The Fairfax County School Board is set to revisit rules on screens for the youngest students at its Thursday, Oct. 8, meeting at Jackson Middle School.
The board's 7 p.m. session includes a superintendent's recommendation on Pre-K and kindergarten technology device use, according to the FCPS weekly newsletter. The agenda also lists an Opening of Schools Report and motions on instructional digital applications.
The recommendation follows a July ban on devices for the youngest students and an August disagreement over whether to allow a literacy-program exception.
What led here
On July 16, the board voted unanimously to stop providing laptops and tablets to prekindergarten and kindergarten students for the 2026-27 school year, as Patch reported. Hunter Mill District representative Melanie Meren introduced the motion. Exceptions were carved out for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 plans and multilingual education needs.
Braddock District representative Tom Dannan amended the motion so the ban stays in place while an Educational Technology Review Committee develops longer-term recommendations.
The debate flared again at an Aug. 18 work session, as FFXnow reported. Superintendent Michelle Reid told the board she planned to allow kindergartners to use Lexia, a state-endorsed literacy program, for up to 1.5 hours per week to comply with the Virginia Literacy Act. The exception would affect over 30% of FCPS students.
That did not sit well with some board members. Vice Chairman Kyle McDaniel said at the Aug. 18 work session, "Now we're in the position where we are being told that we are going to roll back a board action … taking away iPads from kindergartners."
Chief Academic Officer Sloan Presidio told the board that replacing Lexia with teacher-led instruction would require at least 20 additional full-time equivalent positions across the division. That cost was not included in the approved budget.
What exactly the superintendent is recommending at the Oct. 8 meeting has not been made public.
Community conversation set for Oct. 19
Separately, Reid has scheduled a community conversation for Monday, Oct. 19, at 6:30 p.m. at Spring Hill Elementary School, 8201 Lewinsville Road, in McLean near the Vienna and Wolf Trap area.
The event is open to students, families, staff and community members. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Childcare and interpretation services will be available.
Additional community conversations are scheduled for Oct. 26 at Beech Tree Elementary, Oct. 29 at North Springfield Elementary and Dec. 1 at Powell Elementary. All begin at 6:30 p.m.
The Oct. 8 board meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Jackson Middle School.
