School Services Agreementin progress
Status set at the Joint COF/FCPS School Board Meeting on Dec 16, 2025
The School Services Agreement (SSA) is a long-standing contract between the City of Fairfax Schools (COF) and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) that governs the educational partnership under which FCPS operates and staffs the city's four schools and academy — Daniels Run, Providence, Catherine Johnson, and Fairfax High School.
The SSA was originally established in 1962, revised in 1978, and has remained in place since. It is a primary cost driver of the City of Fairfax Schools budget, as it determines the annual tuition bill paid to FCPS, calculated largely on the basis of Average Daily Membership (ADM) alongside FCPS operating costs, revenue credits, grade-level distribution, classroom rental adjustments, and year-end true-ups. The agreement has been a recurring topic at joint COF/FCPS School Board meetings and budget presentations.
At a December 2025 joint meeting, the two boards held a high-level discussion about a possible board-to-board amendment to update outdated language in the SSA, though no formal request to open the agreement was made. The SSA and its tuition mechanics were also central to Superintendent Wright's proposed FY2027 budget presentation in January 2026 and a detailed budget work session in March 2026, and in September 2026 the FCPS CFO and Executive Budget Director presented the annual tuition bill to the School Board.
Still open
- No formal request to open the SSA for amendment has been made; it remains unresolved whether the boards will pursue a board-to-board amendment to update outdated language in the agreement.
- A board member raised a question (2026-09-14) about whether there are other agreements or contracts between the city and county beyond the SSA that have gone unmodified for 20-plus years — this was flagged as a matter for further research/follow-up via email.
- The final ADM figure (calculated at end of March each year) for the current school year and its precise impact on the tuition bill remain subject to year-end true-up processes.
What members have said
- Chair Pitches
At the December 2025 joint COF/FCPS meeting, Chair Pitches explained the amendment process and timelines involved in a potential board-to-board amendment to the SSA. At the September 2026 meeting, Pitches introduced the FCPS CFO and Executive Budget Director presentation on the annual tuition bill, noting the presentation is part of the SSA process.
- Vice Chair Hickman
At the September 2026 meeting, Vice Chair Hickman asked whether there are any other agreements or contracts — beyond the SSA — that have gone without modification for 20-plus years, flagging it as a question for further research.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
councilcommissionMinutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting, Sep 9, 2024 onward.
History
Filled dots are actions on this topic; open dots are mentions.
- Dec 17, 2024School Board · item 1.07County Presentation
[1.07] FCPS presented background on the School Services Agreement and the relationship between the two boards. [1.08] The City of Fairfax SB presented background on the School Services Agreement as part of its presentation to the joint work session.
- School Services Agreement Discussion
[1.03] Boards discussed the possibility of a board-to-board amendment to update outdated language in the SSA; no formal request to open the agreement was made at this meeting.
- Jan 5, 2026School Board · item 2.03Superintendent's Proposed FY2027 Budget Presentation
[2.03] The School Services Agreement was discussed as part of the FY2027 budget presentation, covering its relationship to tuition billing and ADM.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.