ACPS seeks second extension of police partnership agreement as review continues
Six-month extension would keep current terms in place through June 2026
Alexandria City Public Schools is asking the School Board to approve a second extension of its partnership agreement with the Alexandria Police Department, buying more time for an ongoing review of the arrangement governing school resource officers.
The current Memorandum of Understanding expires Dec. 30, 2025. Staff are recommending a six-month extension through June 30, 2026, which would keep the existing terms in place while the Governance Committee and School Law Enforcement Partnership advisory group complete their review.
The board will vote on the extension on Thursday at its regular meeting.
Second extension this year
This marks the second time in 2025 that staff have sought additional time rather than presenting a revised agreement.
The original MOU took effect July 1, 2023, and was set to expire June 30, 2025. When that deadline approached, staff recommended extending it to December to allow for continued negotiations. The board unanimously approved the first extension on June 12, 2025, following a public comment hearing on May 27.
According to the December board memo from Division Counsel Robert Falconi, the Governance Committee discussed the MOU at its last meeting and determined “additional changes were needed.” Staff say no substantive changes to the current agreement are being made at this time, but the review could result in recommendations for amendments.
What the current agreement says
Virginia law requires school divisions with SROs to establish a memorandum of understanding with local law enforcement. The 23-page ACPS-APD agreement, approved in June 2023, spells out the roles and limits of officers assigned to schools.
The MOU draws a clear line between school discipline and law enforcement. SROs “should not be involved with the enforcement of school rules or disciplinary infractions that are not violations of law,” the agreement states. School administrators and teachers are responsible for discipline, with the document noting that “the vast majority of student misconduct can be best addressed through classroom and in-school strategies.”
When SROs do need to question students about potential criminal activity, the agreement requires parent notification before any interview except in exigent circumstances — such as when delay might result in danger, destruction of evidence, or flight. If a parent requests to be present or asks that questioning not occur on school premises, officers are expected to accommodate.
The agreement also establishes different standards for searches. School administrators may search students based on “reasonable suspicion,” while SROs must meet the higher “probable cause” standard and should obtain a warrant when initial consent is not given.
Physical intervention by SROs is limited to situations involving “imminent danger of serious physical harm to self or others.” School staff are expected to handle the de-escalation of other disruptions.
Accountability measures
The MOU includes several oversight mechanisms. Principals at schools with assigned SROs complete quarterly assessment forms evaluating officers on dependability, professionalism, judgment, and other criteria. School administrators must file a “Law Enforcement Occurrence Report” within 24 hours any time there is official contact between an officer and a student.
ACPS and APD are required to meet quarterly — in August, November, February, and May — to review SRO performance and discuss data. Those reports are shared with the superintendent.
The agreement also requires SROs to complete at least one educational activity per quarter at their assigned school, such as classroom presentations on law-related topics approved by administrators.
What’s next
The board is expected to vote on Thursday. If approved, the extension would mark the second time the agreement has been continued without substantive revision since its 2023 adoption.
Staff noted that the Governance Committee and SLEP advisory group may recommend changes after completing their review, which would then go through a public comment process before any amendments take effect.
See the School Board docket and supporting documents here.