Fairfax School Board unanimously approves new secondary math textbooks

The Fairfax County School Board on July 16 approved the titles recommended by a review committee for secondary mathematics instructional resources, a decision staff said is intended to ensure high‑quality, evidence‑based materials are in classrooms for the 2026–27 school year.

Board presentation materials said the division evaluated multiple publishers and gave priority to hard‑copy texts, alignment with Virginia standards and materials that supported advanced high‑school courses. Dr. Presidio, the division instructional official, told the board the recommended vendors better met the district’s requirement for hard copies and alignment after a pilot process that covered limited Algebra I pilots at a few middle schools.

The decision followed questions from board members about pilot length and whether students in the pilot were disadvantaged. Dr. Presidio said the pilots were short and did not show compelling results, which prompted a broader review of state‑approved vendors. "We piloted a few resources and then opened our review to additional publishers to meet our hard‑copy and user requirements," Dr. Presidio said.

Board members praised the move back to physical textbooks as a way to support classroom instruction and reduce burdens on teachers. Member Frisch urged families to protect and care for the new books; other members urged attention to locker access and storage logistics at high schools so students can safely hold materials.

The motion to approve the committee’s recommended secondary mathematics titles passed unanimously. Staff said final contract negotiations are ongoing and described the purchase as a multimillion‑dollar investment; no final contract amounts were announced at the meeting. The board asked staff to return with logistical and timeline details as contracts are finalized.