Fairfax County Public Schools

CAIR, FCPS reach temporary agreement on students’ records in ‘kidnapping’ skit lawsuit

Published July 28, 2026 at 11:34AM | Updated July 28, 2026 at 2:31PM

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax County Public Schools has temporarily agreed not to release the disciplinary records of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) students who were suspended for making a “kidnapping” skit for social media to promote their chapter of the Muslim Students Association, pending the outcome of a lawsuit against the school system.

Filed in federal court last week, the preliminary agreement largely prevents FCPS from releasing disciplinary records related to the case to colleges and universities or anyone else who inquires. It also stipulates that the students will not be disciplined for wearing clothing with a map of Palestine or the Palestine flag.

Around Town

FCPS students team up with community theater to stage ‘Dear Evan Hansen’

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published July 24, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated July 24, 2026 at 5:32PM

Colby Chase, playing Evan Hansen, speaks with the grief-stricken parents of Connor Murphy, played by Katie Pond and Patrick Killoran. (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

When the Broadway hit “Dear Evan Hansen” opens tonight (Friday) at South Lakes High School in Reston, it will represent more than the launch of a new show.

For some students and recent graduates of Fairfax County Public Schools, the performance marks their debut in a true community theater setting, thanks to a new partnership with the Reston Community Players (RCP).

Countywide

Fairfax County School Board approves restrictions on generative AI, digital devices

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published July 23, 2026 at 3:45PM

A Fairfax County Public Schools bus (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

Going forward, Fairfax County Public Schools will prohibit the use of generative artificial intelligence by elementary school students, tablets and laptops in preschool and kindergarten, and student use of personal electronic communication and computing devices during instructional time.

The Fairfax County School Board approved the restrictions — which include a handful of narrow exceptions — at its July 16 meeting, along with several directives for the superintendent to report back to the board about the potential additional limitations on technology.

Countywide

FCPS to roll out new student ID cards for school bus tech upgrades

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 23, 2026 at 10:00AM

Fairfax County Public Schools Bus Driver Supervisor Lei Shi demonstrates how students will check in with their ID card (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County Public Schools’ integration of technology into its operations will extend to its transportation system in the coming academic year.

New identification cards that can be used to track when students get on and off a school bus will be rolled out across the division when the 2026-2027 school year starts on Aug. 24, FCPS announced on Tuesday (July 21).

News

BREAKING: Special education teacher at McLean school charged with assaulting student

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 22, 2026 at 9:10PM

Eliseo Perez (courtesy Fairfax County Police Department)

A special education teacher at Cooper Middle School has been arrested after allegedly assaulting a student.

Administrators at the school in McLean (977 Balls Hill Road) were alerted on June 4 to “concerns regarding inappropriate behavior” involving a teacher, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

News

FCPS teacher’s son honors her memory through Star Wars and STEAM education

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published July 22, 2026 at 3:45PM

A squad of battle droids (Courtesy Theresa Jacobs Foundation)

A Lake Braddock Secondary School art teacher spent 30 years sharing her passion for painting, photography, and pottery with students — a legacy that her family has carried on for nearly a decade through whimsical, often high-tech educational creations.

When Theresa Jacobs passed away from a fast-growing cancer in 2017, her son Eric Jacobs, a Fairfax County native, wanted to honor her love for learning and ignite that same spark in others.

News

FCPS approves boundary lines, phased enrollment plan for Skyview High School

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published July 21, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated July 21, 2026 at 11:05AM

Skyview High School in Herndon (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools has officially adopted a boundary map for attendance at the new Skyview High School, which will draw in students from Westfield, Chantilly, and South Lakes high schools to alleviate overcrowding at several schools on the western side of the county.

The new school assignments — unanimously approved by the school board during its July 16 regular meeting — are expected to impact 2,544 students, including 1,159 who will be assigned next year to attend Skyview’s campus at 2949 Education Drive, in the Floris area south of Herndon.

Countywide

Fairfax County school board voices support for sales tax referendum to fund construction projects

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published July 16, 2026 at 11:45AM

An electronic voting ballot marking device for people with disabilities (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County School Board recently passed a resolution affirming its support for a possible 1% sales tax to fund its $400 million backlog of maintenance and capital improvement projects.

In light of the new state budget adopted by the Virginia General Assembly late last month allowing local jurisdictions to increase their sales tax rate up to 1% to support education and transportation, the school board voted unanimously on July 9 to ask the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to place the issue before voters as a referendum during a general election.

Countywide

FCPS adopts two new school year calendars, increasing number of five-day weeks

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published July 15, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated July 15, 2026 at 9:14PM

The Fairfax County School Board discusses new school year calendars on July 9, 2026 (screenshot via FCPS)

The Fairfax County School Board recently voted to confirm calendars for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years that emphasize full five-day instructional weeks, while preserving a full week of spring break and two full weeks of winter break.

Superintendent Michelle Reid proposed calendars last Thursday (July 9) that maintain the 180 instructional days required by Virginia law and follow extensive parameters passed by the board earlier this summer. The school board adopted the proposal on a 10-1 vote.

News

Residents affected by boundary changes for Skyview High School air concerns before final vote

By Nolan Stout

Published July 15, 2026 at 1:45PM

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid's preliminary recommendation for western high school boundary adjustments to accommodate the new Skyview High School (via FCPS)

Not everyone is happy with the proposed attendance boundaries for the new Skyview High School, as Fairfax County Public Schools looks to finalize its plans this week.

The Fairfax County School Board held a public hearing on the proposed boundaries on Monday (July 13) and plans to vote on them at its meeting tomorrow (Thursday).