The enrollment process for the Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education (FACE) is structured into two main pathways: In-School Residencies and Community Workshops/Camps. For our in-school residencies, which are integrated directly into academic classrooms, enrollment is managed by the partner school administration; generally, the entire class participates, and there is no separate registration fee for parents, as these programs are funded by FACE grants or specific school budgets. For our public-facing programs, such as summer camps, specialized weekend workshops, or the High School Creative Leadership Track, enrollment is handled directly through our website’s registration portal, which opens seasonally (typically in February for Summer, August for Fall, and November for Winter/Spring). We strongly advise families to register promptly once the window opens, as these specialized programs often have strict capacity limits to maintain a high-quality, low student-to-artist ratio. You must complete a comprehensive online form to ensure we have all necessary emergency contact, medical, and demographic information, and a confirmation email is always sent upon successful registration and payment, placing your child securely within the program roster.

Student safety and well-being are the paramount priority for the Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education, and our protocols are designed to meet or exceed those mandated by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). All FACE teaching artists, staff, and core volunteers undergo mandatory, rigorous background checks, including state and federal clearances and fingerprinting, before ever interacting with students. Furthermore, we maintain strict student-to-adult ratios for all hands-on workshops and field trips to ensure adequate supervision and personalized attention, with specific ratios published for each program type. Material safety is also critical: we exclusively use non-toxic, age-appropriate art supplies, and our artists are trained in responsible handling and storage of all tools. In the event of an emergency, our resident artists are trained to follow the specific emergency procedures of the partner facility (e.g., school fire drills, lockdown procedures), and all staff carry readily accessible emergency contact information, ensuring rapid, professional response to any unforeseen situation, allowing parents full peace of mind.

Our arts-integrated curriculum is not merely extracurricular; it is a pedagogically rigorous tool explicitly designed to support and deepen student understanding of core academic subjects as defined by the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs). Our Lead Program Evaluator works collaboratively with FCPS curriculum specialists to co-design every residency module, ensuring that the artistic outcomes directly require the application of a specific academic standard. For example, a theater residency focused on character development might be mapped to a 7th-grade English SOL requiring students to analyze narrative perspective and motivation, using dramatic techniques as the vehicle for that analysis. The curriculum includes clear learning objectives that are measurable in both artistic skill development (e.g., demonstrating composition techniques) and academic mastery (e.g., explaining a historical concept). We provide partner teachers with pre- and post-assessment tools to collect data, which repeatedly demonstrates the efficacy of arts integration in improving student engagement and boosting retention of complex subject matter, validating the academic value of our programs.

The policy regarding meals and snacks varies depending on the type and duration of the FACE program. For in-school artist residencies, which typically take place during class time, students follow the partner school’s standard meal schedule, and FACE does not provide food. However, for full-day Summer Camps or extended weekend workshops, we implement a strict safety policy for snacks and lunch. While we do not provide full catered meals, we provide pre-packaged, safe snacks (e.g., certified nut-free) and encourage all families to send clearly labeled, nut-free lunches to protect children with severe allergies, which are common in the community. Mandatory communication of all dietary restrictions, allergies, or necessary medical accommodations must be provided on the registration form, and we require parents to speak directly with the Program Coordinator prior to the start of the program so that our staff can implement individualized protection plans, including designated eating spaces and clear communication among all supervising teaching artists.

Our programming schedules are varied to maximize accessibility and impact across the community. In-School Artist Residencies typically run for a sustained period, often between six to twelve consecutive weeks, with the teaching artist meeting with the same cohort of students once or twice per week during the standard school day hours, as determined by the partner school’s instructional calendar. This ensures deep, sustained engagement rather than a one-off experience. Conversely, our Public Workshops and Community Camps are scheduled to accommodate working families and school breaks. Workshops are often held in the late afternoon or on Saturday mornings at local community centers, while camps are scheduled during summer, winter, and spring breaks, offering intensive, full-day creative immersion. All schedules are clearly posted on the website’s Program Calendar, and enrolled families receive a detailed weekly schedule via email prior to the program start, alongside immediate email notifications in the rare event of a necessary schedule change or weather-related cancellation.

The Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education believes that sustained family involvement significantly amplifies the impact of arts-integrated learning, and we actively cultivate multiple avenues for parents and guardians to participate in and celebrate our work. Firstly, we host accessible, hands-on Family Workshops throughout the year, designed to empower parents with simple techniques for fostering creativity and academic support within the home environment, bridging the gap between school and family life. Secondly, every program concludes with a public-facing component, such as a Student Exhibition, Performance Showcase, or Open Studio Day, for which parent attendance is highly encouraged as a means of validating the child’s creative effort and building their sense of accomplishment. Finally, we invite parents with relevant professional skills (e.g., photography, event planning, communications) to apply for our Volunteer Leadership Roles or serve on our Parent Advisory Committee, allowing families to directly contribute to the strategic and logistical success of the organization, making them true partners in our educational mission.