Back to School: Recent Changes & Challenges
Fairfax County Public Schools kicked off their school year on August 19 with students, teachers, and administrators returning to classrooms.
School can be an important anchor for students, enriching their social connections, developing their academic skills, and fostering personal growth. While the prospect of a new school year can be exciting to some, it can be a difficult time for many children, youth, and families.
This time can be especially difficult for foster youth. The consistency of school provides stability and structure, which is particularly important for foster youth who may be dealing with changes in their living situations or family dynamics. According to a report published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 34% of students in foster care experience five or more school changes before they reach 18 years old. Foster care students are also more likely to struggle in their studies and are less likely to graduate high school. Those who do not graduate or obtain a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) are 4.5 times more likely to experience homelessness than those who receive their high school diploma or GED. Considering these statistics, school can be a critical factor in offering support and opportunities for youth navigating their future.
Foster youth are not the only youth who face discomfort at the start of a new year. Many children with “economically disadvantaged” backgrounds are faced with challenges. These students can feel anxiety from the lack of access to school supplies, meals, and even transportation. The Virginia Access Project published data this month that states more than 4 out of 10 students fall within the criteria of being economically disadvantaged. This is defined as being eligible for free/reduced meals, eligible for Medicaid, receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or identifying as a migrant/ foster child/ Head Start/ or unhoused child.
Like the benefits of school for foster youth, school can serve as a beacon to economically disadvantaged children. Schools offer support with resources to obtain school necessities through school supply drives and free/reduced meals. This allows all students to start the year with the same opportunity for success as their peers.
In addition to the usual difficulties students encounter when returning to school, students in Virginia are faced with changes to their school environment this year. Many schools have adopted new security measures like walking through metal detectors, carrying encrypted ID cards, and using clear backpacks to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff. Additionally, Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order 33 has launched a “cell phone ban” in Virginia schools, encouraging social media-free learning environments. The executive order states students spend an average of 4.8 hours a day on social media and three or more hours a day can double the risk of poor mental health for youth. The executive order also strongly focuses on improving mental health. The order states that $500,000 will be given to existing state funds for mental health services for different school districts.
These changes, along with the lingering effects of the pandemic on academic performance, add another layer of complexity to schools. Students continue to recover from the aftereffects of the 2020-2021 school year. Although students’ test scores on Standard Learning tests (SOLs) are better than the 2022-2023 school year, they are still behind previously recorded scores. Before the pandemic, 82% of students passed their math tests. In 2023-2024 about 71% passed. Scores have slowly improved from the low pass rates in 2021, but it may take more support and resources to reach pre-pandemic levels.
As Fairfax County schools embark on a new school year, it is important to be aware of the changes and challenges students are going through. Despite these challenges, school serves as a cornerstone for students, striving to improve the mental health, safety, and academic growth of students.