Fairfax County Public Schools

Published March 19, 2026 at 11:45AM

The Fairfax County School Board's governance committee discusses draft AI policies at its March 17, 2026 meeting (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County Public Schools officials are open to a more robust artificial intelligence policy, but a final version is still a few months from being ready for primetime.

Staff have been working since October on a comprehensive policy governing the use of AI, an umbrella term for technology that uses computer systems to handle complex tasks. Artificial intelligence has become colloquially associated with generative tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which are trained on existing text, video and images to produce “new” content.

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JUST IN: FCPS to release students early on Monday due to possible storms

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 15, 2026 at 7:30PM | Updated March 15, 2026 at 8:41PM

Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools will change up its schedule tomorrow (Monday) in anticipation of potentially severe weather, including thunderstorms and even possible tornadoes.

Instead of the more typical two-hour delayed opening, however, FCPS has announced that schools and administrative offices will close three hours early, forcing many families to scramble for last-minute child care plans.

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Fairfax County schools to close for redistricting referendum special election

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 12, 2026 at 8:30AM

Cunningham Park Elementary School's cafeteria hosts a polling place for the Nov. 4, 2025 general election (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Public Schools students will have an unexpected day off this spring, as polling sites take over many school buildings for the upcoming special election on mid-decade redistricting.

FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid announced yesterday (Wednesday) that all schools will close on April 21 in anticipation of high turnout for the referendum, which asks voters to temporarily amend Virginia’s Constitution so the General Assembly can adopt a new Congressional district map.

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Proposed Fairfax County budget consolidates police oversight, cuts teen drop-in sites and more

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 6, 2026 at 1:45PM

Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County is continuing its recent push to trim costs, pursuing budget cuts that are less drastic than the ones proposed last year but could still result in some notable programming changes.

Released on Feb. 17, County Executive Bryan Hill’s advertised fiscal year 2027 budget plan would reduce spending by $32.9 million and eliminate 107 positions, bringing the total amount of cuts since FY 2024 up to $124.5 million.

News

BREAKING: Democrat-endorsed Tom Dannan wins Braddock seat on school board

By Jared Serre

Published March 3, 2026 at 8:55PM | Updated March 4, 2026 at 10:21AM

Tom Dannan (courtesy Dannan for School Board)

Local business owner Tom Dannan will be the Braddock District’s next representative on the Fairfax County School Board.

Endorsed by local Democrats in a caucus on Jan. 10, the 41-year-old Terra Centre resident bested GOP-supported Saundra Davis in a special election today (Tuesday), securing the seat with approximately 65% of the vote, according to unofficial results.

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JUST IN: FCPS to start classes two hours late Tuesday with wintry mix forecast

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 2, 2026 at 8:10PM

Snow on the hood of a Fairfax County school bus (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

While accumulations are limited, today’s snowfall was substantial enough to convince Fairfax County Public Schools to delay classes tomorrow (Tuesday).

All schools and central offices will open two hours late tomorrow after the National Weather Service issued an advisory warning of potentially challenging travel conditions during the morning rush hour.

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Newly approved FCPS bus plan leaves out some elementary, middle schoolers

By Emily Leayman

Published March 2, 2026 at 3:45PM

A school bus on Lawyers Road near Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

After approving new school attendance zone boundaries in January, the Fairfax County School Board opted to provide bus transportation to affected high school students, but not their elementary and middle school counterparts.

The school board voted 7-4 last Thursday (Feb. 26) to approve bus transportation for Fairfax County Public Schools high school students who have been drawn into new school boundaries but are eligible to remain in their current school.

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FCPS considers limited bus service for students outside new school boundaries

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 26, 2026 at 9:15AM

A Fairfax County school bus driving down Nutley Street in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s first comprehensive school boundary rewrite in decades will affect only a handful of its approximately 177,000 current students, but Superintendent Michelle Reid believes the resulting transportation costs could still be too high to absorb.

The superintendent is expected to recommend tonight (Thursday) that Fairfax County Public Schools provide transportation only to high school seniors who were affected by the boundary changes and opt to remain at their currently assigned school, as permitted by the district’s phasing policy.

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Fairfax leaders aim for united front in seeking more state education funding

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 25, 2026 at 2:45PM

Fairfax County Public Schools bus on the road (file photo)

Rather than go to war over about 1% of Fairfax County Public Schools’ budget request, county and school leaders are trying to forge a coalition that will press General Assembly members to provide the additional funding.

The Board of Supervisors and school board need to “be loud about the fact that we need help” from Richmond, School Board Chair Sandy Anderson (Springfield) said at a work session to discuss the county’s proposed budget on Tuesday (Feb. 24).

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UPDATED: Fairfax County schools cancel Monday classes as snow continues

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 22, 2026 at 4:30PM | Updated February 22, 2026 at 7:10PM

Snow falling around a tree in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

After initially planning a two-hour delay, Fairfax County Public Schools has now canceled classes tomorrow (Monday) as snow has begun to accumulate across the D.C. region.

“Due to the worsening weather conditions, and after careful consideration, all FCPS schools and central offices will now be closed Monday, February 23, 2026,” FCPS said in an update issued shortly after 6:20 p.m.