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Fairfax County could replace its School Age Child Care program with the newer Beyond the Bell model by the 2029-30 school year, potentially opening more spaces for families while increasing the maximum number of children assigned to each staff member.
County staff presented the proposed four-phase transition to the Board of Supervisors’ Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday, June 16. The next phase would bring Beyond the Bell to 21 additional schools this fall.
The Department of Neighborhood and Community Services launched the pilot at 20 elementary schools in October to address persistent child care waiting lists. As of April 30, participating sites had reduced those lists and increased capacity compared with Sept. 30, 2025.
Beyond the Bell operates as a license-exempt local government program. It permits a maximum staff-to-student ratio of 1:22, compared with 1:18 under the Virginia Department of Education standards governing SACC. The model also relaxes some staff-experience requirements.
Neighborhood and Community Services Director Lloyd Tucker recommended expanding the pilot into a countywide program over four phases. He said site selection would continue to account for demand and community needs while also considering upcoming school boundary changes and capital projects.
The original 20 sites were selected using SACC waiting lists, Title I status, the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price meals, and the county’s vulnerability index.
Expansion would bring higher costs for snacks, educational activities, health and safety supplies, staff training and general operations. The county would also need to convert 18 existing positions into merit jobs that include paid leave, health care and other benefits.
Staff expects the additional revenue generated by newly available child care slots to offset those expenses, making the expanded program cost-neutral.
Tucker said officials plan to seek approval for the necessary resources during the fiscal 2026 carryover review. Recruitment would begin immediately so the positions could be in place for the 2026-27 school year, unless the Board of Supervisors directs otherwise.
Parents question staffing levels and oversight
Supervisors responded favorably to the pilot’s results but acknowledged concerns from parents about whether larger groups could affect safety and care quality.
Board Chairman Jeff McKay said the description “license exempt” may lead families to assume Beyond the Bell offers an inferior level of care. He called for clearer communication about the differences between the two programs and the trade-offs involved, saying parents need assurance that Beyond the Bell remains a high-quality option.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn praised the pilot’s progress in reducing waiting lists but asked who outside Neighborhood and Community Services would verify that program standards are being followed.
Alcorn said he did not want the department to be solely responsible for policing its own compliance. Popularity alone, he noted, does not guarantee that a program is consistently meeting state standards.
Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith said supervisors had received numerous messages from parents worried about sending children to an unlicensed program and about the number of children participating. She said the county’s explanation of the program’s quality did not reach the community effectively when the pilot began.
During the pilot year, Beyond the Bell operated at Annandale Terrace, Bailey’s, Braddock, Brookfield, Flint Hill, Hybla Valley, Lake Anne, Lorton Station, Mosaic, Mount Eagle, Mount Vernon Woods, Oak View, Orange Hunt, Pine Spring, Providence, Spring Hill, Timber Lane, Vienna, Westlawn and Wolftrap elementary schools.