Virginia Schools Insider: fairfax county public schools


Posted at 04:31 PM ET, 07/23/2012

Federal civil rights complaint filed over low numbers of black, Latino students at elite TJ High
By Emma Brown
A federal civil rights complaint alleges that black and Latino students are being shut out of TJ, the elite Fairfax high school, long before they apply in eighth grade.

By Emma Brown  |  04:31 PM ET, 07/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, thomas jefferson high school for science and technology

Posted at 08:54 AM ET, 07/20/2012

Parent group pushing for TJ admission changes
By Emma Brown
Parents advocating for gifted students have helped shape the debate over admissions to the prestigious math and science high school.

By Emma Brown  |  08:54 AM ET, 07/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 12:31 PM ET, 06/13/2012

Fairfax considers first charter school
By Emma Brown
A Tuesday night meeting, meant to introduce the community to a proposed charter school, doubled as a protest venue for opponents

By Emma Brown  |  12:31 PM ET, 06/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, charter schools

Posted at 04:47 PM ET, 06/12/2012

Fairfax takes small step in debate over high-school start times
By Emma Brown
Board members will seek consultant to help devise options for changing bell schedules without breaking the budget, and with minimal disruption to families’ lives.

By Emma Brown  |  04:47 PM ET, 06/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 02:59 PM ET, 06/12/2012

Fairfax school board takes first step in superintendent search
By Emma Brown
Fairfax’s school board decided Monday to issue a formal request for proposals from headhunting firms.

By Emma Brown  |  02:59 PM ET, 06/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 05/25/2012

Fairfax school board approves budget
By Emma Brown
Teachers will get a raise and families will no longer be required to pay $100-a-sport athletic fees.

By Emma Brown  |  05:00 AM ET, 05/25/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, fairfax public schools budget, fcps budget, fairfax schools budget

Posted at 05:09 PM ET, 05/21/2012

Wolftrap Elementary alum donates $800K in honor of beloved teacher Candace Leyton
By Emma Brown
A Wolftrap Elementary alum donates in honor of a beloved teacher who changed his life.

By Emma Brown  |  05:09 PM ET, 05/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 04:52 PM ET, 05/16/2012

Fairfax teacher pay, retirement benefits are key issues in school budget debate
By Emma Brown
Teacher pay and retirement benefits are a key multi-million dollar issue in the Fairfax school budget debate.

By Emma Brown  |  04:52 PM ET, 05/16/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 12:30 PM ET, 04/26/2012

Proposed Fairfax charter school wins state endorsement
By Emma Brown
Now the proposal will be considered by the local School Board, which under state law has ultimate authority to approve or deny charter applications.

By Emma Brown  |  12:30 PM ET, 04/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, charter schools

Posted at 12:32 PM ET, 04/19/2012

Budget outlook bleaker for Fairfax schools
By Emma Brown
The School Board, which will likely get fewer county dollars than it had hoped for, has tough choices to make before it finalizes next year’s budget in May.

By Emma Brown  |  12:32 PM ET, 04/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, budget

Posted at 06:11 PM ET, 04/17/2012

Fairfax releases TJ admissions data
By Emma Brown
Diversity continues to be a source of debate at the elite Fairfax magnet school. Asian students make up two-thirds of the incoming freshmen class; black students, less than 2 percent.

By Emma Brown  |  06:11 PM ET, 04/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  thomas jefferson high school for science and technology, fairfax county public schools

Posted at 10:41 PM ET, 04/01/2012

Fairfax reopens debate over high school start times
By Emma Brown
School board reopens debate over starting classes later so teenage students can get more sleep.

By Emma Brown  |  10:41 PM ET, 04/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 01:20 PM ET, 03/30/2012

Annandale HS reopens after bomb threat
By Emma Brown
A bomb threat closed Fairfax County’s Annandale High School for nearly three hours Friday morning and interrupted bus transportation for 18 elementary schools.

By Emma Brown  |  01:20 PM ET, 03/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 04:16 PM ET, 03/23/2012

Fairfax considers ending school year early
By Emma Brown
This winter’s mild weather has ushered in early cherry blossoms, an early allergy season and maybe — for kids in Fairfax County — an early summer vacation.

By Emma Brown  |  04:16 PM ET, 03/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 08:37 AM ET, 03/21/2012

Fairfax teacher placed on leave
By Emma Brown
A Fairfax County teacher accused of racially insensitive behavior has been placed on paid administrative leave.

By Emma Brown  |  08:37 AM ET, 03/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 02:16 PM ET, 03/13/2012

Christian legal group sues Fairfax schools over service-learning policy
By Emma Brown
The group says the Thomas Jefferson’s National Honor Society chapter refused to accept church-related community work to gain membership.

By Emma Brown  |  02:16 PM ET, 03/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 11:59 AM ET, 03/08/2012

Fairfax mother has led push to recognize high school seniors who enlist in the military
By Emma Brown
Zinser has been the force behind a campaign to require Fairfax County high schools to honor enlistees during commencement.

By Emma Brown  |  11:59 AM ET, 03/08/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 12:54 PM ET, 03/02/2012

Fairfax school board will vote on honor cords for seniors who enlist in the military
By Emma Brown
The school board will vote on whether to require high schools to recognize military-bound seniors with red, white and blue honor cords to be worn during graduation ceremonies

By Emma Brown  |  12:54 PM ET, 03/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 01:34 PM ET, 02/28/2012

Fairfax official: County can’t afford schools’ requested transfer
By Emma Brown
Fairfax County Executive Anthony Griffin outlined a proposed $6.7 billion budget Tuesday that would leave the public school system with some tough budget decisions.

By Emma Brown  |  01:34 PM ET, 02/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 06:26 PM ET, 02/22/2012

Fairfax charter school seeks approval from state board of education
By Emma Brown
State education officials indicated support Wednesday for the proposed Fairfax Leadership Academy, moving it one step closer to becoming Northern Virginia’s first charter school.

By Emma Brown  |  06:26 PM ET, 02/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, charter schools

Posted at 05:43 PM ET, 02/15/2012

Fairfax school board narrowly approves budget
By Emma Brown
The split vote signals philosophical divisions that may affect the tenor of negotiations with the county Board of Supervisors.

By Emma Brown  |  05:43 PM ET, 02/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, budget

Posted at 11:53 AM ET, 01/24/2012

Fairfax board appears likely to reinstate high-school honors courses
By Emma Brown
The new Fairfax County School Board appears likely to reinstate several English and social-studies honors courses in 2012-2013.

By Emma Brown  |  11:53 AM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, honors

Posted at 10:46 AM ET, 01/09/2012

Fairfax residents get chance to weigh-in on school system capital improvement plan
By Emma Brown
The new school board takes the dais for the first time to hear public comment on a five-year plan for school construction and renovation.

By Emma Brown  |  10:46 AM ET, 01/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 01:37 PM ET, 01/06/2012

More Fairfax students taking AP, IB exams
By Emma Brown
Fairfax has nudged more students to take rigorous courses in part by eliminating certain honors-level courses — a policy that some board members want to revisit.

By Emma Brown  |  01:37 PM ET, 01/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 01:35 PM ET, 01/05/2012

Parents voice frustration with conditions at crumbling Falls Church High
By Emma Brown

By Emma Brown  |  01:35 PM ET, 01/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 03:27 PM ET, 12/19/2011

New Fairfax School Board to be sworn in
By Emma Brown
There are already hints of alliances and divisions on the new board, which will be composed of six returning veterans and six members elected for the first time in November.

By Emma Brown  |  03:27 PM ET, 12/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 03:57 PM ET, 12/15/2011

Va. Supreme Court to hear Fairfax schools case
By Emma Brown
The Supreme Court of Virginia agreed Wednesday to hear arguments in a lawsuit that accuses the Fairfax County School Board of violating sunshine laws.

By Emma Brown  |  03:57 PM ET, 12/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, foia, clifton elementary

Posted at 12:46 PM ET, 12/15/2011

Fairfax school board to vote on surveillance cameras
By Emma Brown
Fairfax’s school board will decide tonight whether principals should be allowed to install surveillance cameras.

By Emma Brown  |  12:46 PM ET, 12/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, surveillance cameras

Posted at 05:29 PM ET, 12/14/2011

Fairfax’s ‘priority schools initiative’ provokes debate, shows mixed results
By Emma Brown
How have 30 struggling schools fared under a new Fairfax program? Bottom line: Results are mixed.

By Emma Brown  |  05:29 PM ET, 12/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, priority schools, minority student achievement

Posted at 10:45 AM ET, 12/13/2011

Northern Virginia students log on to learn about money
By Emma Brown
Students can now log on to Web-based software to learn at their own pace about money basics: credit scores, debt management, mortgages, taxes and insurance.

By Emma Brown  |  10:45 AM ET, 12/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, personal finance

Posted at 06:39 PM ET, 12/06/2011

In Fairfax, math gains tempered by static science scores
By Emma Brown
Fairfax students have made great strides in math and language arts, but science and history scores are static.

By Emma Brown  |  06:39 PM ET, 12/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, no child left behind, modified calendar

Posted at 05:39 PM ET, 11/21/2011

Fairfax schools officials release “trust and confidence” survey results
By Emma Brown
The first-ever “trust and confidence” survey is slated to become a yearly attempt to quantify the community’s perception of school leadership.

By Emma Brown  |  05:39 PM ET, 11/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools

Posted at 07:21 AM ET, 11/11/2011

Surveillance cameras back on Fairfax school board agenda
By Emma Brown
Fairfax principals return to the school board on Monday to renew their request for permission to install surveillance cameras inside schools.

By Emma Brown  |  07:21 AM ET, 11/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, surveillance cameras

Posted at 04:33 PM ET, 11/08/2011

Some voters energized by Fairfax School Board race; for others, it’s an afterthought
By Emma Brown
Like most down-ballot races in off-year elections, many Fairfax voters said they voted today according to party lines because they weren’t familiar with individual candidates.

By Emma Brown  |  04:33 PM ET, 11/08/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, fairfax county school board

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 11/08/2011

Fairfax voters head to polls to choose new school board
By Emma Brown
Despite the energy that this year’s school board race has generated, it’s unclear how many voters will be motivated to turn out.

By Emma Brown  |  05:00 AM ET, 11/08/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county election, fairfax county school board, fairfax county public schools

Posted at 01:09 PM ET, 11/07/2011

Fairfax School Board race becomes more partisan in final days
By Emma Brown
Facing a tide of discontent with schools leadership, Fairfax Democrats are taking pains to ensure that their party-endorsed candidates maintain control of the school board.

By Emma Brown  |  01:09 PM ET, 11/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, fairfax school board race

Posted at 06:34 PM ET, 11/03/2011

Software engineer Ted Velkoff wants to build on Fairfax schools’ success
By Emma Brown
Fairfax school board candidate Ted Velkoff hopes to prepare kids for the 21st-century marketplace.

By Emma Brown  |  06:34 PM ET, 11/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, fairfax county school board, ted velkoff

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 11/02/2011

Special-education advocate seeks seat on Fairfax board
By Emma Brown
It’s not the flashiest issue, says school board candidate Sheree Brown-Kaplan, “but it is essential.”

By Emma Brown  |  01:30 PM ET, 11/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, fairfax county school board, sheree brown-kaplan

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 11/01/2011

Fairfax grad Ryan McElveen aims for school board
By Emma Brown
McElveen is the only candidate who can claim recent experience as a student in the schools.

By Emma Brown  |  06:00 AM ET, 11/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, fairfax county school board, ryan mcelveen

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 10/31/2011

In Fairfax, Lolita Mancheno-Smoak wants to channel business experience into school board service
By Emma Brown
Lolita Mancheno-Smoak has no prior experience with Fairfax schools — a strength, she says, that will allow her to see issues through unjaded eyes.

By Emma Brown  |  06:00 AM ET, 10/31/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, fairfax county school board, lolita mancheno-smoak

Posted at 05:20 PM ET, 10/27/2011

Steve Stuban channels grief over son’s suicide into race for Fairfax school board
By Emma Brown
If anyone can win a countywide seat without a political party’s voters, volunteers and money, it might be Steve Stuban.

By Emma Brown  |  05:20 PM ET, 10/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, fairfax county school board, steve stuban

Posted at 08:17 PM ET, 10/26/2011

How much does Fairfax County schools’ central office spend?
By Emma Brown
How much does Fairfax County Public Schools spend on its central office? How much could be saved and spent on classrooms instead?

By Emma Brown  |  08:17 PM ET, 10/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, fairfax school board

Posted at 10:14 PM ET, 10/25/2011

Fairfax school board incumbent Ilryong Moon defends record
By Emma Brown
Ilryong Moon is the lone incumbent running in the at-large race for Fairfax school board.

By Emma Brown  |  10:14 PM ET, 10/25/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, fairfax county school board, ilryong moon

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 10/24/2011

Fairfax parents push for “real food” for kids
By Emma Brown
How many ingredients are in beef patty served in Fairfax County cafeterias?

By Emma Brown  |  06:00 AM ET, 10/24/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, school lunch

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 10/20/2011

Tea party Republican runs for Fairfax school board
By Emma Brown
Lin-Dai Kendall, who describes herself as part of the tea party movement, is hoping her conservative approach will help her win a school board seat.

By Emma Brown  |  06:00 AM ET, 10/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, fairfax school board, lin-dai kendall

Posted at 05:47 PM ET, 10/18/2011

N.C. school system offers example of successful digital transformation
By Emma Brown
How one school district made impressive academic gains by distributing laptops to every student.

By Emma Brown  |  05:47 PM ET, 10/18/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, digital learning, henrico county schools

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 10/18/2011

Fairfax schools, county government cooperate to attack poverty
By Emma Brown
Fairfax aims to create a tightly woven support network that helps a child from cradle to college and career.

By Emma Brown  |  06:00 AM ET, 10/18/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, poverty, tina hone, opportunity neighborhoods

Posted at 09:09 AM ET, 10/17/2011

Lynchburg educator named Virginia Teacher of the Year
By Emma Brown
Lynchburg teacher Meg Smith encourages students to get excited about writing by helping them find ways to publish their work.

By Emma Brown  |  09:09 AM ET, 10/17/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  teacher of the year, fairfax county public schools

Posted at 03:01 PM ET, 10/14/2011

Fairfax class sizes explained
By Emma Brown
Behind the back-and-forth about class size is a fundamental question about what it means to distribute resources fairly in public schools.

By Emma Brown  |  03:01 PM ET, 10/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, jane strauss, louise epstein, fairfax school board, class size

Posted at 03:06 PM ET, 10/13/2011

Michelle Obama receives rousing welcome at Annandale High School
By Emma Brown

By Emma Brown  |  03:06 PM ET, 10/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Fairfax County Public Schools, Michelle Obama

Posted at 08:30 AM ET, 10/13/2011

First lady Michelle Obama to visit Annandale High School in Fairfax
By Emma Brown
The event is part of an official state visit by the South Korean president and his wife.

By Emma Brown  |  08:30 AM ET, 10/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fairfax county public schools, michelle obama, annandale high school