technology

Countywide

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

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Side view of a yellow Fairfax County Public Schools bus parked in a lot, with the stop sign extended. Accessible text: 'Fairfax County Public Schools' along the side of the bus.
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.

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Countywide

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

By Angela Woolsey
Person in uniform attaches or reveals a blurred ID badge in a clear plastic holder clipped to a gray surface, focus on hand and badge
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).

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Countywide

FCPS extends use of digital social studies materials after budget cuts slow print transition

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

Fairfax County’s school board recently passed a resolution supporting limitations on screen time and access to devices by grade level, as well as opt-out options for families.

On the same night, members voted to approve a one-year extension of a contract for a hybrid fourth-grade social studies curriculum, covering an electronic book text, the ability to replace print textbooks as needed, and supplemental materials that can be printed.

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Countywide

FCPS will let some parents opt students out of taking home digital devices, review more limits

By Nolan Stout
Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

After a contentious debate, the Fairfax County School Board will give parents the opportunity to opt out of take-home laptops and tablets in the upcoming school year and study stronger screen limits and restrictions.

At its meeting Thursday (June 11), the board discussed restrictions on screen time and school-provided devices for students amid local, regional and national pushback against technology in classrooms, particularly in elementary schools.

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News

Robotics teams from Marshall, Hayfield honored by county board for international success

By Scott McCaffrey
Marshall High School students at FIRST World Robotics Championship (via FCPS)

Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (June 9) honored students from robotics teams at two schools for participation in recent international competition.

The Hayfield Secondary School Night Hawks and Marshall High School Gryphon Robotics each competed in the FIRST Robotics World Championship, held in Houston April 29-May 2.

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News

Reston space technology company expands to Merrifield

By Angela Woolsey
A rendering of Scout Space's satellite sensors (courtesy Scout Space)

A Reston company that makes technology for satellites has zeroed in on Merrifield for an expansion.

Scout Space will open a 2,650-square-foot manufacturing facility in the still-industrial area south of the Dunn Loring Metro station, while maintaining its existing headquarters in the Summit office buildings at 2002 Edmund Halley Drive.

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Around Town

Facebook parent company Meta plans to sell AI glasses at Tysons Corner Center

By Angela Woolsey
Inside a Meta Lab in Honolulu (via Meta)

The company behind Facebook is bringing its artificial intelligence-enhanced glasses to Tysons Corner Center.

Meta anticipates opening its first “Meta Lab” retail boutique at the mall sometime in June, the company’s vice president of retail, John Koryl, told Fairfax Real Estate Insider reporter Austin Wright, who first confirmed the plans for a Tysons store.

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Countywide

County board salutes 10 years of students helping seniors in ‘Shark Tank’ competition

By Scott McCaffrey
Proclamation marking 10th anniversary of Shark Tank Technology Competition (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County leaders marked the 10th anniversary of the Fairfax Area High School Student Shark Tank Technology Challenge earlier this week.

“It’s only gotten bigger and better,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said when presenting a proclamation saluting the contest’s first decade on Tuesday (May 19).

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News

AI defense intelligence company moves HQ from San Francisco to Chantilly

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
TurbineOne Chief Technology Officer and co-founder Matt Amacker leads a demonstration at the company's new Chantilly headquarters (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

A company that specializes in artificial intelligence-driven software for the military has moved its headquarters from San Francisco to Chantilly, where it will offer defense clients a place to preview its technology.

Ahead of a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday (Wednesday), TurbineOne said the move was a reflection of its growth supporting national security missions.

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Countywide

Fairfax school board encourages delaying smartphone use until eighth grade

By Nolan Stout
People looking at and scrolling on smartphones (via ROBIN WORRALL on Unsplash)

Fairfax County Public Schools will now recommend that families don’t give their children a smartphone before eighth grade.

At its meeting last week (April 23), the Fairfax County School Board approved a “Wait Until 8th” resolution that expresses support for “developmentally appropriate smartphone use as a community norm,” encouraging parents to hold off on giving their kids a smartphone until they finish eighth grade.

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