Fourth graders in Vienna's Madison and Oakton school pyramids will start the 2026-2027 school year reading their Virginia history lessons on screens, not in print books.
The Fairfax County School Board voted June 25 to extend a $175,000 digital curriculum contract for one more year.
The district doesn't own enough print copies of "Our Virginia: Past and Present" to give one to each of the roughly 15,000 fourth graders countywide. A planned switch to one-to-one print textbooks was pushed back a full year because of spending cuts tied to FCPS's $28.9 million fiscal year 2027 budget shortfall, which Superintendent Michelle Reid outlined in a May letter to families.
The one-year contract extension with publisher Five Ponds Press covers an electronic textbook, replacement print copies as needed and supplemental materials teachers can print in class.
Screen-time resolution passed the same night
Minutes before approving the digital contract, the board passed a separate resolution supporting screen-time limits by grade level and device opt-outs for families.
Hunter Mill District board member Melanie Meren, who represents Vienna, voted yes on the contract but called out the contradiction. "Without a policy, colleagues, our default is to allow digital learning and promote use of devices," Meren said, adding that she was frustrated by FCPS continuing "to put devices in front of children."
Mount Vernon District member Mateo Dunne also expressed reluctance, saying he hoped the board would commit to including print textbooks in next year's proposed budget. Dranesville District member Robyn Lady noted that some learners benefit from digital formats while others do better with hard copies.
Parents push back
About eight students and parents testified at the June 25 meeting calling for limits on classroom technology. One parent said she was withdrawing her child in favor of private school over what she described as an over-reliance on devices.
Manasi Pandit Long, a physician and member of FCPS Parents for Intentional Tech, told the board that research shows students learn more from print. Jennifer Cheng, co-founder of the same group, said each additional year on screens means another cohort of nine- and ten-year-olds learns Virginia history through a device rather than a book.
Reid said she would review with staff how the digital materials reach students.
What comes next
The board's new Educational Technology Review Committee meets Tuesday, July 14, and Tuesday, July 28, to study device opt-out feasibility, restrictions on devices for pre-K through second grade, and digital literacy standards. The next regular School Board meeting is Thursday, July 16, at 7 p.m. The first day of school for FCPS students is Monday, August 24.
Families can watch the full June 25 discussion on the board's archived YouTube video.
