Child Care Options Detailed As Alexandria School Year Approaches

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The city and Alexandria City Public Schools have released details of some child care options for the virtual school year format. The city's Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities will offer a full-day program for elementary school children, while ACPS and its child care partners will have up to 350 spots for supervision of vulnerable students.

The city's program for elementary school students will run from Sept. 14 to Dec. 18 at Mount Vernon Recreation Center and Patrick Henry Learning Center. Recreation leaders will provide supervision of the ACPS virtual school day from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and after-school recreation from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is open to students enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grade living in Alexandria. The program will follow federal, state and local health guidelines with limited capacity.

The program is geared toward essential workers who have limited options for childcare. Priority status will be based on essential worker status, financial assistance status and available spaces in classrooms of 10 by grade. Residents can fill out a pre-registration form to verify eligibility. Eligibility forms must be submitted by Sept. 4. All applicants will be contacted on Sept. 8 and 9, and eligible families will complete registration by Sept. 11. Once pre-registration is done, general registration for any remaining capacity will begin on Sept 14.

The program cost is $460, or $228 with free or reduced priced school meals documentation; $190 with SNAP benefits; or $114 with TANF benefits.

As for the ACPS program serving vulnerable students, full-day supervision will be provided at ACPS school site or city Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities facilities. Students attending Title I schools will be chosen for the program using a need-based rubics, examining factors that may classify a student as vulnerable. The free program will provide technology access, food access, and supervision of access to online classes. The Title I schools are John Adams, Ferdinand T. Day, Cora Kelly, James K. Polk, Jefferson-Houston, Patrick Henry and William Ramsay.

"This is a service that is clearly needed for our most vulnerable families and we are grateful to the City and our Virtual PLUS+ partners for their support of this program," said ACPS Superintendent Gregory Hutchings. "The Virtual PLUS+ model relies on collaboration and partnerships to be successful and this is the perfect example of this."

ACPS will also provide after-school enrichment programs at multiple sites through community partners with hands-on activities, social emotional support, and recreational and socialization opportunities. Select community and Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities sites will have after-school programs for middle school students.

Grant funding will cover most of the $1.2 million cost of the program for vulnerable students. City Manager Mark Jinks is expected to recommend the city provide the remaining $288,000 to ACPS.

Aside from these options, ACPS has listed child care options online through various partners. ACPS will begin the school year on Tuesday, Sept. 8.