Back to School 2025-26

Students arrive for first day of school at Bailey's Upper Elementary

For the caretakers of public education, Summer 2025 has been a speeding roller coaster of ups and downs at all three levels of government. From threats to close the US Department of Education and dismantle IDEA, to the Big Ugly Bill with cuts and federal vouchers; to state  Accountability and Accreditation Frameworks with new SOL cut scores; and finally surprise budget cuts and lawsuits at district levels: The chaos has seemed pervasive. 

Even with all that, it is August and a little over 1,250,000  Virginia school children are going back to school. For students the questions are simple and immediate. “Will I like my classmates?” “Will my teacher be nice?” “Will my classes be interesting?” 

For parents, it all boils down to “Will my child thrive and be happy?” and yes, “Will they learn what they need?” 

For the more than 90,000 educators in Virginia, the looming, “How can I best help my students learn and thrive?” is always the central question, and the answer to it is currently highly influenced by, “Will circumstances outside my control help or hinder that purpose?” 

Like all of us, teachers also deal with personal things like family life, commutes, and child-care, while also adjusting to course assignments, class sizes, and autonomy and instructional support from their districts. 

Once children are in the room, concerns about governmental cuts and political scandals give way to issues like supplies and materials and classroom dynamics, “How do I physically and psychologically protect these children and meet their needs.”

As everyone resumes the rhythms of the school year, may all your questions be met with good answers. May 2025-26 be a surprise year, not for its problems, but for its successes. May 2025-26 be one we remember for engaged and thriving children, for contented parents, and for fulfilled staff people. - And maybe even a new and less chaotic normal. 

Here at 4 Public Education we will be preoccupied with clearing the way for those more immediate conditions to be addressed.  Join us in that work.

Welcome back everybody!