PSA: Fairfax County Proposed Budget CANCELS Middle School After School Programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please raise hell about this. Honestly, middle school kids are always getting the shaft because it's "only two years" but it's such a tough time. They needs these activities. They need the engagement, the exercise, the supervision. Our kid would be coming home to an empty house. She would be fine. She's a good kid. But can't we provide something for these kids? We live in one of the richest counties in America, FFS. Where are my tax $ going?!?

I'm not in favor of these activities getting cut, but I think kids needing activities is a little over dramatic. Maybe some kids do, but not all do, I get that some kids may need constant supervision, but engagement and exercise do not need to come from activities.

This is a frustrating time. Telework is eliminated for thousands, bullying and harassment of federal workers is the norm, increasing taxes, no respite from inflation. And now this. Forgive us all for being a little "dramatic" about something that affects our kids. I'm glad you think your kid will be ok. You're lucky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should at least keep one sport each season. Like track, (with wheelchair racing built in). Just something that functions as childcare for needy families.

Middle School sports are different than the Middle School After School program. How dense are you guys?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, Fairfax County is NOT proposing to cut all after school programs at middle schools. They're proposing to cut after school programs designed specifically for at-risk youth.

https://www.fcps.edu/activities/middle-school-student-activities

Check your facts. The budget proposal states that this program would be eliminated precisely because schools are offering more alternatives. Jesus, this entire thread is disinformation.

This reduction eliminates the Middle School AfterSchool (MSAS) program at middle schools throughout the County. MSAS program is designed to meet student needs for a safe, supervised learning environment after the regular school day. The program is funded by NCS and administered by the Fairfax County Public Schools. Programming is provided five days week and runs from the end of day school bell until 4:30pm. Late bus transportation is provided by FCPS four days per week. FCPS has been expanding its offering of after-school programs, including clubs, activities and school sports, outside of MSAS program that could offer viable alternatives for teens to participate in structured and safe activities. This reduction also includes eliminating the funding provided for expanded parent liaison hours as well as funding supporting the MentorWorks initiative. FCPS will need to identify resources if they wish to continue the MSAS program or these other initiatives in the current form.

Literally the only after school program that is not part of this is Cross-country and starting this fall, Track & Field. Athletics are new to middle school, but after school clubs and after school club sports will be cut. This includes the basketball that I mentioned earlier, drama, speech, study hall, etc....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should at least keep one sport each season. Like track, (with wheelchair racing built in). Just something that functions as childcare for needy families.

Middle School sports are different than the Middle School After School program. How dense are you guys?

Track is the only middle school sport. Anything else was MSAS. Let's stop calling each other idiots and start talking about how to stop the FFX board of supervisors from cutting MSAS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Fairfax County is NOT proposing to cut all after school programs at middle schools. They're proposing to cut after school programs designed specifically for at-risk youth.

https://www.fcps.edu/activities/middle-school-student-activities

Check your facts. The budget proposal states that this program would be eliminated precisely because schools are offering more alternatives. Jesus, this entire thread is disinformation.

This reduction eliminates the Middle School AfterSchool (MSAS) program at middle schools throughout the County. MSAS program is designed to meet student needs for a safe, supervised learning environment after the regular school day. The program is funded by NCS and administered by the Fairfax County Public Schools. Programming is provided five days week and runs from the end of day school bell until 4:30pm. Late bus transportation is provided by FCPS four days per week. FCPS has been expanding its offering of after-school programs, including clubs, activities and school sports, outside of MSAS program that could offer viable alternatives for teens to participate in structured and safe activities. This reduction also includes eliminating the funding provided for expanded parent liaison hours as well as funding supporting the MentorWorks initiative. FCPS will need to identify resources if they wish to continue the MSAS program or these other initiatives in the current form.

And? That's what this entire thread is about? Elimination of the MSAS. Did you read the thread?

Yes, but the entire thread thinks their UMC kid's cross country is going away, because late buses aren't funded.

No, sweetie, you're the only one that thinks that. The rest of us understand what the middle school after school program is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Fairfax County is NOT proposing to cut all after school programs at middle schools. They're proposing to cut after school programs designed specifically for at-risk youth.

https://www.fcps.edu/activities/middle-school-student-activities

Check your facts. The budget proposal states that this program would be eliminated precisely because schools are offering more alternatives. Jesus, this entire thread is disinformation.

This reduction eliminates the Middle School AfterSchool (MSAS) program at middle schools throughout the County. MSAS program is designed to meet student needs for a safe, supervised learning environment after the regular school day. The program is funded by NCS and administered by the Fairfax County Public Schools. Programming is provided five days week and runs from the end of day school bell until 4:30pm. Late bus transportation is provided by FCPS four days per week. FCPS has been expanding its offering of after-school programs, including clubs, activities and school sports, outside of MSAS program that could offer viable alternatives for teens to participate in structured and safe activities. This reduction also includes eliminating the funding provided for expanded parent liaison hours as well as funding supporting the MentorWorks initiative. FCPS will need to identify resources if they wish to continue the MSAS program or these other initiatives in the current form.

Literally the only after school program that is not part of this is Cross-country and starting this fall, Track & Field. Athletics are new to middle school, but after school clubs and after school club sports will be cut. This includes the basketball that I mentioned earlier, drama, speech, study hall, etc....

+1 Shout this from the roof tops. This is a big deal, and big part of our middle schoolers lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should at least keep one sport each season. Like track, (with wheelchair racing built in). Just something that functions as childcare for needy families.

Middle School sports are different than the Middle School After School program. How dense are you guys?

Track is the only middle school sport. Anything else was MSAS. Let's stop calling each other idiots and start talking about how to stop the FFX board of supervisors from cutting MSAS.

Why are you arguing with me? Cross country and track are middle school athletics, they are new (started either last year or the year before) and are separate from the Middle School After School program. Late busses were created with the MSAS in mind, not athletics (because, see above, athletics are new).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should at least keep one sport each season. Like track, (with wheelchair racing built in). Just something that functions as childcare for needy families.

Middle School sports are different than the Middle School After School program. How dense are you guys?

Track is the only middle school sport. Anything else was MSAS. Let's stop calling each other idiots and start talking about how to stop the FFX board of supervisors from cutting MSAS.

Why are you arguing with me? Cross country and track are middle school athletics, they are new (started either last year or the year before) and are separate from the Middle School After School program. Late busses were created with the MSAS in mind, not athletics (because, see above, athletics are new).

You are muddying the water by bringing up middle school sports. We all understand that sports are separate because we aren't idiots. We are talking about MSAS. It's being cut in full by the BOS. Let's stay on track.

[Anonymous]

Can someone point to the source of this info? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Why, why does FCPS continually cut anything that directly impacts the students?

Cut all the useless, wide reaching studies and surveys. Cut the Gatehouse bloat and millions spent on lawyers and independent investigations (looking at hayfield sports debacle).

Please leave the programs that directly touch and help students and teachers - the whole mission FCPS.

[Anonymous]

I think people are confused. NCS, which runs SACC, has basically a teen version of SACC at some sites. That’s what’s being proposed to be cut because the middle school clubs/sports serves that purpose.

This is the program being referenced: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/afterschool-programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why, why does FCPS continually cut anything that directly impacts the students?

Cut all the useless, wide reaching studies and surveys. Cut the Gatehouse bloat and millions spent on lawyers and independent investigations (looking at hayfield sports debacle).

Please leave the programs that directly touch and help students and teachers - the whole mission FCPS.

This isn't FCPS. This is Fairfax County BOS, trying to cut programs they pay for operated by FCPS. I'm not sure why FCPS didn't pay for it themselves, because it's a weird circle where FCPS gets their budget from the BOS anyway, but I am guessing the county as a whole decided it was beneficial to keep middle schoolers supervised until 4:30 so they aren't getting home until 5 when adults are on the way home anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think people are confused. NCS, which runs SACC, has basically a teen version of SACC at some sites. That’s what’s being proposed to be cut because the middle school clubs/sports serves that purpose.

This is the program being referenced: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/afterschool-programs

No one is confused here. The link you referenced points to MSAS which is being cut in its entirety. The FC budget includes it in reductions under NCS (neighborhood and community services). This program is the entirety of middle school school clubs. There is one sport - track/cross country - that is not included in MSAS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people are confused. NCS, which runs SACC, has basically a teen version of SACC at some sites. That’s what’s being proposed to be cut because the middle school clubs/sports serves that purpose.

This is the program being referenced: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/afterschool-programs

No one is confused here. The link you referenced points to MSAS which is being cut in its entirety. The FC budget includes it in reductions under NCS (neighborhood and community services). This program is the entirety of middle school school clubs. There is one sport - track/cross country - that is not included in MSAS.

This is the budget cuts link. Middle school under agency.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/budget/sites/budget/files/Assets/Documents/fy2026/advertised/overview/Reduction%20Package.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone point to the source of this info? Thank you.

The reduction is outlined here in the FC FY26 proposed budget.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/budget/sites/budget/files/Assets/documents/fy2026/advertised/volume1/79.pdf

These are the programs that are being cut.

https://www.fcps.edu/activities/middle-school-student-activities

This is ALL after school programs with the exception of FCPS provided track/cross country.