Policies & Procedures

FCPS Regulation 2234 states that “regular attendance is necessary for maximum school achievement. In addition, punctuality and dependability in meeting assigned responsibilities are personal behavior habits valued in our society. To help students develop desirable behavior patterns, as well as maximize their classroom learning, Fairfax County Public Schools requires that students be punctual and regular in school class attendance. When attendance problems develop, the school system’s resources are made available to aid in solutions to these problems.” It is the responsibility of a parent or guardian to excuse absences within three days.

Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Guide for Families (2025-26)

These documents explain expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable and supportive school environment. 

• FCPS Food Services provides options for breakfast and lunch every day and participates in the Federal Free and Reduced Meals (FRM) grant that provides free or reduced priced meals for students who qualify.
  
• We do not accept deliveries from outside food vendors/delivery service.

Forgotten lunch/other items

• Parents/guardians may drop forgotten item(s) to the designated area in the main office for pick up at transition times..
  
• Restaurant food is strongly discouraged.
  
• Place food items in a brown bag (provided) with your student’s name & ID# on it.
  
• Food leftover at the end of the day will be discarded.
  
• Only valuable items (e.g. electronics needed for school, musical instruments, ...)  will be kept behind the desk.

Food and Item Drop Off Policy Rationale

We do not accept deliveries from outside food vendors / delivery services.  We are often asked why and the answer is safety and security. We do not have staff available to monitor transactions for the times that: the driver is demanding of a tip, driver leaves food at requested door and someone who didn’t order helps themselves, driver is inappropriate with the student; delivery person is a parent without custody, student is stepping outside to meet an unknown individual; driver is not delivering food, etc. We appreciate your understanding and support of this policy.

FCPS Food Services provides options for breakfast and lunch every day.  At lunch there are a number of options including hot and cold entrees and a snack bar.   FCPS also participates in the Federal Free and Reduced Meals (FRM) grant that provides free or reduced priced meals for students who qualify.  Visit the FCPS Lunch Accounts website to read more about menu options, prices and more about the FCPS meals program.

Parents/guardians who need to drop off lunch or other items for a student who forgot theirs may do so in the main office.  There will be a shelf where items can be left for your student to pick up at their lunchtime or during a class break. We strongly discourage restaurant food from being dropped off. If that is absolutely the only option you have to bring your student, the parent will need to bring it into the office and place it in a provided brown paper bag to leave it for the student to pick up at lunchtime.  Food leftover at the end of the day will be discarded. 

Only valuable items (e.g. electronics needed for school, musical instruments, ...)  will be kept behind the desk. Keep in mind that FCPS Students Rights and Responsibilities now reads that students will have phones off and out of sight during classes so they will not get messages until designated times.

FCPS Secondary Grading and Reporting - Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to consistent grading regulation and practices where grades are an accurate reflection of student learning. The current policies include the separation of achievement and work habits, guidance on providing students additional opportunities to demonstrate proficiency, and the importance of ongoing communication with students and parents.

Starting this school year, cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell) with the exception of lunch time in designated lunch spaces . Cell phones and personal devices can no longer be used during passing periods, which is a change from FCPS’ previous cell phone policy. In addition, cell phones are no longer permitted to be used as an instructional tool (across all grades). 

Phones and other personal devices can be stored in a locker or backpack during the day. 

This policy helps strengthen engagement, learning, and positive social behavior in the classroom. If you need to reach your student during the school day, please call our front office at (phone number).

You can support your student by talking with them about the cell phone policy and reminding them that cell phones and personal devices may only be used during lunch time in designated lunch spaces. Thank you for working with us to set expectations for your student.

Students who require access to personally owned devices as an accommodation, as documented in their 504 plan or individualized education program (IEP), will continue to have access. If parents/guardians, multi-disciplinary team members, or other persons with knowledge of a student, believe a student requires access to personally owned devices as an accommodation, they shall make the requests for such accommodations through their respective multi-disciplinary team (i.e., 504 Committee, IEP Team, English Language Committee, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support [MTSS] Team). More information can be found in the SY 25-26 Student Rights & Responsibilities Family Guide , specifically on page 24.