School Board Policy Revisions: Update from March 20, 2025

At the Alexandria City School Board meeting on March 20, 2025, the School Board established one new policy, amended five policies, the Superintendent amended two regulations and transitioned one regulation to a guideline document. The following is a summary of the key changes, details are available on BoardDocs.

GBEF-R - Lactation Support Regulations (also JHCL)

• Five-year review.
• Minor rewording to remove the inference that ACPS has its own breastfeeding support program.
• Added guidelines to support lactating mothers while minimizing impact on completing assigned job duties.

GBI - Staff Gifts and Solicitations

• Five-year review.
• Standard changes.
• Added a School Board opening statement.
• Added the definition of a gift from Policy BBFA.
• Replaced that “gifts should be discouraged” with “gifts should not be encouraged.”
• Added a statement that non-prohibited gifts may be accepted.

IB - Academic Freedom

• New policy based on the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) model.
• Adjustments to improve inclusivity.

INB - Teaching About Controversial Issues

INB-R - Teaching About Controversial Issues Regulations

• Five-year review.
• Added a definition of controversial issues.
• Relocated process items from the policy to the new regulation.
• Adjusted the expectations for teachers when teaching about controversial issues with a focus on the teacher remaining personally neutral on the issues.

JJAC - Student Brain Injuries During Extracurricular Activities

JJAC-R - ACPS Guidelines for Concussion Management

• Five-year review.
• Expanded the scope to “all students” from just “student athletes.”
• Merged a paragraph into another paragraph, striking content that is redundant with the regulation.
• Added that the professional performing the evaluation may be a volunteer.
• Added that the Concussion Management Team (CMT) established the oldest manufacture date for helmets.
• Transitioned the guidelines from a regulation to a standalone document.

LI - Relations with Educational Accreditation Agencies

• Five-year review.
• Standard changes.
• Policy updated to reflect the amendment of § 22.1-253.13:9 by HB1868
  • Virginia Index of Performance incentive program; Exemplar School Recognition Program.

ACPS has over 400 policies and regulations which are systematically revised prior to being presented to the School Board for information. The revision process includes alignment with the associated VSBA model policy, alignment with the Code of Virginia, an equity review, a legal review, revisions by a team of staff members, a Senior Leadership Team review and a School Board Policy Committee review. Public input on proposed revisions is taken at School Board Policy Committee meetings and regular School Board meetings.