September 2, 2026
Sept 2, 2026
In This Edition:
1. Open Policies: Make Your Voice Heard
2. What We're Reading
3. What's Happening Soon
What We’re Reading and Listening To
Report alleges history of antisemitism with limited consequences at Yorktown HS(ArlNow)
According to the story, investigators at the attorney general’s office determined “reasonable cause” to believe Arlington Public Schools violated anti-discrimination laws, claims that APS has reportedly denied…“A female Jewish student said that she was chased because she was Jewish, and other Jewish students described seeing Nazi salutes, hearing Holocaust jokes, and being told that they belonged in a gas chamber or that ‘Hitler should have finished the job,'” the story said. Another alleged incident described in the story involved a female student pulling a male Jewish student’s kippah off his head.
‘You come Monday, someone's gone': How immigration enforcement is affecting DMV schools (NBC Washington)
News4 I-Team examined the number of multilingual students reported in several districts across the region…[and] found declines across the DMV. [Shawn] Joseph, the superintendent of Prince George’s County, said his district has seen over 5,000 multilingual students leave in recent years. Joseph said 40% of his district is comprised of Latino students…[H]e acknowledged the district has seen a drop in enrollment and a rise in absenteeism…Joseph said his district has also seen a spike in requests for mental health services – noting both children and staff are stressed.
As student well-being concerns grow, Va. advocates push for stricter school tech guidelines (Virginia Mercury)
Virginia parents and educators are urging leaders, including the Board of Education, to reduce excessive classroom screen time by considering a draft policy that prioritizes distraction-free learning, physical books, writing, and face-to-face interaction…DMV Unplugged is working alongside Virginia parents, educators, and organizations such as The Balance Project and Distraction Free Schools Policy Project to raise awareness of the issue and push for the policy shifts in the commonwealth.These groups say digital products should support learning, privacy, and safety, but not risk students’ well-being or use children to make a profit.
Virginia’s 3rd-8th graders make marginal improvements on SOLs, still below pandemic scores (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Statewide, 74.5% of students passed their reading exams in spring 2026, and 72.9% passed their math exams — both up 0.4 percentage points from last year. The last time students took SOLs before extended school closures, 82% passed math tests, and about 78% passed reading tests…This year's tests mark the last year of the current grading scale, which is the lowest in the nation…[M]ore students in [middle school] took advanced high school math and associated end-of-course math tests instead of the Grade 7 and 8 math SOLs.
How Big Tech Captured American Schools (NY Times)
Many parents would likely object if, say, Exxon Mobil wrote their children’s environmental science curriculum. Or if Purdue Pharma trained their children’s biology teachers. Yet, over the last decade, schools have often embraced the technology industry in similar ways with few questions asked. Industry-sponsored teacher training is just one technique that Big Tech companies use to shape schools and promote their worldviews to students.
Happening Soon
Friday, September 4–Monday, September 7 – No School: Labor Day Holiday. APS Calendar
Saturday, September 5, 1:00–4:00 PM – Hispanic Heritage Festival. Tyrol Hill Park, 5101 7th Rd. S. Co-hosted by the Arlington Schools Hispanic Parents Association and Arlington County public safety departments. More Information
Thursday, September 10, 7:00 PM – School Board Meeting. Syphax. Sign up to speak | Watch live | Agenda/Materials
Thursday, September 10, 7:00–8:30 PM – Arlington SEPTA Monthly Meeting.SEPTA's first meeting of the 2026–27 school year. Meeting Information/RSVP
Thursday, September 17 – Elementary Back-to-School Night. APS Calendar
Thursday, September 24, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - The Balance Project's Perspectives Panel. Washington Golf. More details here.
Don’t forget! You can subscribe to APS School Calendars! Click the "Subscribe to Calendar" in the bottom right section of the page.
NOTE: Make sure you are tracking the recent calendar change for ES Conferences. Elementary only will now be early release on the 8th of October and a no-school day on October 9th for parent/teacher conferences. Read more here.
