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Friday, June 23, 2006

Fairfax County School Board Looks to the Future With Strategic Governance Updated

The Fairfax County School Board has approved new beliefs, vision, mission, and student achievement goal statements for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) as part of its new Strategic Governance initiative. The student achievement goals—developed with community input—along with the other documents will provide a framework for the school system’s operation and for the School Board’s future work. By establishing ongoing dialogue with its constituents, the School Board has begun to determine future priorities for FCPS. At the top of the list of goals are continued rigorous academics that exceed the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the continued FCPS tradition of offering a gifted quality education to all students. The goals also emphasize communication in at least two languages for all students and a renewed emphasis on individual character and ethical judgment.

The School Board held a series of community meetings from February through May of this year to solicit input and feedback from members of the community on the student achievement goals. The School Board has designed a new governing process that includes operational expectations, a framework within which the Superintendent and staff members should work, and student achievement goals, which include academics, essential life skills, and responsibility to the community. The School Board expects to monitor school system performance throughout the year to ensure that reasonable progress is being made toward meeting student achievement goals and to ensure that the operational expectations are also being met.

In addition to the ability to communicate in at least two languages, the School Board has identified other academic goals for students, including achieving full academic potential in core subjects, exploring and understanding the fine and practical arts, and using technology effectively. The School Board has also identified essential life skills goals, including demonstrating sound moral character and ethical judgment, learning conflict management and resolution skills, being inspired to continue learning throughout one’s lifetime, and developing practical skills such as financial competence and self-sufficiency. Community responsibility goals identified by the School Board include practicing the duties and responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society; contributing to the school, community, country, and world; and understanding the roles of different levels of government and how to interact with them.

In an effort to continue the dialogue with the community, citizens may contact School Board members at SchoolBoardMembers@fcps.edu to offer feedback.

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Note: The Fairfax County School Board’s beliefs, mission, vision, and student achievement goals can be found at http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/strategic.htm . For more information, contact the Office of Community Relations at 571-423-1200.