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Meeting Recap: Secondary Course Offerings, Legislative Program, and More (December 4, 2025)
Dear Neighbor,
Last week, at the Fairfax County School Board’s all-day work session and regular meeting (agenda | video), we advanced several key priorities that reflect our continued commitment to excellence, equity, and innovation in Fairfax County Public Schools.
During Tuesday’s work session, the Board received updates on the Superintendent’s Strategic Plan Goal Five — “Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation” — and reviewed proposed changes to secondary course offerings for the 2026–27 school year. These discussions focused on strengthening career-connected learning, expanding emerging academic pathways, and ensuring that our programs remain aligned with students’ needs and the future workforce.
At Thursday’s regular meeting, the Board approved updates to secondary course offerings, adopted the 2026 State and Federal Legislative Program — including several amendments I introduced that were unanimously adopted — and reviewed the Superintendent’s monitoring report for Executive Limitation 4. We also received updates on boundary review phasing and transportation, the FY 2026 Midyear Budget Review, ongoing strategic plan implementation, and the state’s punitive SOL cut score and accountability changes. The Board also adopted a proclamation recognizing Inclusive Schools Week.
As always, I invite you to learn more about the topics discussed by reviewing the updates below. You are also welcome to attend School Board meetings (schedule) and register to share your thoughts with us during community participation (sign-up).
In service,
Karl Frisch
Providence District Representative
Fairfax County School Board
Table of Contents:
All-Day Work Session Recap (December 2, 2025)
Last Tuesday, the School Board held an all-day work session to advance several priorities guiding the school division’s long-term planning. The morning session focused on Strategic Plan Goal Five: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation, while the afternoon centered on Secondary Course Offerings.
Strategic Plan Goal Five: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation
Video | Meeting Materials
During the morning work session, the Superintendent and staff presented an update on “Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation,” focused on how the school division is preparing students for a rapidly evolving future through career-connected learning, technology readiness, and strong operational systems. The Superintendent reviewed progress on expanding work-based learning, increasing access to industry-recognized credentials, and strengthening career pathways aligned with Northern Virginia’s labor market. Staff also highlighted continued development of digital literacy, responsible AI integration, and efforts to ensure students have the skills and experiences that position them for success in college, career, and life.
The session also included a review of major operational initiatives that support Goal 5, including technology modernization, cybersecurity improvements, enhanced data governance, transportation and facilities planning, and sustainability initiatives. The Superintendent emphasized that FCPS’s long-term readiness depends on strengthening these foundational systems while adapting to changing student needs, workforce expectations, and instructional tools. Board members discussed implementation timelines, resource considerations, and opportunities to deepen student engagement in emerging fields as the division continues moving forward with Goal 5 strategies.
Secondary Course Offerings
Video | Meeting Materials
During the afternoon work session, the Superintendent and staff presented an overview of the proposed updates to secondary course offerings for the 2026–27 school year, outlining how the recommendations align with the division’s instructional priorities, workforce readiness goals, and the Strategic Plan’s focus on academic growth and excellence. The presentation highlighted continued expansion of pathways in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, aviation technology, ecology, geoscience, and advanced career-aligned world languages — reflecting the school division’s commitment to preparing students for emerging fields and high-demand career sectors. The Superintendent emphasized that each proposed addition is grounded in student interest, postsecondary trends, and equity of access across school communities.
The work session also reviewed proposed changes to course designations, including weight adjustments for specific IB and cybersecurity courses, new dual-enrollment offerings in physics and studio art, and updated requirements for AP and IB programs to ensure consistent and rigorous academic pathways. The Superintendent noted that the recommendations were developed through a comprehensive review process that included curriculum analysis, staff expertise, and input from the Course Review Committee. Board members discussed implementation considerations, including staffing, scheduling, and resource needs.
Last Tuesday, the School Board held an all-day work session to advance several priorities guiding the school division's long-term planning. The morning session focused on Strategic Plan Goal Five: Leading for Tomorrow's Innovation, while the afternoon centered on Secondary Course Offerings.
Board Meeting Recap (December 4, 2025)
State and Federal Legislative Program
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board approved the 2026 State and Federal Legislative Program, which outlines the division’s policy priorities ahead of the upcoming General Assembly session. The Superintendent and staff presented the final state program, which affirms our commitment to fully funding the Standards of Quality, adopting JLARC’s recommended improvements to the state funding formula, expanding flexibility in the evolving accountability system, and strengthening support for multilingual learners, early childhood education, assessment reform, facilities needs, and school meal access. We also adopted the Joint Legislative Position with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, emphasizing the state’s constitutional obligation to adequately and fairly fund K–12 education — particularly in high cost-of-living regions like Fairfax County. I was pleased that my amendments — focused on strengthening stability and collaboration at the Virginia Board of Education and the boards of visitors for Virginia’s public universities — were all unanimously incorporated into the final program.
The Board also approved the division’s federal legislative priorities, including continued funding for IDEA, Title I, Title II, Title III, Impact Aid, school meals, educational technology, and career and technical education programs, along with new positions supporting clean school buses, adult education, and reinstatement of federal student loan forgiveness provisions. I successfully advanced amendments to support safeguarding federal nutrition and Medicaid programs, reinforcing protections for students experiencing homelessness under McKinney-Vento, and advocating for more robust Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment Plans, and Grad Plus loans to ensure everyone has access to a higher education — all unanimously adopted. Here are my comments on the legislative program:
Motion: R. Anderson, Second: McElveen / Vote: Yes 11, No 0, Absent
Updating the Board’s Facilities Planning Framework
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board approved changes to strengthen and modernize its approach to long-range facilities planning by restructuring the Comprehensive Planning and Development Committee (CPDC). The approved action adds five expert community members to the CPDC and sunsets the Facilities Planning Advisory Council (FPAC) effective April 1, 2026. These updates create a more direct, coordinated, and timely process for receiving specialized community input on capital planning.
Motion: McDaniel, Second: Sizemore Heizer / Vote: Yes 8, No 3, Absent 1
Secondary Course Offerings
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board approved updates to secondary course offerings for the 2026–27 school year, as recommended by the FCPS Course Review Committee. In accordance with Regulation 3202, the Superintendent and staff presented new course proposals, course designation changes, and updated graduation-related recommendations. Additions include a wide range of offerings in artificial intelligence, aviation, advanced sciences, cybersecurity, world languages for career applications, and several CTE pathways such as Master Barbering and Small Business Marketing. The Board also approved shifts in course status — moving some offerings from standard to optional and others from optional to standard — to better align access, program sequencing, and regulatory requirements.
In addition, the Board approved adjustments to GPA weighting for several career and technical education and IB courses, expanded dual-enrollment opportunities in physics and studio art, and endorsed new uses of IB courses toward graduation requirements, including IB Design Technology SL counting as a science credit and IB Global Politics SL/HL counting toward world history. These updates ensure that the school division continues to offer rigorous, relevant, and forward-looking academic pathways that reflect evolving student interests and workforce needs.
Motion: Lady, Second: Frisch / Vote: Yes 10, No 0, Absent 2
Superintendent Performance Review
The School Board evaluates the Superintendent’s overall success based on the school division’s reasonable progress toward achieving the 2023-2030 Strategic Plan goals and adherence to the 13 Executive Limitations outlined on pages 14-31 of the Board’s Strategic Governance Manual. The Superintendent provides annual monitoring reports to the Board for each Executive Limitation. The Board then votes on whether the provided reports comply with the Executive Limitation. If the report is found to be noncompliant, the Superintendent provides a corrective action memo addressing the Board’s concerns.
Executive Limitation 4: Human Resources
Video | Meeting Materials
The Superintendent presented the annual monitoring report for Executive Limitation 4: Human Resources, which outlines the requirement to recruit, select, retain, and appropriately compensate a highly qualified and diverse workforce. It also directs the Superintendent to maintain working conditions that support high staff morale, ensure employees are treated with dignity and respect, provide clear personnel rules and due-process pathways, protect against discrimination and retaliation, and ensure all employees receive the training and support necessary to perform their roles effectively.
The report highlighted continued progress in strengthening hiring processes, improving retention, accelerating onboarding timelines, and expanding professional learning and support for both instructional and operational staff. New initiatives included expanded recruitment, standardized written job offers, a one-stop hiring process with Transportation, reduced onboarding time, updated evaluation tools, the new ANCHOR induction program, and divisionwide employee resources, including the first FCPS Employee Handbook. Following a detailed review and discussion, the Board found the Superintendent’s monitoring report to be in compliance.
Motion: St John-Cunning, Second: R. Anderson / Vote: Yes 10, No 1, Absent 1
Boundary Review Phasing and Transportation
Video | Meeting Materials
The Superintendent presented an update on boundary change phasing and transportation planning, outlining how Policy 8130 phasing would apply to future boundary adjustments. The presentation reviewed which grade levels would have the option to remain at their current schools during implementation — rising 4th and 5th graders in K–5 schools, rising 5th and 6th graders in K–6 schools, currently enrolled middle school students, and high school students in grades 10–12. She also outlined transportation impacts for a comprehensive boundary change, including the estimated need for 57 buses and drivers, with projected costs totaling more than $10.4 million over five years, along with concerns regarding bus driver availability and limited parking capacity for additional vehicles. Based on these operational and fiscal considerations, the Superintendent recommends that transportation be provided only for students assigned to schools within the new boundaries.
Midyear Budget Review Fiscal Year 2026
Video | Meeting Materials
The Superintendent and staff presented the FY 2026 Midyear Budget Review, which provides an updated picture of revenues, expenditures, and technical adjustments across all funds at the midpoint of the fiscal year. The School Operating Fund reflects a net decrease of $695,477, driven primarily by reduced state revenue resulting from lower-than-budgeted September 30 ADM counts and final federal grant revisions. These changes are offset by corresponding expenditure adjustments, resulting in no impact on the available ending balance. The presentation also included updates to federal IDEA awards, shifts in projected sales tax revenue, and revisions to City of Fairfax tuition.
The Superintendent and staff also reviewed midyear adjustments to other major funds, including a $9.46 million increase in the School Construction Fund due largely to a one-time transfer supporting Phase 4 of security vestibule installations. Updates were provided for the Food and Nutrition Services, Adult and Community Education, Grants and Self-Supporting Programs, and Insurance Funds, along with investment-related adjustments within ERFC and the OPEB Trust. All funds remain balanced, and no midyear reductions to school-based operations or classroom services were required.
Strategic Plan Update: FCPS Warehouse Operations
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board received an update on the 2023–30 Strategic Plan, highlighting the operational work underway to support progress across all five divisionwide goals. The presentation reviewed the four organizational pillars — differentiated and culturally responsive learning environments; vibrant home, school, and community partnerships; a diverse and supported workforce; and a culture of equity and accountability — which serve as the foundation for achieving FCPS’ long-term commitments to strong starts, inclusion and belonging, academic growth, equitable access, and innovation. Staff also provided a deeper look at warehouse operations, which play a crucial behind-the-scenes role in advancing these strategic priorities by distributing essential instructional materials, science kits, clinic resources, mail services, and asset management functions that support all schools.
The update emphasized how this infrastructure directly supports the division’s academic and operational goals by ensuring the timely delivery of critical supplies, enabling sustainability practices, and maintaining systemwide readiness for testing, graduation, and daily school operations. The Board was also reminded of upcoming reporting milestones, including the Superintendent’s Goal 5 update, “Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation,” scheduled for December 18. These ongoing reports will continue to provide transparency and keep the community informed about progress toward the strategic goals that shape teaching, learning, and student success across FCPS. As part of her presentation, the Superintendent shared the following video with the Board:
Academic Matters: SOL Cut Scores and Accountability Revisions
Video | Meeting Materials
The Superintendent presented an update on the state’s newly adopted SOL cut score changes, which will begin phasing in during the 2026–27 school year. She explained that the changes dramatically raise the annual proficiency threshold for four years, even though the sta | 