Superintendent’s June 7 Update

Dear APS Families,

I want to take a moment to express our deepest condolences with the victims of the tragic shooting that occurred at a high school graduation in Richmond yesterday. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and the entire community affected by this senseless act of violence. Our community must continue working together to support one another and our students in every way possible when these tragedies occur. As we look ahead to our year-end celebrations, please know that safety remains our top priority. Here are a few updates and resources as we approach the end of the school year.

Update on APS Grading Practices Taking Effect in School Year 2023-24:
Last year, School Board Policy (I-7.2.3.24) on Reporting Student Progress and Grades was updated to reflect our commitment to equitable grading practices. Throughout this school year, our staff engaged various stakeholders to update our grading policy implementation procedures (PIPs). The new elementary grading PIP and the secondary grading PIP will take effect next school year and include the following updates:

• Elementary grading now includes revised performance levels for Standards-based reporting. We also updated the grade descriptors (now the same for Grades 3-12) for Traditional reporting.
• Secondary grading changes include the elimination of interim progress reports (IPRs) and shift to a weekly summary via email. We also minimized the impact of formative assessments, revised the guidance around late work penalty and a retake/revision opportunity for all students.

More information will be communicated to families at the start of the new school year.  

Summer School Begins July 5:
We look forward to welcoming 4,000 students to summer school on July 5. This year’s enrollment has increased by more than 1,000 students, and APS is offering a new hands-on engineering instruction program to further enrich the summer school experience. Watch the Summer School preview video to learn more. Welcome letters will be sent home via mail the week of June 26 to the eligible families who enrolled in the Summer School program. Student schedules and transportation information will also be posted on ParentVUE the week of June 26.

Keep Students Active and Engaged:
I encourage all APS students to make the most of the summer months by reading, staying active, going outdoors and participating in camps and recreation. Here are some of the offerings through Arlington County and other partners:

• Participate in Arlington Public Library’s Summer Reading program, June 1-September 1, and log 30 days of reading for prizes, plus participate in fun, free events.
• Explore Summer Camps through Arlington Parks and Recreation for PreK-12 students. While many are full, there are still opportunities to sign up. Many programs offer scholarships and financial assistance!DPR summer camps do allow for reduced fees, but they’re not listed on APS’ Reduced Fees and Scholarships page.
• Learn about volunteer and employment opportunities for teens
• The Department of Human Services continues to offer a range of excellent support programs for students and families this summer (parenting, mental health, substance use). https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/DHS/Child-Family-Services
• The Arlington County Fire Department’s Camp Heat is still accepting applications and is free.  https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Fire/Camp-Heat

Communications Survey:
We would like your feedback on how we are communicating. Please take a moment to complete a brief survey by June 23. Results will be used to improve communication and inform the development of a strategic communications plan. Next week will be my final weekly update for this school year. We will be working hard this summer to get ready for the next school year, and back-to-school updates and communications will resume the week of August 21. As we continue next year to prioritize instruction and improve student outcomes, I’m excited about what the future holds.

Thank you for your partnership!

Sincerely,
Dr. Francisco Durán
Superintendent
Arlington Public Schools