Students at Clermont Elementary School clean out pumpkins while working on a math project to determine how many seeds a pumpkin holds. 

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available online in SIS ParentVUE. If you have not already filled out the form online, your school should be providing paper forms this week. Please be sure to return paper forms by Friday, November 17. The electronic form will continue to be available in SIS ParentVUE until January 2024. 

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, watch this video and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.  

Need to Register for ParentVUE? 

Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey.  

Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and enter Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).

Provide Feedback on FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)

Please join the Chief Equity Office for a virtual meeting regarding FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) Regulation. The event will be held on Thursday, November 9, from 6-7:30 p.m. You may register at this link.

Your feedback will help ensure that FCPS policies align with our mission and values. It will also help us identify any specific considerations that need to be addressed for the 2024-25 school year. Language interpretation will be available in Spanish, Korean, and Arabic. A Certified Deaf Interpreter will be available as well. Visit the SR&R webpage. 

🎖️ Purple Star Schools Support Military-Connected Families

Eighteen Fairfax County public schools have been recognized by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children as 2023 Purple Star Schools. 

The Purple Star designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families. See the full list of schools.

Successfully Completing Algebra 1 by Eighth Grade 

Helping students to complete Algebra 1 by eighth grade is part of our Strategic Plan (Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence). The Algebra Access Network Improvement Community (AANIC) is working to increase the diverse representation of students who take advanced math classes and succeed in them. Learn more about the AANIC cohorts at Kilmer and Key middle schools and hear students explain why algebra matters to them.

Passing Algebra 1 earlier allows students to take more advanced classes like Dual Enrollment courses, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These advanced courses help students succeed in college. A recent study from the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) found that completing Algebra 1 by eighth grade led to 30% more ninth graders and 16% more 11th graders taking advanced courses.  

📈 FCPS Pass Rates and Accreditation Outcomes

During the Academic Matters segment of the October 26 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed FCPS’ annual pass rates and accreditation outcomes. 

Reading, mathematics, and science pass rates for FCPS are up by an average of almost 9% since the 2021-22 school year. FCPS’ annual pass rates on state assessments continue to be higher than the state average by an average of 5%. 

The Virginia Board of Education determines accreditation ratings based on school quality indicators, which include state assessment results and achievement gaps, graduation and dropout rates, and participation in college/career readiness programs. 

For the 2023 accreditation ratings, 99.5% of our schools are accredited (compared to the state average of 89%). The remaining 0.5% are accredited with conditions. 

🦈 Fairfax Area Student “Shark Tank” Technology Competition

The Fairfax Area 50+ Technology Committee is issuing a challenge to high school students in Fairfax County, Fairfax City, and the City of Falls Church to develop an innovative device or app that will have a positive impact on the lives of older adults and adults with disabilities. Initial project proposals are due by Friday, December 15. Cash prizes will be awarded.

Learn more about the “Shark Tank” Technology Challenge. 

2022-23 Winners Created an App for Individuals With Dementia

Last year’s Shark Tank winners, Sampriti Muthuswamy, Ira Gramopadhye, and Karen Zhou, from Oakton High School, and Asmita Kodityala from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, created a web application to help individuals affected by dementia connect with their loved ones. 

Capture Your Memory creates a logging database tailored specifically to those with degenerative neurological impairments, allowing them to increase connections with the most important people and memories in their lives through media such as photos, video, and audio. Watch the team present their solution. 

🖥️ Give Input on FCPS Websites; Survey Closes Tonight

FCPS will be updating our current websites to improve user experience. Please take our survey and let us know your thoughts about our websites and how they can be improved.

The survey is anonymous, available in seven languages, and should take less than 10 minutes to complete. It will close tonight, Wednesday, November 1. If you have any questions about the survey, please email our website partner at [email protected].

Opportunity to Provide More In-Depth Feedback

Consider providing more in-depth feedback on the current FCPS website by participating in a usability study. This research is being conducted by our website partner, Forum One. If you are interested, please email [email protected] as soon as possible. Please note in your email what your role is at FCPS: parent/caregiver, community member, or student.

✅ Election Day Is Next Tuesday. Vote! 

The 2023 School Bond Referendum will be on the ballot next week. 

Remember to vote on Tuesday, November 7. 

November 7 is also a teacher workday and a holiday for students. For more information on voting, visit the Virginia Department of Elections website.

National Family Engagement Month

This month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Strong family support is vital to student well-being and success. 

FCPS has many resources designed to increase engagement and partnerships with families while fostering academic success and social-emotional growth.

Additionally, every school has a family liaison who welcomes and orients families and helps them understand the school's culture, policies, procedures, and practices. They can help connect families to resources in the community. Family liaisons might also assist a family in transitioning to a new school and encourage family-school partnerships to help ensure their student's success and healthy development.

If you have questions or would like more information, ask your school office to connect you with your family liaison or visit FCPS’ website for a list of region representatives. 

National Career Development Month

By enrolling in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course or program, students learn the technical applications of many occupations while preparing for higher education or entry-level employment. A core program of CTE courses is offered in every FCPS middle and high school. Each school’s course options are based on the needs of the populations served. Learn more about Academies and Specialized Programs. 

🗓️ November Is Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness about historical challenges they have faced and how tribal citizens have worked to conquer them.

Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. 

Día de los Muertos and All Saints Day

Wednesday, November 1, and Thursday, November 2, are observance days this year. 

End of the First Quarter

Friday, November 3, is the last day of the first quarter and a two-hour early release for students. Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 6, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 7, for a teacher workday. See the complete school year calendar.

FCPS Weekly Progress Reports will not be sent to parents Monday, October 30, through Monday, November 13, due to first-quarter grading and report card generation. Additionally, the Grade Book and Report Card modules in ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed Friday, November 3, at 4 p.m. until Tuesday, November 14, at 6 a.m.

⏰ Daylight Saving Time Ends

Daylight saving time will end Sunday, November 5, at 2 a.m. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour! Read our related transportation safety tips.