The Fairfax County Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) is a collaborative community effort involving both public and private providers of preschool services to four-year-old children. The mission of the Virginia Preschool Initiative of Fairfax County is to enhance the care, education, and healthy development of preschool children, and to support the child care community.

With funds received through the Virginia Preschool Initiative, Fairfax County has upgraded and expanded, to the quality standards defined by the state:

• Preschool classrooms operated by the Fairfax County Public Schools Head Start Program, and
• Classrooms in private centers participating in the Fairfax County Department of Family Services Child Care Assistance Program (CCAR).

Children

VPI supports kindergarten success through:

• Educational Assessments
• Health Screenings (Health screenings include dental, vision, and hearing screenings as well as nutrition assessments)
• Follow-up Referral

Families

VPI encourages family involvement in the preschool setting though:

• Sponsorship of center/family activities; and
• Assisting families in obtaining needed social services

Educators

VPI enhances the preschool program by providing:

• Funds for additional classroom supplies;
• Training and professional development; and referrals to other staff development resources
• Peer coaching and mentoring; and
• Funds for substitutes
• Field Trips
  

Eligibility

Age: Children must be 4 years of age by September 30 of the upcoming year.
Income: Family income must meet the eligibility guidelines for the Child Care Assistance Program.

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