For the 2025 – 26 Fairfax County Public School year, Neighborhood and Community Services will pilot Beyond the Bell – a license-exempt program redesign at 20 School Age Child Care (SACC) locations; the pilot will begin in October 2025. Similar to programs in other local jurisdictions, this local government Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) licensure-exemption model will reduce our waitlists at all 20 pilot sites while maintaining our commitment to best practices and superior standards in child care.
NCS announced the pilot program to families at the 20 selected sites on Aug. 4, 2025. Initial outreach efforts - including virtual and in-person engagement sessions - have been focused on families currently enrolled or waitlisted at those schools to ensure they receive the support and information they need ahead of the October 1 Beyond the Bell pilot program launch. As the pilot progresses, NCS will also engage non-pilot site families and other SACC stakeholders to share updates and provide opportunities for them to ask questions and offer input as the program is evaluated. No decisions have been made about expanding Beyond the Bell; the pilot will provide valuable information to guide any future considerations.
Beyond the Bell Frequently Asked Questions, Updated 8/25/25 (please note these FAQ are focused on pilot-site families, but offer additional program details for the SACC community): English | Spanish