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The Family Academy is your resource for an enriching educational journey!

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11 Ways Parents Can Get Involved in Schools

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11 Ways Parents Can Get Involved in Schools

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School Involvement Matters

A partnership between teachers and families helps develop successful and well-rounded students. This partnership provides students with more opportunities to learn and grow from a larger range of viewpoints and life experiences. Through open communication and collaboration, parents and teachers create important opportunities for teens to develop social, emotional, and academic skills. School involvement makes a difference.

The Benefits of School-Family Partnerships

When teachers and families together to support student achievement, students earn higher grades, attend school more regularly, and enroll in higher level courses. This collaboration also fosters more motivated students. Young people maintain higher educational aims and lower rates of dropout. Students with parents have better attendance , complete more homework, and have higher enrollment in educational opportunities after high school. Parents can participate at school by helping with functions and activities, or communicating with teachers. They can also be involved at home in many ways, including guiding their children to manage homework and other commitments and engaging in discussions about values and attitudes regarding education.

It's About More Than Academics

A school-family partnership does more than enhance academic achievement. When parents and teachers work together, students report higher levels of motivation and self-esteem . Students also develop key social and emotional learning skills, such as self-awareness, relationship building, and responsible decision-making. Young people develop these skills when programs are coordinated across settings, including home and school. When families and educators work together, they reinforce the kind of behaviors and skills young people need to become successful adults.

The reality is that not all schools have the same resources. But the good news is that parental involvement makes a real difference in schools everywhere. We hope for a nation in which all young people have schools with the resources needed to educate and prepare youth. Whether your school has all it needs or deserves more, involved parents make a difference.

Roadblocks to School Involvement

There are many potential roadblocks for family engagement in schools. Common reasons include demanding work schedules that allow little time for volunteering, discomfort communicating with school officials due to cultural or language barriers, and difficulty with transportation or childcare. School budget cuts and stretched resources may leave teachers, counselors, and administrators less time to create effective systems for family involvement. But when parents are able to get involved, their participation can help schools make the most of existing resources. And there are many ways for parents to stay involved in their children's education that don't require a trip to the school!

Through open communication and collaboration, parents and teachers create important opportunities for teens to develop social, emotional, and academic skills.

Ways to Get Involved

Here are 11 suggestions for getting involved in your child's education.

1. Encourage reading. Helping your children develop a love of reading is the single most important thing you can do to help them succeed in school and in life. Show them the importance of lifelong learning by reading books on your own. Even better, read the same book with them. Taking it one step further, discuss the book together afterwards!

2. Attend school events. Go to games and concerts, student exhibitions, and award events that your teen and involved in. Your involvement in school-wide events, even when your tween or teen is not directly involved, helps build a community at large. You'll meet other members of the school community and show your support for ALL kids.

3. Learn about your rights. It's important to know what your rights are as a parent when it comes to special services such as English instruction, immigration status, individualized education plans, and more. Learn more in Your Rights as the Parent of a Public School Student .

Moving Forward

School involvement is a great way to build relationships with teachers and staff, meet other families in the neighborhood, and help the school community grow to meet the needs of the students. Creating effective school-community partnerships takes time, commitment, willingness, and trust. However, the pay-off is promising. Community involvement in schools is consistently seen as key to building high-achieving schools.

Above all, you want your children to know you are engaged in their education. Even if you don't have time to volunteer, you can help them learn when you're at home. The key question is, "What can I do at home, easily and in a few minutes a day, to reinforce what the school is doing?" This kind of involvement in what and how your teen is learning is crucial to support your children's success both in and out of school.

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11 Ways Parents Can Get Involved in Schools

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A partnership between teachers and families helps develop successful and well-rounded students. This partnership provides students with more opportunities to learn and grow from a larger range of viewpoints and life experiences. Through open communication and collaboration, parents and teachers create important opportunities for teens to develop social, emotional, and academic skills.

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Back-to-School Routines for a Calmer Year | Family Services

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Back-to-School Routines for a Calmer Year | Family Services

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Back-to-School Routines for a Calmer Year | Family Services

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Fairfax County, Virginia - Department of Family Services – Community Corner – Learn how to establish routines that will help children stay on track and thrive during the school year.

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Childhood & Required School Immunizations

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Childhood & Required School Immunizations

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On-time vaccination throughout childhood is essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.

Required School Vaccines

Schools require immunizations for entry into kindergarten, 7th grade, 12th grade, and when transferring into Fairfax County public schools. Failure to do so may impact a student's ability to return to school in the fall.

A list of required school immunizations and related forms/documents are available on the Virginia Department of Health website. See the Guide to Required/Recommended Vaccines by Age in English and Spanish.

Parents of students entering kindergarten: see requirements and additional information from VDH in English and Spanish

Parents of students entering 7th grade: see requirements and additional information from VDH in English and Spanish

Parents of students entering 12th grade: see requirements and additional information from VDH in English and Spanish

Where to get a vaccine

Vaccines are available through private physicians, pharmacies, and clinics.

The Fairfax County Health Department offers school-required immunizations at the Health Department clinics free of charge by appointment only. Please call ahead to make an appointment at 703-246-7100. See below for a list of what to bring to your appointment.

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Childhood & Required School Immunizations

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Fairfax County, Virginia - Protect your child at every age. Find out what immunizations are recommended from birth through age 18 and what vaccines are required for schools in Fairfax County.

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Where to get an immunization and additional immunization resources.

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How to find a tutor

Tutors schedule sessions ahead of time, so that learners can find the right one for them. If there are no upcoming sessions for a topic, our request feature allows learners to let our volunteers know, and they'll create a session as soon as possible. Join in for a session on high school math, SAT prep, or even a general Q&A with Sal Khan.

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Tutors schedule sessions ahead of time, so that learners can find the right one for them. If there are no upcoming sessions for a topic, our request feature allows learners to let our volunteers know, and they'll create a session as soon as possible.

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22 Ways to make sure your kid loves school

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22 Ways to make sure your kid loves school

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Tips for a Positive Start to the School Year! (for parents)

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Tips for a Positive Start to the School Year! (for parents)

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Tips for a Strong Start to the School Year (for teens)

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Tips for a Strong Start to the School Year (for teens)

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STRONG START

TO THE

SCHOOL YEAR!

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5 Tips for a Smooth Transition and Start to the New School Year for the Whole Family

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5 Tips for a Smooth Transition and Start to the New School Year for the Whole Family

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Back to School Aug 2024 Blog #1 Hero Image

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Written by Mallory Band, MEd, Founder of Band Together Education

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5 Tips for a Smooth Transition and Start to the New School Year for the Whole Family

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Learn how to map routines, establish support systems, and foster effective communication to reduce stress and promote success.

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Download these free printables to help your students and their families get organized. They can help with morning routines and other organization challenges.

Getting - and keeping - a backpack organized is a huge challenge for many students. Help families turn a luggage tag into a backpack checklist that's an easy, discreet tool to help students keep track of what they need to carry to and from school. Depending on what grade you teach, you may want to give families the version for older kids.

For many families, homework can be a source of great frustration and tension.A homework contract can be a good resourcefor families who are looking for new ways to manage this challenge. It can hold everybody accountable for what they need to do to make sure homework gets done on time and well. A homework contract can help students feel proud of the work they do. It can also help students stay on track to complete work that meets the standards and expectations you set for them. Depending on what grade you teach, you may want to share the version for middle-schoolers and high-schoolers.

Spanish PDF of homework contract for grade-schoolers

Spanish PDF of homework contract for middle-schoolers and high-schoolers

Understood article for families that explains how to use a homework contract

Getting ready for school can be challenging for some students. Picture schedules can help them follow these daily routines. For many families, these visual planners are easier to follow than written schedules.

Much like a morning routine, an afterschool routine can be challenging for some students to follow. Share this picture schedule with families to help students stick with a schedule for homework and other important activities.

Handing out a school communication log can help you encourage families to communicate regularly with you - and to let them know you welcome hearing from them. The log helps families jot down notes about important meetings, phone calls, emails, and other school-to-home communication. The log also makes it easier for families to keep track of who they communicated with and when - which can be especially helpful if their kids are struggling with academics or behavior.

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Organization printables to share with your students' families

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Download free printables to help your students and their families get organized. Use these to help with morning routines and other organization challenges.

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8 ways to make school morning routines easier

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Mornings before school can be super hectic, especially if your child struggles with transitions. But they don't have to be. Try these tips and make school morning routines less hectic.

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The Family Resource Center tutor list contains the names of current FCPS employees who hold a valid and current teaching license in Virginia. These employees have contacted the Family Resource Center to offer their services. The tutor list is updated monthly during the school year.

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Ways to Engage in Your Child's School to Support Student Health and Learning

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Ways to Engage in Your Child's School to Support Student Health and Learning

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Helping Children Adjust to School (Pre-school and Elementary)[42]

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Ayudando a los niños a organizar sus tareas y trabajos escolares

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Ayudando a los niños a organizar sus tareas y trabajos escolares

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7 Maneras probadas de motivar a los niños a rendir mejor en la escuela

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7 Maneras probadas de motivar a los niños a rendir mejor en la escuela

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Cómo ayudar a los niños a rendir mejor en los exámenes

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Cómo ayudar a los niños a rendir mejor en los exámenes

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Give Your Child the Edge: Teachers’ Top 10 Learning Secrets That Parents Can Use

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Give Your Child the Edge: Teachers’ Top 10 Learning Secrets That Parents Can Use

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Homework Time Made Easier and More Effective

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Homework Time Made Easier and More Effective

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7 Proven Ways to Motivate Children To Do Better in School

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7 Proven Ways to Motivate Children To Do Better in School

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Helping Children Get Organized For Homework and Schoolwork

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Helping Children Get Organized For Homework and Schoolwork

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How to Help Children Do Their Best on Tests

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How to Help Children Do Their Best on Tests

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Help Your Child Take Responsibility for Belongings and Schoolwork

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Help Your Child Take Responsibility for Belongings and Schoolwork

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Help Your Child Balance School & Extra Curricular Activities

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Help Your Child Balance School & Extra Curricular Activities

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Help Your Child Balance School & Extracurricular Activities

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Help Your Child Develop an 'I Can Do It' Attitude

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Help Your Child Develop an 'I Can Do It' Attitude

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From child development stages to the latest expert tips on the topic

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Back-to-School Templates for Teachers and Families | Common Sense Education

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Back-to-School Templates for Teachers and Families | Common Sense Education

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https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/free-back-to-school-templates-for-teachers-and-families

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Back-to-school traditions are an important way to help students and families tap into the opportunities of a new school year. As teachers, we enjoy setting up and decorating our classrooms, organizing new school supplies, or maybe planning a brand-new unit to try teaching this year. We might even be thinking about bringing some new digital tools or media into our classroom instruction.

But back-to-school is also a great time to consider how we communicate with, and support, families during this part of the year that's so pivotal to students' success. To help make this year's back-to-school time a little easier, we've put together a set of customizable templates focused on supporting you, your students, and their families during the transition back to the routines of the school year.

You can use any (or all!) of the templates below and customize them to work for you and your students. Whether you want to set norms and expectations for device use, communicate your class's daily routines, or help families support their students' learning with helpful at-home resources, we've got you covered.

Every school year is a new beginning and a fresh start. We're here for you! Thank you for all you do for your students and their families.

Set a positive culture of digital citizenship from the start with this customizable student agreement. Set expectations for device care, online safety, media use, and more. Offered in English and Spanish.

Discuss expectations for online communication, privacy and safety, device use, and more with your middle and high school students. Offered in English and Spanish.

Provide helpful support to students and families as they adjust to the school-year schedule. Use it to outline daily schedules and learning activities, provide any important information parents and caregivers need to know, and check in with how students are feeling each day. Offered in English and Spanish.

Help parents and caregivers stay informed about their student's progress with this customizable short discussion guide. Give families a brief look into what's happening in class, and offer some conversation starters, suggested questions, and class reminders. Offered in English and Spanish.

Edit and share this handy guide to make sure families have the information they need about any school-issued devices that students will use for learning. From how to log in to where to get technical support, make sure students and their families can easily get answers when they need them.

Edit and share this handy FAQ with families at the start of the year. Make sure they know how to contact you, where you post class assignments, and who else they can reach out to for additional support. Plus, the weekly check-in prompt is a nice way to start building relationships with families from day one! Offered in English and Spanish.

Help students focus on what they'll gain next year, not what they've lost, with these (mostly) free tools.

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Free Back-to-School Templates for Teachers and Families | Common Sense Education

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Help students and their families lay the foundation for a positive, successful school year.

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8 Evidence-Based Tips to Help Teenagers Get Back in the School Routine

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8 Evidence-Based Tips to Help Teenagers Get Back in the School Routine

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8 Evidence-Based Tips to Help Teenagers Get Back in the School Routine

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Reestablishing a school routine that includes sleep, downtime, and movement can help teens thrive emotionally and academically.

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Book Pack-Getting Ready for Kindergarten

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Book Pack-Getting Ready for Kindergarten

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7 Painless Ways To Start Easing Back In 

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7 Painless Ways To Start Easing Back In 

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The School Routine: 7 Painless Ways To Start Easing Back In (ectutoring.com)

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The School Routine: 7 Painless Ways To Start Easing Back In

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In this post, we cover seven things to start now, so that you can ease the family back into the school routine without it being such a shock to the system in August.

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Guidance to FCPS schools and families alike as they identify and provide services to students with dyslexia

The FCPS online dyslexia handbook provides information and resources to FCPS schools and families alike as they support students with dyslexia. The handbook reflects a division-wide commitment to ensure that these students' needs are met as a result of collective responsibility and collaboration across general and special education contexts.

The handbook itself is organized to reflect dyslexia at three levels:

In addition, the Appendices include a glossary of handbook terms, dyslexia resources, signs of dyslexia, and family guides to dyslexia for elementary and secondary schools.

Throughout this handbook, the term "students with dyslexia" has been used in lieu of the term, "dyslexic." The decision to use person-first language is to serve as a constant reminder that these students are more than their dyslexia (National Center on Disability and Journalism, 2017, retrieved from http://ncdj.org/style-guide/ on 3/7/17).

Defining students as dyslexic prevents us from crafting a fuller profile of them as students who struggle with decoding and spelling and do well in many other academic and nonacademic pursuits.

Our FCPS website is designed to be accessible to a variety of users with differing needs and is compatible with screen reading software.

© 2017 Fairfax County School Board. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder. For permission, contact the FCPS Department of Special Services, Office of Special Education Instruction, Willow Oaks Corporate Center, 8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031.
This site requires JavaScript to be enabled in order to run.

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Guidance to FCPS schools and families alike as they identify and provide services to students with dyslexia

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Creating (or adapting) a schoolwork station

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Creating (or adapting) a schoolwork station

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Office of Communication and Community Relations

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Free and Reduced Lunches to include Summer Support with Meals

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Free and Reduced Lunches to include Summer Support with Meals

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As of October 31, 2022 approximately 34 percent of students in FCPS qualify for free and reduced-price meals. The prices for paid breakfast and lunch are determined by the School Board and the price of reduced-price meals are established by the federal government.

Families who earn less than 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals and those with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of poverty level qualify for reduced-price meals.

The free and reduced-price meals application includes an online option for parents to submit the information electronically for faster processing.

Students who qualify for reduced-price meals receive breakfast and lunch at no cost. Food and Nutrition Services will absorb these costs.

Consent to Share Information for Benefits for Other Programs

If you have children eligible for the federal Free and Reduced-Price Meals program, they may also be eligible to participate in other Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) fee-based programs without paying a fee or by paying a reduced fee. You are also eligible to receive information about scholarships, classes, and services that are provided by agencies and organizations other than FCPS.

If you want your children to participate in FCPS fee-based programs on a free or reduced fee basis and receive information about other benefits for your children, you must provide written agreement allowing FCPS staff to share information about your children's meal eligibility status.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Non-Discrimination Statement :

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: , from any USDA office, by calling https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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Learn more about the criteria and process to apply for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch.

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Pre-K to 12 Military Child Education | Military OneSource

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Military parents can get information and resources to support their child's foundation of learning with programs like Early Learning Matters, 4-H and more.

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Eighteen Schools Named Purple Star Schools by VDOE

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 2019 Purple Star schools.

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Military Families | Fairfax County Public Schools

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FCPS welcomes responsive and collaborative communication and partnerships with the parents and families of our students.

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Any parent may elect to provide home instruction for his or her school-age child

For this purpose, the Code of Virginia defines parent as a biological parent, adoptive parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of a child.

When a parent elects to provide home instruction for their school aged child it is up to the parent to develop and deliver the curriculum in any manner they choose. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) does not provide curriculum and/or educational resources for home instructed students. If you choose to home instruct your child please notify FCPS of your intent by submitting a notice of intent and documentation to homeinstruction@fcps.edu.

Qualification by Parent or Guardian (one of four required)

1. The parent or guardian holds a high school diploma.
2. The parent or guardian is a teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education.
3. The parent or guardian provides a program of study or curriculum, which may be delivered through a correspondence course, distance learning program, or any other manner.
4. The parent or guardian provides evidence that he or she is able to provide an adequate education for the child.

Documents (all required)
1. Notification by parent or guardian of intent to provide home instruction (Form se270)
2. Evidence of meeting one of the four qualifications described above.
3. Description of curriculum limited to a list of subjects to be studied during the coming year.
4. Upon request by the Division Superintendent, evidence of immunizations, medical contraindication certified by a licensed physician, or affidavit attesting that the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with religious tenets or practices.

Time frame
1. By August 15 prior to the school year in which the child will receive home instruction.
2. A parent or guardian who moves into Fairfax County or who begins home instruction after the school year has begun shall provide notification as soon as practicable and comply with all notification requirements within 30 days.

Acknowledgement
The information submitted is reviewed and a letter is sent to the parent or guardian indicating whether or not the notification documents comply with Section 22.1-254.1 of the Code of Virginia.
**Please consider sending your notice of intent for the upcoming school year when you send your evidence of progress.

Documents & Time
The parent who elects to provide home instruction shall provide the division superintendent by August 1 following the school year in which the child has received home instruction with either

(i) evidence that the child has attained a composite score in or above the fourth stanine on any nationally normed standardized achievement test, or an equivalent score on the ACT, SAT, or PSAT test or

(ii) an evaluation or assessment which the division superintendent determines to indicate that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress, including but not limited to:

(a) an evaluation letter from a person licensed to teach in any state, or a person with a master's degree or higher in an academic discipline, having knowledge of the child's academic progress, stating that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress; or

(b) a report card or transcript from a community college or college, college distance learning program, or home-education correspondence school.

**Please consider sending your notice of intent for the upcoming school year when you send your evidence of progress.
Parents or guardians should send evidence of progress by email, fax, or mail by August 1.

Acknowledgement
The information submitted is reviewed and a letter is sent to the parent indicating whether or not the evidence of achievement complies with Section 22.1-254.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Probation or Denial
If the required evidence of progress is not provided by the parent or guardian and the evidence does not meet satisfactory evidence of progress, the home instruction program for that child may be placed on probation for one year. The parent or guardian shall file, with the Division Superintendent, evidence of ability to provide an adequate education and a remediation plan for the probationary year that indicates how the parent or guardian will address any educational deficiency. Upon acceptance of such evidence and plan by the Division Superintendent, the home instruction may continue for one probationary year. If the remediation plan and evidence of achievement are not accepted, or the required evidence of progress is not provided by August 1 following the probationary year, home instruction shall cease and the parent or guardian shall make other arrangements for the education of the child that comply with Section 22.1-254 of the Code of Virginia.

Available Examinations

The following examinations are available to enrolled FCPS students and to students receiving home instruction: Advanced Placement (AP), Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), and PreACT.

Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate (IB) Test Fees

Home Instruction Exam Information provides families with registration information and deadlines. Fee waiver eligibility information is available on The College Board website or on the ACT website, depending on the assessment.

Please contact the Director of Student Services at your base school to confirm testing location, times, and availability. You may access the FCPS boundary locator to determine the assigned base school.
GED Testing
In accordance with the Section 22.1-254 of the Code of Virginia, applicants under eighteen years of age, but at least sixteen years of age who have been home schooled and who have completed their home schooling, are entitled to take the GED. Applicants must provide the GED examiner with a letter signed by the FCPS superintendent or designee certifying that the applicant has completed a home instruction program.

To obtain a letter please contact:
Lori Hershey
lbhershey@fcps.edu
571-423-4323

Visit the FCPS Adult High School website for more information on GED Testing.

Parents or guardian who have met the requirements to home school in Virginia may apply to enroll their middle and/or high school aged students (grade 7-12) in up to a maximum of two core curriculum courses (English, mathematics, science, social studies or world language) per year, to the extent that space and resources allow. Courses may be accessed either 1.) On-site and/or 2.) Online, as defined below.

On-site courses may be accessed on a non-tuition paying basis in the middle or high school serving the student's attendance area, on a space available basis. Applications to a school outside of the student's attendance area will only be considered if the requested course is unavailable or there is no space available at the school serving the student's attendance area.

Online courses may be accessed on a tuition paying basis through FCPS Online Campus, on a space available basis. Parents or guardians must submit a FCPS online campus application, a part-time enrollment application, and a parent or guardian agreement.

A completed and signed partial enrollment application and a completed and signed parent or guardian agreement form must be submitted between April 15 and June 1 for the following academic year.

Final approval of applications for part-time enrollment of students receiving home instruction shall be given no later than August 15, provided parents or guardians comply with the requirement for notification and the requirement to provide evidence of progress outlined in sections V. and VI. of Regulation 2245.

No student receiving home instruction shall be admitted to a course after the third class meeting of that course.

Part-time enrolled students receiving home instruction shall fulfill all enrollment requirements as defined in the current versions of FCPS Policy 2101, Physical Examinations, Immunizations, Contagious Diseases, Treatment of Injuries, and Policy 2202, Eligibility for Enrollment, and Regulation 2101, Physical Examinations, Immunizations of Students, and Tuberculosis Screening Requirements, and Regulation 2202, Required Admissions Credentials for Students.

Prerequisites for requested courses must be satisfied. Student Registration staff members shall determine, with parental consultation, whether a student meets the prerequisite(s) for the requested course(s). Assessment testing may be required.

Part-time enrolled students receiving home instruction shall be subject to all provisions of the current version of FCPS Regulation 2601 (Students Rights and Responsibilities) and all similar policies, regulations, and requirements pertaining to students, including grading policies.

Part-time enrolled students receiving home instruction shall comply with all requirements of the course(s) in which they are enrolled. Any student enrolled in a course with a corresponding Standards of Learning (SOL) test shall take that test. Students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses, or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses will have the option of taking the corresponding exams in the spring of the academic year. In addition, part-time enrolled home instruction students may use SOL test results for math and language arts courses to demonstrate evidence of progress for the school year.

Part-time enrolled students receiving home instruction shall not be eligible for participation in school-sponsored athletics, student organizations and clubs, or other co- or extracurricular activities.

Part-time enrolled students receiving home instruction shall limit their presence on campus to the times of their class(es), except when attending events open to the general public or when complying with a bona fide request made by a teacher or an administrator when directly related to course(s) of enrollment.

FCPS does not provide transportation for part-time enrolled students receiving home instruction to access course(s).

Part-time enrolled students receiving home instruction shall not be eligible to audit a class, to receive an FCPS diploma, or to participate in commencement activities.

Parents or guardians who withdraw their child from a FCPS middle or high school during the school year to continue their education through home instruction may apply for their child to remain enrolled in a maximum of two core courses at the school from which the student withdrew, provided that parents or guardians comply with the requirements for home instruction as defined in FCPS Regulation 2245.

Virginia Department of Education regulations require each enrolled student in grades 1-12 to maintain a full-day schedule of classes. Home instruction is a full-time alternative to school attendance. Except as noted above, home instructed students will not be permitted to enroll on a part-time basis or participate in academic or extracurricular activities, except as required by law.

In accordance with Section 22.1-254.B.1 of the Code of Virginia, the School Board shall excuse from attendance at school any pupil who, together with his or her parents or guardians, by reason of bona fide religious training or belief,is conscientiously opposed to attendance at school. For purposes of this subdivision, "bona fide religious training or belief" does not include essentially political, sociological, or philosophical views or a merely personal moral code.

Parents or guardians shall submit a written request to the School Board for exemption stating their religious beliefs that are in conflict with public school attendance. Older children (14 years or older) should provide their own individual statements of their religious beliefs that conflict with school attendance. Parents or guardians should provide letters of support from their religious leader or persons who can vouch for the authenticity of their beliefs.

Parents or guardians requesting religious exemption should send their letter and supporting documents by e-mail, fax, or mail by August 15.

Any parent or guardian who moves into Fairfax County after the school year has begun shall submit their letter of request and supporting documents as soon as practicable.

The Home Instruction Office shall forward the requests quarterly to the School Board for consideration at their regular meetings. The School Board Office sends the letter of approval for religious exemption to the parents or guardians.

Once granted, the exemption applies for future years, although parents should notify the School Board in writing, referencing their religious exemption status, as younger children come of compulsory school attendance age.

FCPS is responsible for identifying, locating, and evaluating children who reside in Fairfax County who are in need of special education and related services, including students receiving home instruction. Parents who suspect their child has a disability and is in need of special education, should contact the principal of their student's base school.You may access the FCPS boundary locator at http://boundary.fcps.edu/boundary to determine your child's base school assignment.
View more information about Special Education Instruction.

If you are an approved home schooler, driver education can be taught at home. The student must currently be enrolled in a home-schooled program approved by the division superintendent. The acknowledgement letter received from Fairfax County Public Schools may be presented for verification of enrollment in a home school program.

Please visit the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Driver Education Information for Home Schoolers website for details.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers driving classes through Adult and Community Education. All students who register for driving classes must reside in Fairfax County. These classes are for high school students only. Private school and home school students may attend during the summer sessions. All classes are taught by Fairfax County Public Schools instructors. Register early as classes fill quickly.

When an elementary or middle school student enters Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) from a home instruction program, the principal shall determine grade placement based on evidence of achievement provided by the parent or guardian. If further evidence is necessary, consultation with school staff or testing may be required.

A student requesting credit for high school courses taken in an approved home instruction program shall provide FCPS with a list of courses taken, the objectives for the courses, and evidence of achievement. The courses for which credit is desired must correspond to courses offered by FCPS. If the evidence of achievement is determined to be insufficient, the principal can require the student to take an examination in each grade or course for which he or she wishes to establish placement or credit. Any credit granted by FCPS for courses taken under home instruction shall be designated on the student's scholastic record as credit transferred from home instruction.
Contact your base school to schedule an appointment for registration. Boundary information is available at http://boundary.fcps.edu/boundary/.

If you do not intend to continue home instruction, please inform the FCPS Home Instruction Office by email homeinstruction@fcps.edu, fax 571-423-4317, or mail of the educational setting in which you intend to place your child.

Home Instruction Resources
FCPS Resources Virtual Learning Resources

Virginia Department of Education - Virtual Learning

Virtual Virginia
As a program of the Virginia Department of Education, Virtual Virginia (VVa) offers online Advanced Placement (AP®), world language, core academic, and elective courses to students across the Commonwealth and nation. Due to the robust course offerings available to FCPS students through the FCPS Online Campus, FCPS does not currently participate in the Virtual Virginia full-time program.
Home school students may access Virtual Virginia and in these cases, are registered by their parents. Tuition, textbooks, fees and other materials are the responsibility of the enrolling party.

Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE)
Accreditation through a VCPE Approved State Recognized Accrediting Association guarantees the transfer of student credits from the state recognized accredited private school to a public school and ensures recognition of teacher licensure credits for time served in an accredited private school.If a parent enrolls their child full-time in a VCPE approved virtual school, the child will be enrolled in a private school and not considered home schooled.

Contact Information

Parents or guardians should send their notice of intent and supporting documents by email, fax, or mail by August 15 to:
HomeInstruction@fcps.edu
Fax: 571-423-4317
Mailing Address:
Home Instruction
Fairfax County Public Schools
Gatehouse Administration Center
8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA 22042

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Any parent may elect to provide home instruction for his or her school-age child For this purpose, the Code of Virginia defines parent as a biological parent, adoptive parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of a child.

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Back to School centered mental health resources

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Back to School centered mental health resources

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Going back to school comes with a lot of extra stress this year. Kids may be struggling to manage their feelings about the pandemic. They may be worried about things like getting sick or falling behind in school. Whatever's on their mind, keep track of what you're seeing and help them get the emotional support they need.

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Supporting kids' mental health as they go back to school

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Going back to school comes with a lot of extra stress this year. Kids may be struggling to manage their feelings about the pandemic. They may be worried about things like getting sick or falling behind in school. Whatever's on their mind, keep track of what you're seeing and help them get the emotional support they need.

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Webinar: Back to School Toolkit- Proven Systems for Staying Organized, Curbing Procrastination

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Webinar: Back to School Toolkit- Proven Systems for Staying Organized, Curbing Procrastination

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Ann Dolin: Back to School Toolkit: Proven Systems for Staying Organized, Curbing Procrastination

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School Psychology Services

Our school psychologists are mental health specialists with knowledge of child development, the psychology of learning, behavior management and intervention, monitoring progress of students, and program evaluation. Our psychologist school assignments are listed here.

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Office of Communication and Community Relations

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1. Facilitate your child's bonding with the teacher.

Kids need to feel connected to an adult they think will keep them safe. So when they aren't with their parents, they need to transfer their attachment focus to their teacher, or they're too anxious to settle down and learn. If you notice that your child doesn't feel good about school, contact the teacher immediately. Just explain that he doesn't seem to have settled in yet, and you hope she can make a special effort to reach out to him so he feels at home. Any experienced teacher will understand and pay extra attention to him for a bit. Many teachers assign the child a special job, so they feel connected and like they have a role to play each day.

2. Facilitate bonding with the other kids.

Kids need to feel bonded with at least one other child. Ask the teacher if she's noticed who your child is hanging with. Ask your child which kids he'd like to invite over to play. If he isn't comfortable with how the other child would respond to a playdate invitation, you can always invite the mom with her kid for ice cream after school, or the entire family for Friday night dinner. You don't need anything fancier than pizza, and by the end of the meal, the kids will be racing around the house like long lost buddies. And who knows? Maybe you and the parents will hit it off.

3. Give your child a way to hold onto you during the day.

For many kids, the biggest challenge is saying goodbye to you. Develop a parting ritual, such as a hug and a saying: "I love you, you love me, have a great day and I'll pick you up at 3!" Most kids like a laminated picture of the family in their backpack. Many also like a token for their pocket, such as a paper heart with a love note, or a pebble you found on the beach together, that they can hold for reassurance if they feel alone.

4. Help him express his worries and realize that he can handle them.

Most school anxiety is caused by worries that adults might find irrational, such as the fear that you'll die or disappear while they're at school. Support your child to express any worries that are bothering them. Empathize: "You're worried that since your best friend moved away, you won't have anyone to sit with at lunch? That could feel really awkward, couldn't it?"

Then, remember that fear is the worry that we won't be able to handle something. So instead of just reassuring your child, empower him by problem-solving. "Hmm...I wonder what you could do to solve that?" Let him come up with solutions, but be sure to chime in with the observation that all the kids will be looking for someone to sit with.

Then, ask him to imagine how he would handle it if indeed his fear came to pass and he found himself looking for someone to sit with. Help him see himself calmly surveying the room to look for familiar faces, walking over, and saying something like "I'm so glad to see you!" Your goal in this discussion is to help him realize that he has the internal resources to cope with any situation he encounters. Be sure he finishes this discussion with a positive image in his mind of him successfully coping with whatever he's worried about.

5. Calm her fears.

Children are "programmed" to look to parents for reassurance about what's dangerous and what's not. So while you're empathizing with your child's concerns, be sure that you're also expressing confidence that your child will be safe and happy at school. Explain that it is completely "normal" to be a bit anxious about a new situation, but she can trust that her teacher will take care of her.

Offer your own positive school stories ( "I was so nervous the first week I couldn't even use the bathroom at school but then I met my best friend Maria and I loved first grade") and the assurance that she'll feel right at home soon.

Point out that naturally people who love each other don't like parting, but she'll have fun, you'll be absolutely fine, the school can always contact you, and your love is always with her even when you aren't. End every conversation with the reassurance "You know we ALWAYS come back to each other" so she can repeat this mantra to herself if she worries.

6. Help your child laugh out his anxieties so he doesn't have to cry.

Giggling is your child's way of venting anxiety, and any child who is having a tough school adjustment is feeling anxious -- fearful -- inside. Give him as many opportunities to giggle as possible. If you can spend some time every morning playing a chase game in your house, or whatever gets him giggling, you'll find that his separation from you at school goes more smoothly. The exception to this is tickling, since that seems to involve a different area of the brain and may even build up stress hormones. Instead, chase him around the house or have a pillow fight. And here are some games that specifically help kids with separation:

"Please Don't Leave Me." When you've been reading to him and he starts to get off your lap, pull him back to you and tell him how much you love holding him, and to please not go away from you EVER and you want to hold him always. Keep your voice light and playful rather than needy so he feels free to pull away, but keep scooping him back to you and begging him, dramatically, to stay. The point of this is to heal that fear inside him about how much he needs and wants you, by letting him be the one to "leave." As always, ham it up and go for giggles.

The Bye Bye Game. This is a simple version of Hide and Seek that triggers just enough separation anxiety to get him giggling. Say "Let's play Bye-bye." Start to leave -- but not through a door, as if you're really going, which would be too scary. Instead, open the closet door as if you're about to go into it, which already makes your child amused. Then act like you're the one who is scared to separate, and jump back to your child and cling. Say"I missed you! I never want to be apart from you!" Finally, recover your courage enough to say"Ok, let me try that again! I will be brave!" and start to leave again. But again, come back and grab him before you are even out of sight, which should get him giggling, especially if you play-act being silly and excessively worried.

7. Stay connected.

Start your child's day with a five minute snuggle in bed or on the couch, just bringing 100% of your attention to loving her. Make sure that every day after school when you're reunited, you have special time with each child to hear all about her day. Make sure to schedule in a long snuggle after lights-out to increase her sense of security.

8. Be alert for signs about why your child is worried.

Most of the time, kids do fine after a few weeks. But occasionally, their unhappiness indicates a more serious issue: he's being bullied, or can't see the blackboard, or doesn't understand anything and is afraid to speak up. Ask calm questions about his day, listen deeply, and reflect what he tells you so he'll keep talking. Start conversations by reading books about school together; your librarian can be helpful. Do a little pretend play with stuffed animals, acting out a "puppet show" of a little one who doesn't want to go to school, and ask your child "I wonder why he's scared? What should we tell him?" If you sense a bigger issue that you can't unearth, it's time to call the teacher.

9. Ease the transition.

If your child gets teary when you say goodbye, use your goodbye routine and reassure her that she'll be fine and you'll be waiting at the end of the day. If she continues to have a hard time separating, see if the teacher can give her a special job every morning to ease the transition.

10. Make sure you're a few minutes early to pick your child up.

This is crucial. Coming out of the school and not seeing you immediately will exacerbate any anxieties.

11. Downplay the time younger kids spend with you at home.

If a younger sibling is at home with you, be sure your older child knows how boring it is at home and how much the younger sib wishes she could go to big kids' school.

12. Create a calm household routine with early bedtimes and peaceful mornings.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but if you have to wake your kids in the morning, they aren't getting enough sleep. Kids who aren't well-rested don't have the internal resources to cope with goodbyes, much less the rigors of the school day. And get yourself to bed early too, so you can deal calmly with the morning rush and get everyone off to a happy start.

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Transportation Services is responsible for providing the safe and efficient transportation of students to and from schools and activities. Parking is limited at many FCPS facilities and buildings. Get familiar with the school bus, student, and visitor parking. Learn more about electric school buses and how FCPS is working to be carbon neutral by 2035.