The 2016 General Assembly session is over but the action is heating up locally in Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria!
The localities have the task of implementing state policy and applying state investments, while juggling competing priorities to determine local investment in early care and education for Fiscal Year 2017.
Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria have a history of leadership for school readiness services and now is the time to grow. Let’s take action together!
Action Roundup
Voices for Virginia’s Children collaborated with advocates in the City of Alexandria to testify at the City Council budget hearing on March 14 (see more below). The path to quality also includes a strong foundation in child care licensing. This can get complicated and the details matter when a locality works to aim higher than a state’s minimums. Arlington’s challenges with this prompted Voices to weigh in and urge them to pause while the state implemented its changes required by federal law. Next up: action in Fairfax.
Are you a school readiness advocate in Fairfax, Arlington or Northern Virginia? Sign up for alerts from Voices for Virginia’s Children!
Fairfax Action Resources
Sign-on letter on the Fairfax County Budget – organizations and program providers, please make your voice heard in the Fairfax County budget debate by signing on to this letter! To add your organization name, please email Mary Beth, our Northern Virginia Policy Consultant, at marybeth@mbstsolutions.com by April 6! The letter will be delivered to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Fairfax County budget proposal
Fairfax County budget calendar
Preschool in Fairfax: Start with the Children, Go Where They Are
Alexandria Action Resources
Voices for Virginia’s Children testimony to the City Council March 14, 2016 – Voices for Virginia’s Children and colleagues at Campagna Center, Child and Family Network Centers, Hopkins House, ALIVE! Child Development Center and the Northern Virginia AEYC urged the Alexandria City Council to invest in VPI and child care access and quality, and to engage in thoughtful problem-solving to serve at-risk children in community-based programs and school-based programs.
City of Alexandria budget proposal
City of Alexandria budget calendar
Preschool in Alexandria: A Committed Relationship Takes Work
Projected VPI Slots for City of Alexandria
Arlington Action Resources
Arlington County budget proposal
News You Can Use
“Alexandria Could Raise Tax Rate by Up to Three Cents” Washington Post March 17, 2016
“Alexandria Proposes Small Tax Increase to Fund Schools and Raises” Washington Post February 23, 2016
“Fairfax County Executive Proposes 4-cent Increase to Meet Rising Needs” Washington Post February 16, 2016
“Arlington Proposes Half-cent Cut in Property Taxes” Washington Post February 18, 2016
“Starting Early and Working Together Works! Celebrating Progress from 2016 GA Session” Voices for Virginia’s Children blog, March 14, 2016
Governor McAuliffe’s Budget Proposal for ECE Voices for Virginia’s Children blog, December 17, 2015
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