Key Insights for Albemarle County Schools
School is back in session for the 2025-2026 school year in Albemarle County. Here are some of the insights for the Albemarle County public school news for the month of August.
Upcoming ACPS Meetings
September 9, 2025, 6:30 pm
There will be a meeting of the Special Education Advisory Committee at the County Office Building.
September 11, 2025, 6:30 pm
There will be a regular School Board meeting in Lane Auditorium.
September 17, 2025, 6:30 pm
There will be a meeting of the School Health Advisory Board.
Teacher Innovation Grants
In August, non-profit Public Education Foundation of Charlottesville-Albemarle (PEFCA) awarded Teacher Innovation Grants to fifteen projects. These grants will go to K-12 classrooms in Albemarle County Public Schools and Charlottesville City Schools. Funding for each project ranges from a few hundred dollars up to $2,000, and PEFCA estimates that they will impact more than 4,000 students across different classrooms and programs.
See the full list of grant recipients, including their schools and projects.
New Initiatives in Albemarle County Schools
Albemarle County has adopted several new policies that will impact students across the school system.
The Personal Device-Free Education initiative is a division-wide policy that applies to all K-12 students. This policy limits the use of personal communication devices, such as cell phones and smartwatches, during the school day, including during lunchtime and transitions between classes. This policy is intended to “support student well-being and focus” according to an ACPS press release. Students will still be permitted to use school-issued devices when appropriate and can be reached through calls to the front office during the school day.
Schools are also implementing new safety initiatives to improve communication during emergencies, monitor visitor access to schools, and screen for weapons at Albemarle, Monticello, and Western Albemarle high schools. Learn more about these policies.
School Zone Speed Cameras and School Bus Stop Arm Cameras
This school year, Albemarle County is implementing two initiatives to increase traffic safety around schools and school buses.
Beginning on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, new speed enforcement cameras went into operation in the school zone on Rockfish Gap Turnpike (U.S. 250) in Crozet. This zone is adjacent to Western Albemarle High School, Henley Middle School, and Brownsville Elementary School. Automated speed cameras will detect and cite vehicles that travel more than 10 mph over the school zone speed limit.
In a related initiative, select Albemarle County school buses will begin employing stop arm cameras to record when cars illegally pass by a school bus that has its stop arm out and lights flashing. Learn more about the stop arm cameras in a video shared by ACPS.
For more educational topics, resources, and school news, be sure to bookmark CharlottesvilleFamily.com.
Read more school and education stories in the Education section of our site. For even more wonderful learning in our community, read about Charlottesville City Schools, Albemarle County Schools and area Private Schools.