Kindergartners at McLean and Great Falls elementary schools may still use tablets for a reading program this year, despite the Fairfax County School Board's unanimous July 16 vote to ban devices for the youngest students.

Superintendent Michelle Reid told board members at an Aug. 18 work session that she intends to allow kindergartners to use Lexia, a state-endorsed literacy program, for up to 1.5 hours per week during reading intervention blocks. Reid said the exception fits within the existing carve-outs in the board's ban, which allowed device use for IEPs, 504 plans, translation and multilingual support.

The move drew sharp pushback. Vice Chairman Kyle McDaniel said the district was effectively undoing what the board had just approved.

"Now we're in the position where we are being told that we are going to roll back a board action on July 16, taking away iPads from kindergartners, because of this problem that was identified in [the Educational Technology Review Committee]," McDaniel said at the work session, according to FFXnow.

Division-wide, more than 30% of FCPS students require reading plans under the Virginia Literacy Act, which entitles them to 2.5 hours of additional reading support. FCPS already provides teacher-led instruction for roughly half that time. Chief Academic Officer Sloan Presidio told the board that dropping Lexia would require at least 20 additional full-time positions across the division to cover the gap, positions not funded in the approved budget.

Franconia District representative Marcia St. John-Cunning acknowledged the bind, noting she was already receiving letters about class sizes before school had started.

New AI literacy lessons raise questions

The same work session previewed FCPS's updated digital literacy curriculum, which will deliver one grade-level lesson per quarter across all grades starting this school year. The board directed staff in June to develop the plan in consultation with the new Educational Technology Review Committee.

New AI literacy lessons will teach students to recognize AI-generated content and use technology ethically. Students will not use AI tools during the lessons, though teachers may demonstrate a prompt response.

Dranesville District representative Robyn Lady, whose district covers McLean and Great Falls, questioned whether that approach can work. "How can you really teach how to evaluate AI, generative AI without letting them utilize generative AI?" Lady asked.

Presidio acknowledged the tension, telling Lady she had "uncovered the dilemma" facing the district as it develops board policy while trying to move instruction forward.

Hunter Mill representative Melanie Meren said she thought Reid was getting "ahead of the board policy," suggesting the board should take greater initiative on what students learn and how lessons are delivered.

What's next

School starts Monday, Aug. 24. The Educational Technology Review Committee's recommendations to the superintendent are due by Nov. 12. No vote on the Lexia exception has been scheduled.