Office of Communications

Department Contact Information

571-423-1200
Submit a Question

The primary goal of the Office of Communications (OC) is to foster the reputation of Fairfax County Public Schools as a high-performing school division where students, employees, and families are engaged and informed.

Key focus areas include communications; strategy; digital and visual communications; social media; media relations; and FOIA and FERPA. 

The office is organized into the following areas of responsibility: 

Communications 

  • Newsletters
    • FCPS This Week - This online newsletter is a carefully compiled roundup of the most important news and information of interest to FCPS families, staff, and community members. It is emailed on Wednesdays to almost 300,000 subscribers.
    • Employee Newsletter - This weekly newsletter is emailed to employees. 
  • Crisis Communications - Emergency, attendance, and essential outreach messages are distributed via email, telephone and text. 
  • Social Media - Social media outreach incorporates outlets such as Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook
  • Websites - The FCPS public website offers more than 6,000 pages of information, including timely news releases and feature articles. Training and support is offered to more than 200 school websites. 

Digital & Visual Communications

  • Videos - Videos are an important tool for distributing information about FCPS programs and people, and for capturing key events such as School Board meetings.
  • Photography - Photographs enhance all of our communications and provide an authentic representation of our schools. 
  • Design, Graphics, and Branding - Designers provide resources and guidelines for system-wide needs. An overall goal is to improve productivity and efficiency, while empowering user engagement with our brand.

Media Relations 

Public Records

Public Records plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency, privacy, and compliance within the school district. Public Records is responsible for handling two types of requests: VFOIA (Virginia Freedom of Information Act) and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) requests.

  • VFOIA Requests: VFOIA grants the public the right to access certain government records. When individuals or organizations submit VFOIA requests to FCPS, they are seeking information related to the operations and decisions of the school division. Public Records reviews and processes these requests in a timely manner.
  • FERPA Requests: FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. When FERPA requests are made, Public Records works to strike a balance between the right to access certain student records and the duty to protect the privacy and security of that information.

Strategic Communications

Strategic Communications manages activities that support the strategic development and successful completion of complex communications and change management projects that correspond to the mission, vision, and strategic plan of FCPS.