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At the Statehouse: 2026 Priority Public Education and Constitutional Amendment Bills
2026 is a new year with new priorities at the statehouse! Explore the 2026 priority education and constitutional bills discussed in the General Assembly and answer our Calls to Action today!!

Marianne Burke, PhD
Jan 273 min read


Underfunding the Future of Education in Fairfax
FCPS was forced to make tough choices because neither the Governor nor the Fairfax Board of Supervisors considered our schools important enough to bridge the $121 million FCPS budget shortfall.

Vanessa Hall
Jun 3, 20255 min read


Teaching in the Time of...2025
Teacher Appreciation Week 2025. Can it compensate for the unreal reality of Teachers in 2025? Show REAL appreciation for teachers beyond small tokens.

Cheryl Binkley
May 5, 20253 min read


When the Attack is on History is About Controlling the Future
Explore the impact of recent attacks on Black history and its implications. Learn how defending Black history helps us shape OUR future.

Vanessa Hall
Feb 27, 20253 min read


A Week in the Trenches Dodging Bullet Points
Speaking up from the trenches, teachers share their five bullet points, in light of the federal battle against education.

Vanessa Hall
Feb 27, 20255 min read


At the Statehouse: End of General Assembly Session
The 2025 General Assembly Session ended on February 22. Sadly, bills that called for improved funding for public education were defeated in the legislature. This was even after the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) recommended there be substantial increases in funding for Virginia’s public schools as these school systems are seriously underfunded. All six of 4 Public Education’s priority bills failed, as have some other bills that 4 Public Education suppor

Marianne Burke, PhD
Feb 26, 20253 min read


At the Statehouse: Few Priority Education Bills Remain and Budget Negotiations are Impending
February 4th was Crossover, which is the last day for each chamber to act on its own bills. After that date, all bills that passed in each chamber crossed over to the other chamber for consideration. By February 6th proposed amendments to the existing budget by the Governor and the money committees of both chambers were published online. February 20th is the last day legislators can act on bills and appoint conferees, and February 22nd is the day this legislative session adjo

Marianne Burke, PhD
Feb 13, 20254 min read


Political Appointees Tip the Scales of Accountability
VBOE meeting report out from September 26th People drove from around the Commonwealth to have their voices heard in front of the Virginia...

Vanessa Hall
Sep 27, 20246 min read


Take Action: Make your Voice Heard by Virginia DOE by September 25th
Disruption is NOT Accountability The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) created disruptive accountability measures that will harm...

Vanessa Hall
Sep 13, 20243 min read


VDOE's Accreditation Overhaul: An Unnecessary Risk for Schools
Accountability Standard Scheme Intends to Make our Schools Sub-Standard While the Commonwealth was preparing for the end of the school...

Vanessa Hall
Aug 8, 20245 min read


How to Ensure your High School is Rated Among the Highest Regardless of Zip Code
Best Schools Update 2024 “Above all, I believe every child, no matter their ZIP code or their parents' jobs, deserves access to a quality education.” - Betsy DeVos 2016 “A child's course in life should be determined not by the zip code she's born in” - Barack Obama “Literally nothing is evenly distributed by zip code, except having a zip code.” - Elon Musk Part I: Rankings v. Zip Codes “All children should have a great education regardless of zip code,” is perhaps one of the

Cheryl Binkley
May 10, 202410 min read


In the Face of Hate, West Potomac Students Choose to Change the World
A Strong Student Production of Kinky Boots While several hate groups descended on the FCPS high school last weekend, the students, teachers, and families of West Potomac High School chose to work together, put on an excellent show, and have a great time. Like their shirts said, “You can change the world when you change your mind.” The administrators, parents, students, and educators who put their hearts, souls, and bodies on the line for this production should be commended.

Vanessa Hall
May 10, 20247 min read


What’s Kinky about Allyship?
Give the Boot(s) to critics and let the show go on! Thousands of Fairfax residents are looking forward to seeing an amazing student musical at West Potomac High School (buy tickets here) about allyship and finding common ground with people who have different ideas and come from wildly different backgrounds. Meanwhile, a teeny-tiny group of parents are freaking out that Kinky Boots is somehow deviant or “sexual.” I don’t want to give their complaints air because they are so no

Vanessa Hall
Apr 25, 20243 min read


Crossover Looming at the Statehouse
The pace has picked up in Virginia’s General Assembly as we approach some key deadlines. ‘Crossover’ is February 13, the deadline by which legislators must complete work on bills originating in the House of Delegates or the Senate. Any bills that have not passed their respective chamber will be left behind for this legislative session. In addition, deadlines loom for each chamber to complete their budget amendment bills. The House Appropriations and the Senate Finance an

Marianne Burke, PhD
Feb 7, 20243 min read


Priority Education Bills are Advancing at the Statehouse
February 3rd will end the third week of the 2024 Session of Virginia’s General Assembly. At the time of this writing, one priority education bill has cleared the Senate (SB14) and most of the other priority education bills 4 Public Education endorses are working their way through the committees. One of the bills we opposed (SJ9) was defeated. The early success this year is at least in part due to the vigorous support of these bills by public education advocates who have been

Marianne Burke, PhD
Feb 1, 20243 min read


School Board Matters: Honoring Outgoing School Board Members
December 14, 2023 School Board meetings have become ground zero for the culture wars. Our “School Board Matters” blog will include analysis and links to video, agenda, and votes that affect you and your student(s), including links to primary source documents to support involvement in your student’s experience and education. We hope this will provide better access to and understanding of the Fairfax County School Board, including their powers and duties, as governed by the Cod

Vanessa Hall
Dec 19, 20233 min read


School Board Matters: Conflict on the Dais
December 4, 2023 School Board meetings have become ground zero for the culture wars. Our “School Board Matters” blog will include analysis and links to video, agenda, and votes that affect you and your student(s), including links to primary source documents to support involvement in your student’s experience and education. We hope this will provide better access to and understanding of the Fairfax County School Board, including their powers and duties, as governed by the Code

Vanessa Hall
Dec 14, 20235 min read


School Board Matters: Blue Skies and Smiles Shining So Bright
November 9, 2023 School Board meetings have become ground zero for the culture wars, so 4 Public Education is introducing a new blog called “School Board Matters” for 2023-24. It will include analysis and links to video, agenda, and votes that affect you and your student(s), including links to primary source documents to support involvement in your student’s experience and education. We hope this will provide better access to and understanding of the Fairfax County School Boa

Vanessa Hall
Nov 15, 20238 min read


School Board Matters: Academic Growth and Family Engagement
October 26, 2023 School Board meetings have become ground zero for the culture wars, so 4 Public Education is introducing a new blog called “School Board Matters” for 2023-24. It will include analysis and links to video, agenda, and votes that affect you and your student(s), including links to primary source documents to support involvement in your student’s experience and education. We hope this will provide better access to and understanding of the Fairfax County School Boa

Vanessa Hall
Nov 2, 20235 min read


School Board Matters: FCPS Outcompetes on SATs
School Board meetings have become ground zero for the culture wars, so 4 Public Education is introducing a new blog called “School Board Matters” for 2023-24. It will include analysis and links to video, agenda, and votes that affect you and your student(s), including links to primary source documents to support involvement in your student’s experience and education. We hope this will provide better access to and understanding of the Fairfax County School Board, including the

Vanessa Hall
Oct 20, 20235 min read
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Safety is Non-Partisan: Bring Back the High School Crossing Guards
The safety of our students is non-partisan. Demand funding for our high school crossing guards to keep students safe from distracted drivers.


Isn't it Past Time to Abandon Standardized Testing?
Discover why it's time to abandon standardized testing. Explore the impact on students and educators, and why now is the time to move on from standardized testing.


Judge Dismisses Anti-Trans Lawsuit Citing Lack of Standing to Sue
Judge dismisses anti-trans lawsuit due to lack of standing, protecting FCPS students, policies, and taxpayer resources. Learn how this impacts Fairfax County.
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