Speaking at School Board Meetings

Community Participation at Regular School Board Meetings 

Fairfax County and city residents, FCPS staff, FCPS students, FCPS guardians who are non-Fairfax County residents, and FCPS business partners are eligible to address the Board at regular school board meetings. 

At the time of registration, speakers must identify whether they wish to testify in-person, virtually, or submit a prerecorded video testimony. Upon request at the time of registration, Translation Services will be provided for speakers for whom English is not their preferred language and who will give testimony in a language other than English. Speakers registered to submit a video testimony are encouraged to include a link to their video on their registration form. Once an option is selected, this choice cannot be changed. Registration will close 48 hours before the meeting.

There will be a total of 16 speaker slots per regular meeting:

• 10 slots for speakers who choose to address the Board in-person or virtually
• 3 in-person or virtual slots are reserved for current FCPS students
• 3 slots are reserved for video testimony

After the first 13 in-person or virtual speakers are determined through a random/lottery process, the next 10 names as determined by the same random/lottery will be chosen as the waitlist and notified that they are on the waitlist to speak. Waitlist speakers may only speak live in-person or using live virtual video, which they select at the time of registration. 

After speaking during the community participation portion of the regular meeting, whether giving in-person testimony, live virtual testimony, or through prerecorded video testimony, speakers may not register to speak at the next two regular meetings so that others may have an opportunity to participate. Those listed on the waitlist who were not selected to speak will be allowed to sign up to speak at the next regular meeting.

Register to Speak at a Regular School Board Meeting

Online - You may register to speak by submitting a request online at 6 a.m. starting on the fourth business day before the next regular business meeting. 

By phone - To register by phone, call the School Board office at 571-423-1075 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Community Participation at Public Hearings

The Board schedules public hearings on specific topics at various times during the year. An additional public hearing will be scheduled each fall and spring, either as part of the regular Board meetings or as separate meetings. Additional hearings may be scheduled by the Board, as needed. Speakers may not address issues scheduled for other public hearings (Budget, Capital Improvement Program, Boundary). The number of speakers at these additional public hearings may be limited at the discretion of the Chair. Individuals may speak in-person or virtually at a public hearing but prerecorded video testimony is not permitted.

Upon request at the time of registration, Translation Services will be provided for speakers for whom English is not their preferred language and who will give testimony in a language other than English. 

Register to Speak at a Public Hearing

Online - An individual may sign up online beginning at 6 a.m. at least 10 business days prior to the public hearing. The list will close at 4:30 p.m. on the business day immediately preceding the day of the hearing for weekday hearings, or at 4:30 p.m. on the Thursday preceding a Saturday public hearing.

By phone - Call the School Board office at 571-423-1075 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 

In Person - Five public hearing speaker slots are reserved for individuals, who have not registered in advance, to address the Board after registered speakers. Unregistered individuals may also use "no show" speaker slots to address the Board.