News

Emotions ran high at the Herndon Town Council’s May 26 meeting, as children and parents urged their local elected leaders to prevent the impending closure of a critical child care program.

Families were notified on May 19 that the Kids and Parents Engage (KAPE) program run by the nonprofit Cornerstones at its Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center will be shut down at the end of June, because funding will no longer be available.


Countywide

Several Fairfax County supervisors this week signaled an interest in expanding the “Beyond the Bell” child care program following a reportedly successful pilot over the previous school year. 

County staff proposed at the Board of Supervisors’ Health and Human Services Committee meeting on Tuesday (June 16) transitioning all existing School Age Child Care (SACC) sites to Beyond the Bell over the next few years, starting with an additional 21 schools this fall. 


News

A North Springfield child care center owner spoke in support of the new paid family and medical leave program at a ceremonial bill signing with Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) and lawmakers yesterday (Monday).

Starting on Dec. 1, 2028, Virginia’s new paid leave program will allow most workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for significant life events like caring for a new child, recovering from serious illness, military family needs or caring for relative with a serious health condition.


Around Town

A new Pilates studio with infrared heat and on-site childcare is coming to Lorton.

Studio Zo Pilates is aiming to open this summer at 7708 Gunston Plaza. Construction is currently underway to flip the former, 2,000-square-foot employment agency into a fitness studio with space for about 20 to 30 people in infrared-heated group classes, founder Zoya Burgess told FFXnow.


Countywide

Families who need someone to watch their kids before or after school sometimes languish for years on the waitlist for School Age Child Care (SACC) in Fairfax County.

Beyond the Bell, a pilot program launched this fall by the county’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), is testing whether a new model for child care — one that is license-exempt and increases the maximum number of kids — can help solve that problem.