Dear FCPS Families,

I hope this message finds you well as the skies begin to clear, the days become longer, and we start welcoming more spring-like weather.

With recent news that there will be a statewide Constitutional Amendment special election on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, I am writing to share that our schools will need to close on that day.

A total of 168 of our schools will serve as polling locations and the Virginia Department of Elections has indicated that a high voter turnout is expected across the Commonwealth.

Providing polling locations during an election is one of the many ways FCPS supports our entire Fairfax County community, but it means that we must provide open public access to portions of our school buildings throughout the day. Given the anticipated volume of voters, this would significantly impact normal school operations and limit our ability to provide a secure learning environment for students and staff.

By closing schools on April 21, we are able to:

• Maintain the safety and security of all students and staff.
• Avoid disruptions caused by restricted access to key areas such as cafeterias, gyms, and parking lots.
• Ensure our facilities are fully accessible and prepared for voters.

In addition, Fairfax County Public Schools will still exceed the required number of instructional hours for students, as set by the Virginia Department of Education.

We appreciate your understanding. Elections are an important part of civic life, and this closure provides an opportunity for families to discuss the importance of voting and public participation. If you are eligible, I encourage you to take part in the election.

Take good care,

Dr. Michelle C. Reid Superintendent

Date	Event
July 3, 2026	Holiday| Independence Day (Observed)
August 10-13	New Teacher Training
August 14, 17-21	Professional Workdays for Staff | 14 - Teacher Workday | 17 - School Planning Day | 18 - Teacher Workday | 19 - Staff Development Day | 20 - Teacher Workday | 21 - School Planning Day
August 24	First Day of School
September 4, 7	Holidays| Labor Day Break
September 11	Religious and Cultural Observance (Evening Only)
September 12	Rosh Hashanah (begins sundown 9/11 - sundown 9/13)
September 21	Holiday| 21 Yom Kippur (begins sundown 9/20 - sundown 9/21)
October 12	Student Holiday(School Planning Day for Staff) | Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 30	End of First Quarter | 2-hour Early Release
November 1-2	All Saints' Day / Día de los Muertos | Religious and Cultural Observance
November 2	Student Holiday(Teacher Workday for Staff)
November 3	Student Holiday(School Planning Day for Staff) | Election Day
November 8	Diwali
November 25 - 27	Holidays | Thanksgiving Break
December 4	Religious and Cultural Observance (Evening Only)
December 4	Chanukah (begins sundown 12/4 - sundown 12/12)
December 8	Bodhi Day | Religious and Cultural Observance
December 21 - January 3, 2027	Holidays | Winter Break
December 25	Christmas
January 1, 2027	Holiday| New Year's Day
January 6	Three Kings Day/Epiphany | Religious and Cultural Observance
January 7	Orthodox Christmas | Religious and Cultural Observance
January 18	Holiday | Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday
January 19	Orthodox Epiphany | Religious and Cultural Observance
January 28	End of Second Quarter | 2-hour Early Release
January 29	Student Holiday(Teacher Workday for Staff)
February 1	Student Holiday(Staff Development Day for Staff)
February 6	Lunar New Year
February 8	First Full Day of Ramadan (begins sundown 2/7 and continues with daily fast and nightly prayer until 3/8) | Religious and Cultural Observance
February 10	Ash Wednesday
February 15	Holiday| Washington’s Birthday and Presidents’ Day
March 9	Religious and Cultural Observance (Evening Only)
March 10	Holiday| Eid al-Fitr (begins sundown 3/9 – sundown 3/10)
March 20	Nowruz
March 22-26	Holidays| Spring Break
March 26	Good Friday
March 28	Easter
April 16	End of Third Quarter | 2-hour Early Release
April 19	Student Holiday(Teacher Workday for Staff)
April 20	Student Holiday(Staff Development Day) | Theravada New Year
April 21	First Evening of Passover (begins sundown 4/21 – sundown 4/29), Religious and Cultural Observance (Evening Only)
April 22	Second Evening of Passover, Religious and Cultural Observance (Evening Only)
April 30	Orthodox Good Friday, Religious and Cultural Observance
May 2	Orthodox Easter
May 17	Holiday| Eid al-Adha (begins sundown 5/16 - sundown 5/17)
May 31	Holiday| Memorial Day
June 16	Last Day of School / Early Release (time of early release determined by each school)
June 17	Staff Development Day for Staff
June 18	Holiday| Juneteenth (Observed)
June 21	Teacher Workday