Beyond the Bell Pilot Program
Beyond the Bell Pilot Program
On October 1, 2025, Fairfax County's Department of Neighborhood and Community Services launched the Beyond the Bell pilot program at 20 Fairfax County elementary schools that previously offered School Age Child Care (SACC). The pilot schools operate under a local government Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) licensure-exemption while maintaining NCS' commitment to best practices and superior standards in child care. The goal of this pilot is to determine if we can deliver the same high-quality care offered through the SACC program, while expanding access to more families across Fairfax County. It is designed to implement the new model on a smaller scale to evaluate its effectiveness, identify improvements and gather feedback. This will guide conversations about future expansion.
This page provides shares information on Beyond the Bell pilot program design and evaluation. Families seeking program details such as registration information, inclement weather policy and snack menus can visit Beyond the Bell Pilot.
For additional languages, use the TRANSLATION feature at the top of this webpage.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is intended to provide up-to-date information and clarification on key topics. As program details continue to evolve and new questions are submitted, these FAQs will be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect the most current information. Please review the FAQ before submitting additional questions.
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Beyond the Bell Family Info Sessions Presentation
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Previous Information Sessions
August-September 2025 Family Info Sessions
In August-September 2025, pilot site families were invited to attend a series of community family information sessions to learn about the new center, share community needs and provide input on center programs/activities. Information sessions were held on the following dates:
- Aug. 26, 2025 (10:30 -11:30 a.m.) - VIRTUAL
- Sept. 3, 2025 (7 - 8 p.m.) - VIRTUAL
- Sept. 9, 2025 (7 - 8 p.m.) - Jim Scott Community Center, Fairfax
- Sept. 17, 2025 (5:30 - 6:30 p.m.) - VIRTUAL
- Sept. 25, 2025 (7 - 8 p.m.) - James Lee Community Center, Falls Church
Information from the August-September 2025 Pilot Site Family Information Sessions is available at:
- Beyond the Bell Family Info Session Flyer (English) (Español)
- Beyond the Bell Family Info Session Presentation Slides
- Beyond the Bell Family Info Sessions Presentation Recording (delivered by NCS Division Director Chris Scales)
Documents
Beyond the Bell FAQ 082525 English.pdf
Beyond the Bell FAQ 082525 Spanish.pdf
Beyond the Bell FAQ 101025 English.pdf
Beyond the Bell Pilot Program-English.pdf
BTB Engagement Meetings Oct English n Spanish.pdf
Family Info Sessions Presentation Full Page Slides.pdf
Family Info Sessions Presentation Full Page Slides.pdf
Programa Piloto Beyond the Bell-Spanish.pdf
Upcoming Information Sessions
NCS values our partnership with the community in creating safe, supportive and inclusive spaces. We invite current SACC families and community members to attend an upcoming virtual information session to learn more and ask questions about the Beyond the Bell pilot program. Each session will present the same information. The meetings are not recorded but slides will be shared to this page following the meetings.
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