2015 brought a whirlwind of activity at the state level for child care safety, the Virginia Preschool Initiative and other issues on our unified agenda.

Work is underway in Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria and we are working with our School Readiness for NoVa colleagues to take action!

Do you have a resource or an event to share? Please contact Emily or Mary Beth! Emily@vakids.org or marybeth@mbstsolutions.com 

Fairfax Action

The County budget was presented to the Board of Supervisors in February. The proposal calls for some big steps forward:

–  A new $741,122 investment in school readiness services, including the match funds for an Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grant, funds to expand the Virginia Star Quality Initiative, and funds to increase access to child care subsidy.

– An additional $1 million to increase the reimbursement rates for child care subsidy (to bring local funding to the same level as the state funding

– An additional $150,000 to open two new school-age child care spaces

And the budget proposal includes a big step backward: the elimination of funds for Healthy Families Fairfax.

Early childhood action will take place at the April 7 budget hearing. Let us know you can be there and stand with School Readiness for NoVa and Voices for Virginia’s Children!  Additional details will follow.

You can take action now by sending a letter to the Board of Supervisors!

Resources: 

Template letter supporting the proposed investments in school readiness and urging the Board to restore funds to Healthy Families Fairfax

Template Letter to Fairfax Board of Supervisors

Contact information for the Supervisors 

Fairfax County Budget calendar 

Fairfax Co. Proposed Budget Summary

Healthy Families Fairfax One Page Flyer 2015

Alexandria Action 

The city budget proposal was presented to the City Council in March. It calls for:

– an investment in the implementation of the Children and Youth Master Plan

– increased funds to Alexandria City Public Schools

– continued funding for early education and school readiness services

– continued funding for the Alexandria Fund for Human Services

You can take action now by sending a letter to the City Council!

Resources:

Voices letter to Alexandria City Council

Hopkins House letter to City Council

Contact information for the City Council members

Alexandria budget calendar

Children and Youth Commission and Master Plan

Alexandria Council of Human Service Organizations

Arlington Action 

Arlington uses all of its state-allocated VPI slots and this year the Arlington Public Schools budget proposal maintains funds for preK in the county. Arlington County operates a child care licensing office but does not invest local dollars in their work; state funds are used to promote quality through training and monitoring of the local standards.

Arlington County budget calendar

Contact information for the County Board

News You Can Use 

Investing in Families Strengthens Our Community Fairfax Times March 16, 2015

GA’s bill to protect children creates new loopholes Richmond Times Dispatch March 8, 2015

Fairfax schools push for more money in tough budget year for the county Washington Post February 27, 2015

County Manager proposes flat tax rate and no new programs in Arlington Washington Post February 19, 2015

Fairfax County facing $179 million budget shortfall in the next two years, officials say Washington Post November 25, 2014

In Fairfax County kindergarten classes, school system’s future comes in to focus Washington Post June 28, 2014

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