The Arlington School Board has released its schedule for meetings, work sessions, and advisory council and committee gatherings for October 2025. The schedule may change, with updates provided in advance on the Arlington Public Schools (APS) website. Those seeking more information can contact the School Board Office at 703-228-6015.
Public comment during School Board meetings will be limited to one hour, with a maximum of 30 speakers per meeting. Each speaker is allotted up to two minutes. Individuals can sign up online ahead of time or in person at the meeting if spots remain available. The online speaker form will be accessible four business days before each meeting and will close at 4 p.m. the day prior. If more than 30 people register online, a lottery system will determine who is selected by the end of business the day before the meeting.
Three of the 30 speaking slots are reserved for APS students who sign up in advance online. All individuals who register to speak will receive notification about their status via email 24 hours before the meeting. If all spots are filled beforehand, there will be no opportunity for in-person sign-ups.
If openings remain, speakers may register in person with the Deputy Clerk or designee between 6:15 p.m. and 6:50 p.m. on the day of the meeting; these slots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis until full capacity is reached.
Eligibility to address the School Board includes residents of Arlington County; current or former APS students; APS employees and retirees; businesses located in Arlington County or APS business partners; as well as parents and guardians of current or former APS students living outside Arlington County.
Individuals wishing to speak may need to provide additional information verifying eligibility, such as proof of residence or employment within Arlington Public Schools. Signing up on behalf of another person is allowed but limited to one spot per individual per meeting.
Speakers are called based on when their forms were received, except that students always have priority regardless of sign-up time. Participants can choose to speak either in person or by using a call-in service. Substitutions are not permitted, nor can speakers yield their time to others.
The guidelines state: “For additional details, review the School Board Guidelines for Public Comment During School Board Meetings and Hearings (adopted July 8, 2025).”
Agendas and background materials are posted one week before each Board Meeting on BoardDocs.
Meetings take place at the Syphax Education Center’s Board Room (2110 Washington Blvd., second floor), generally starting at 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Meetings can be watched live online or via Comcast Channel 70 or Verizon Channel 41.
The next scheduled meetings are:
– Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.; request-to-speak forms open from Oct. 3 at 4 p.m., closing Oct. 8 at 4 p.m.
– Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.; request-to-speak forms open from Oct.17 at 4 p.m., closing Oct.22 at 4 p.m.
For staff briefings and deeper discussion on specific topics, regular work sessions will continue throughout the school year—these sessions do not include public comment but are open for observation both in-person and via livestream replay through the School Board Work Sessions webpage.
The next work session is scheduled for November 18, 2025.
Open Office Hours provide an opportunity for community members to share comments directly with board members twice monthly:
– Monday, Oct.6: Kathleen Clark hosts Open Office Hours from 5:30–7:30 p.m., Suite 260 at Syphax Education Center.
– Tuesday, Oct.21: Mary Kadera hosts Open Office Hours from 5:30–7:30 p.m., McKinley Room at Westover Library (1644 N.McKinley Rd.).
Community involvement continues through various advisory councils and committees appointed by the board to provide input on policy matters affecting school operations.Applications for these groups are now being accepted for one-year terms during this transition period ahead of changes planned for advisory structures beginning in school year 2026–27.
