Happy Friday CCPS! It’s hard to believe that this is the last Friday of summer and we begin classes this Monday and Tuesday. Make sure to get plenty of rest, double check your supplies and get ready for a brand-new school year starting next week!
Here’s what’s happening in your Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Read this newsletter on our website and see all news from Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Important Dates
Aug. 24: First day of school for grades 1-5, 6 and 9
Aug. 25: First day of school for grades 7-8 and 10-12
Sept. 1: Holiday, schools and offices closed
Sept. 7: Holiday, schools and offices closed
Chromebook use for elementary students
Doing what is right for students is always the goal of Chesterfield County Public Schools.
In recent months, division and school leaders have reviewed Chromebook use in elementary schools, weighed data and educational practices, and considered feedback from parents. With the start of the 2026-27 school year, students will follow these procedures:
Students in grades K-2 will not take their Chromebooks home. We will transition to a “day use” model for our youngest students, where Chromebooks will remain in schools and used to meet classroom instructional needs.
Students in grades 3-5 may sometimes take their Chromebooks home, at each principal’s discretion based on instructional needs and academic enrichment opportunities.
This shift is rooted in our commitment to ongoing evaluation and reflection of the instructional program and role of technology and in providing a developmentally appropriate learning environment. By keeping devices in the classroom, we aim to:
Prioritize Developmental Needs: We believe young learners benefit most from hands-on, tactile, and collaborative experiences. We are prioritizing classroom time on these foundational methods, ensuring that technology supports and improves instruction rather than being the primary mode of instruction.
Support Balanced Digital Habits: By limiting device use to the school day, we encourage a healthy "digital sunset," protecting time for play, physical activity, and family interaction at home.
Targeted, Intentional Integration: We are implementing a model of highly selective, purposeful use of technology. Chromebooks will be used only when they provide unique, evidence-based learning benefits, ensuring that screen time is balanced and meaningful.
Maintain Operational Focus: Keeping devices at school ensures they remain fully functional, charged, and readily available for specific, intentional classroom lessons, while allowing us to prioritize resources for non-digital instructional materials.
New Instructional Resources: This shift aligns with our significant investments in new core literacy and math curricular resources that are designed for high-quality instruction without requiring technology.
Schools will continue to provide Chromebooks for students in grades K-5 to use during the school day as purposeful learning tools, supervised by their teachers. We are committed to reducing overall screen time for students by ensuring Chromebook use is selective and intentional, as a targeted support tool to enhance the learning experience rather than a primary method of instruction. Additionally, Chromebook access should not be used to manage non-instructional time while at school.
Families and schools both want the best possible instruction for our young people. That always includes hands-on, tactile, and collaborative experiences led by remarkable educators. Technology is meant to support and improve lessons rather than be the primary mode of instruction. Chromebooks are to be used when they provide unique, evidence-based learning benefits, ensuring that screen time is balanced and meaningful.
Chesterfield County Public Schools will continue, over the next two months, to consider and refine intentional technology use to ensure that classrooms feature engaging lessons designed to help every student achieve their highest potential.
Thank you for your partnership and for your dedication to doing what is right for students.
Text Y to 67587 to opt in to messages from CCPS
On Aug. 14, SchoolMessenger (our new messaging platform) sent opt-in invitations to mobile numbers that were not already registered to receive text alerts. Because the school division previously used SchoolMessenger, some families and employees are still registered and therefore did not receive a new invitation.
To make you are opted in, staff members and families should text Y to 67587. This may be done, whether or not you are already registered, to ensure that you are opted in. SchoolMessenger will reply with a message confirming your registration. Here are instructions and additional information.
This weekend: Check (or double check!) your student's bus route information for 2026-27
Bus route information is available via the Versatrans e-Link platform. It is important to check your student’s bus route before school begins. Even if you checked it earlier this week, it is important to check again as routes are being updated throughout the weekend as changes are entered into the system. We want to be sure you have the latest information.
Bus stops are assigned according to the address that is listed for your student in the school system’s student database. To check or make changes to transportation arrangements, contact your school’s registrar or log into ParentVUE where you can view or update this information. Any change to student transportation arrangements should be made as soon as possible.
Please note: Once updates are entered into ParentVUE, it takes 3-4 days for schools to process this information. After the information is processed, transportation changes will appear on the Versatrans e-Link platform.
Communicating with the transportation team
Web-based communication form: The Transportation Department may be contacted through a web-based communication form that will help to quickly direct your question or concern to the appropriate team member.
Convenience fee for online SchoolCafé payments
Beginning this school year, credit card payments made through the SchoolCafé mobile application will include the SchoolCafé processing fee of 3.99% + $0.25. For example, the fee for a $20 payment would be $1.05, bringing the total charge to $21.05. The amount will be displayed in SchoolCafé before an online payment is completed.
We understand that any additional fee can be an inconvenience. Families may avoid the fee by paying with cash at the cafeteria register or depositing cash or a check into their student’s meal account through the school cafeteria at no charge.
Diabetes Types I and II informational resource
In accordance with HB 1301 (SB 122), VDOE and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) collaborated to develop Diabetes Information for Parents, an informational one-page resource for parents and guardians about Diabetes Mellitus Types I and II. This document outlines common signs and symptoms of diabetes and includes links to evidence-based resources to help families stay informed about this chronic condition.
Families are strongly encouraged to maintain regular well-child checkups with their child’s health care provider and consult with them about any health concerns. School divisions are required to make this resource available to the parent of each student enrolled in the school division at the beginning of each school year. VDH has also posted the infographic on their Prediabetes and Diabetes web page.
Fentanyl education and awareness information
Virginia Code § 22.1-206.01 requires VDOE, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health, to make a fentanyl education and awareness informational one-pager available to each school board and post it on its website. The one-pager is designed to promote awareness of the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl and provide essential information on fentanyl overdose prevention and preparedness for high school-age students. The resource is also required to provide essential information on fentanyl overdose prevention and preparedness among high school-age students. Each public high school or secondary school that includes Grades 9-12 shall annually distribute such fentanyl education and awareness informational one-sheet to those students within the first two weeks of the school year. The Fentanyl Awareness Informational One-Pager is available to download and distribute.
Renovations at CTC@Hull expand opportunities for students
Leaders from Chesterfield County Public Schools and Chesterfield County government gathered on Aug. 21 to cut a ribbon celebrating a $9.5 million renovation of Career and Technical Center @ Hull. The project transformed 42,000 square feet formerly used for central office operations into additional classrooms, specialized labs and support spaces for students.
The expansion supports programs in business; energy; health science; hospitality, tourism and lodging management; information technology; and television and media production.
With the improvements, CTC@Hull can accommodate up to 1,150 students, doubling its previous classroom capacity. The additional space allows the school division to better meet growing demand for career and technical education and connect more Chesterfield students with hands-on learning and pathways to college, careers and the workforce.
Students will begin learning in the newly renovated spaces during the 2026-27 school year.
Registration open for CCPS Night School through Aug. 27, 2026
Night School provides high school students the opportunity to earn credits at no cost in the evening. A wide variety of courses are offered including English 11 and 12, graphic design, driver’s education, ecology, U.S. history and more. Students and families should contact their school counselor to register. Night School classes begin Aug. 31.