This story is part of 91欧美激情鈥檚 2026聽Back to School coverage.
Heading into the new school year, 91欧美激情 sent questionnaires and requested interviews with school leaders across the D.C. region.
Here’s what Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent LaTanya D. McDade said about the opportunities and challenges facing the division as the 2026-27 academic year begins.
What are you most looking forward to during the upcoming 2026-27 academic year?
McDade: I am thrilled to welcome our students, staff, and families back for another exciting school year! As we begin this new chapter together, I look forward to seeing the vision of our new come to life in our classrooms and schools. Together, we will continue our commitment to Learning and Achievement for All, Positive Climate and Culture, Family and Community Engagement, and Organizational Coherence.
This school year marks an exciting chapter for PWCS as we celebrate the opening of our newest school, Woodbridge Elementary School, and welcome students into the new Occoquan Elementary School building. The current Occoquan Elementary School building is the oldest school facility in Prince William County Public Schools, so we are pleased to educate students in a new, state-of-the-art building that is also the division鈥檚 first Net-Zero energy school.
These milestones reflect our commitment to providing innovative, sustainable, and inspiring learning environments that prepare our students for the future. I can’t wait to see all that our students and staff will accomplish this year as we continue to elevate learning, create opportunities, and build bright futures together.
What is the biggest challenge your school district is facing during the upcoming 2026-27 academic year?
McDade: We face many challenges every year, but I would like to point out two for this school year.
One of the biggest challenges facing PWCS is ensuring that every student has the instruction, support, and opportunities they need to succeed, regardless of how expectations evolve. Our focus should always be on helping every child reach their full potential, while making sure families understand their child’s progress and have confidence in our schools.
As expectations continue to rise, including Virginia’s recent decision to increase the Standards of Learning proficiency benchmarks in reading and math, our responsibility is to ensure students are prepared to meet those higher standards. While higher expectations can ultimately benefit students, changes in proficiency benchmarks may temporarily make performance appear lower even when students are continuing to learn and grow.
That means PWCS must stay focused on what matters most: providing high-quality instruction, targeted interventions for students who need additional support, and clear communication with families about what these changes mean. We also need to ensure that students are encouraged 鈥� not discouraged 鈥� as they work toward more rigorous expectations.
Success isn’t simply about meeting a benchmark on a single test; it’s about ensuring every student is making meaningful progress and graduates are ready for college, careers, or military service. If we keep students at the center of every decision, higher standards become an opportunity to strengthen our schools rather than an obstacle.
Second, PWCS faces the threat of cuts to our local funding, which has historically been stable, due to our revenue-sharing agreement with Prince William County. PWCS remains behind regional peers in per-pupil funding despite our increase in resources for FY 27. Additionally, student needs continue to rise based on the changes in the student population.
What impact, if any, do you expect federal funding cuts to have on your school system for the upcoming 2026-27 school year?
McDade: We do not anticipate any significant reductions in federal funding for the upcoming school year. It’s also important to note that federal funding accounts for 4.5% of our budget. Most the division’s funding comes from the state of Virginia and Prince William County.
What role will technology, including AI, play in learning for your teachers and students during the 2026-27 school year?
McDade: PWCS is committed to preparing students and staff for success in a rapidly evolving world where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly important part of education and the workforce. The division has already taken significant steps to support the responsible and ethical use of AI by providing guidance, professional learning, and access to approved AI tools.
Today, Enterprise Secure Microsoft Copilot, is available to staff and high school students within permitted use cases. While ChatGPT for Teachers is available to staff to enhance instruction, productivity, and innovation in safe and appropriate ways.
As outlined in the , PWCS will continue building on this foundation. By 2027, PWCS will ensure students have a foundational understanding of emerging technologies, including AI, and their ethical use. We will continue to help them apply this understanding to improve content knowledge, creative expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
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