About Us

Vision

A benchmark public school system where all students excel.

Mission

Advocate for educational opportunities, accountability, and fiscal responsibility.

Goals

Educational Opportunities
Students are provided with the curricula, programs, faculty, and physical environment that maximize intellectual development, are responsive to academic choices, and prepare students for post-secondary education or vocational opportunities.

Accountability
The School Board and FCPS administrative staff use processes and make decisions in ways that are:

Open and transparent
Provide meaningful opportunities for individual and community involvement
Consistent with federal and state law and with FCPS policy and regulation

Fiscal Responsibility
Financial resources are prioritized to maximize educational opportunities.

Approach

Provide a Forum to Identify and Discuss Issues and Concerns.
We are a coalition of citizens and community groups that have a stake in our public schools. We seek to provide a forum where the community can come together to identify and discuss issues and concerns affecting our schools and collaborate on ideas and solutions to further expand educational opportunities and improve the quality of Fairfax County public schools.

Serve as an Independent Source of Information.
We recognize that the decisions and policies that affect our schools must be based on a broad and reliable pool of information, expertise, and experience. Our communities include individuals with a remarkable array of experience, expertise, and knowledge and we seek to tap those resources by offering a platform for the community to share and discuss information and ideas.

Facilitate Communication with County Leaders and the Public.
In order to improve accountability, citizens and community groups must be able to communicate effectively with our leaders and with the public. We seek to provide forums and opportunities to communicate and establish dialogue with our elected leaders, school officials, and interested citizens.

History

FairfaxCAPS was formed in 2008 by a group of community organizations that united in the midst of a tumultuous boundary adjustment. These organizations sought to support the school system. However, they became frustrated by a process that seemed designed to divide parents and communities and dilute their ability to effectively communicate their concerns and views to elected school officials.

In forming FairfaxCAPS, community leaders sought to establish a platform where citizens and groups could come together to identify common concerns and to share and discuss information about our schools in a collaborative manner. By utilizing the resources and talents of those in our community to examine educational issues, FairfaxCAPS provides an effective voice for parents and other community members to advocate for educational opportunities, accountability, and fiscal responsibility in the Fairfax County Public Schools. We welcome all in the community to join us in advancing the cause of educational excellence for all of the children of Fairfax County.

Accomplishments

Organized and sponsored a one-of-a-kind, education-focused debate between candidates for Chairman of Board of Supervisors.
Organized and held community meetings on pupil placement and worked with school officials to clarify pupil placement policies, and assisted parents with their pupil placement questions.
Provided information on IB and AP programs in Fairfax County schools to our local elected officials and to the community at large.
Provided information on Gatehouse II and arranged meetings with elected officials to review and discuss the Gatehouse II business case and associated budget issues.
Collaborated with FAIRGRADE, SLEEP, Fairfax County Fairness in School Sports and other parent-led, school-related groups to identify, discuss and communicate issues and concerns to our local elected officials and to the community at large.
Provided support to parents in connection with the Coppermine and Western County boundary adjustments.
Collaborated with our sister organization, The Parents Coalition of Montgomery County on a number of area-wide school issues.
Attended school board meetings and reported findings to members and to the community at large.

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