Pinnacle Academy student Nargiza Muzhapaer at the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee (photo by Craig Hudson / Scripps National Spelling Bee)

A Fairfax County seventh-grader reached the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee before being eliminated, while three other Northern Virginia spellers were knocked out in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

Nargiza Muzhapaer, 13, who attends Pinnacle Academy in Chantilly, was one of only 45 spellers to reach Wednesday afternoon’s semifinal round. The bee, being held at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., started with 245 spellers.

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News

Fairfax County student wins spot in next week’s Scripps National Spelling Bee

By Acacia James
Fairfax County Spelling Bee 2024 winner Ankita Balaji with her parents and trophy in the Rachel Carson Middle School library (photo by Karen Bolt/FCPS)

Ankita Balaji, a seventh-grader at Rachel Carson Middle School in Herndon, will represent Fairfax County Public Schools in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, starting next Tuesday, May 28.

Balaji still remembers the moment she spelled the winning word correctly and won the 2024 Fairfax County spelling bee in March.

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News

Child care center eyes expansion with new franchise in Franconia

By Caitlyn Meisner
The location for The Learning Experience's proposed Franconia child care center (via Google Maps)

The Learning Experience, a national child care company, is looking to expand into Franconia.

Franchisee Manoj Gandhi has filed a special exception application with Fairfax County seeking to build a 10,000-square-foot child care center on undeveloped land at 7715 Beulah Street.

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Around Town

Beauty school closes Tysons location after 18 years

By Angela Woolsey
Paul Mitchell The School is closing today in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Paul Mitchell’s beauty school is departing Tysons Corner Center after almost two decades of providing hair care services and training at the mall.

After halting acceptances of new students, the school is observing its last day of business today (Wednesday).

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