Archives 2010
December Newsletter
The FCAG December Newsletter has been published on the publications page.
FCAG Speaker Series - November 16
On Tuesday, November 16th FCAG held a speakers' forum: "How Parents Can Facilitate Extracurricular Academic Learning In Elementary and Middle Schools." A panel of parent experts spoke on how to coach a Math Team, Science Olympiad, FIRST LEGO League Robotics, Odyssey of the Mind, & Rubik's Cube Contest. Here's a link to a handout distributed at the forum with a schedule of upcoming math contests for ages ranging from upper elementary school (usually 6th grade) to high school.
- More information about Science Olympiad can be found here.
- More information about FIRST LEGO League Robotics can be found here.
- More information about Odyssey of the Mind can be found here.
- More information about the Rubik's Cube Contest can be found here.
FCAG Spring Newsletter
The FCAG Spring 2010 Newsletter has been published on the publications page.
School Board Work Session - TJ Admissions
The Fairfax County School Board held a work sesion on Monday, July 19, 2010 to discuss TJ admissions. Although the School Board decided, upon FCPS staff's recommendation, to make no new changes for the 2010-2011 admissions process, the following data about TJ admissions was made available to the public:
Links:
- TJ Admissions Presentation 7-19-10
- Blue Ribbon Commission Recommendations for TJHSST, June 2004
- Thomas Jefferson High School For Science and Technology Task Force for the Future, Executive Summary, February 2007
- Results and Reflection on the 2009-2010 SIP, A Focus on Continuous Improvement
- TJHSST Admissions Statistics from 2005-2010
- TJ Admissions by FCPS Middle School Classes 2010-2014
- Changes to TJHSST Admissions Since 2004
- Action Plan for Removing Barriers for Increased Enrollment of Underrepresented Students at TJHSST
FY 2011 FCPS Budget Update
On February 4, 2010, the Fairfax County School Board voted to adopt the FY 2011 Advertised Budget. This Advertised Budget reflected numerous amendments to the FY 2011 Proposed Budget, but did not reflect the impact of the subsequent decision by Governor McDonnell to unfreeze the Local Composite Index, which could provide FCPS with an additional $61 million that was not reflected in the Proposed Budget or the Advertised Budget.
At this point, it is unclear what budget cuts in the Advertised Budget are likely to also be included in the FY 2011 Approved Budget, which the School Board will adopt on May 20, 2010. Between now and then, the Board of Supervisors will determine how much money it will transfer to FCPS, and the School Board will then determine how to balance the FY 2011 Budget.
The Proposed Budget and Advertised Budget both contain a number of potential cuts that would affect academically gifted students. These include proposed class size increases of up to two students in general education and Local Level 4 classes and up to four students at TJ and the Level 4 (GT) Centers, as well as the elimination of bus service to the Level 4 (GT) Centers for elementary school students whose base schools have Local Level 4 classes.
- Attached here is FCAG’s testimony before the Fairfax County School Board on January 25, 2010.
- Attached here is a letter from parents at Stratford Landing Elementary who are concerned about how increased class size would affect them.
- For the second year in a row, the Advanced Academic Program Advisory Committee (AAPAC) to the Fairfax County School Board has recommended that the School Board keep bus transportation to the AAP/GT centers. The AAPAC letter dated December 2, 2009 can be found here.
For more information about budget cuts in the Proposed Budget and the Advertised Budget, see the following pages:
In the meantime, please consider attending some of the following budget-related meetings. On Saturday, February 20, FCPS is hosting a Budget Forum at Marshall HS. If you are planning to attend on February 20, please e-mail the FCPS budget forum (budgetforum@fcps.edu) or call 571-423-1075. On April 6 through April 8, the Board of Supervisors will hold public hearings on the budget. To testify, please sign up here. On April 29 and May 10, the School Board will hold budget work sessions where parents can listen and get a preliminary sense of how different School Board members would like to balance the FY 2011 budget. On May 11 and May 12, the School Board will hold public hearings on the budget. On May 13th, the School Board will hold its last budget work session before voting for the FY 2011 Approved Budget on May 20th. For more information on other dates of potential interest, see the FCPS budget calendar.
If you have concerns about the FCPS FY 2011 budget, you can contact all the school board members here to share your concerns.
Public Hearing January 25-26, 2010
Register to speak at the School Board's public hearings on the budget on January 25-26, 2010 here.
January 12, 2010 — FCAG Summer Camp Fair
Back by popular demand, the FCAG summer camp fair will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 (7:00 – 9:00 pm) at Oakton High School cafeteria. We will also be compiling our FCAG Summer Enrichment Camp Guide. If you would like to volunteer to help with this event, please contact