For years, FCPS has spent millions of dollars on resources and opportunities in the hope that its students would take advantage of them, especially as the district was responding to the academic and social challenges resulting from COVID-19-era distance learning. The county has been met, however, with extreme underutilization while creating an increasing financial burden on the district. This issue became so acute that a Washington Post article spotlighted FCPS as a prime example of a bad return of investment (ROI)–the high cost of the resources outweighed the value that students received from them. For example, after FCPS spent nearly $3 million on an online tutoring service, Tutor.com, a 2022 study conducted by FCPS revealed that only 1.6% of students logged on to the website at all. Ultimately, the resource was replaced by VarsityTutors simply because the cost was too high. With the threat of funding cuts and questions about their efficacy looming over, we can’t be certain these resources will be at our disposal forever.
According to a survey of 218 students, only 10% know some of the library resources exist and 25% know about the free therapy, suggesting that low usage rates might be a direct result of inadequate advertising rather than a school-wide lack of necessity. Whether students either don’t know these resources exist or are reluctant to use them, one fact remains: these resources might disappear if we don’t start taking advantage of them now.
Learn about four of these resources that you might be missing out on while they are still here:
VarsityTutors:
VarsityTutors is an online tutoring website with an instant connection to a certified tutor, self-guided study resources, artificial intelligence (AI) practice problem generators, essay feedback/review–by an actual tutor instead of AI–and access to over 150 live classes ranging from Sign Language to SAT Prep. To access VarsityTutors, log into Clever, and it will be visible in one of the homepage application bubbles. For access to more than the free basic membership, students can purchase extra services–like 1-on-1 video-based tutoring and access to more exclusive classes–with a 20% discount.
“[I] didn’t always get the best tutors… but [VarsityTutors] was pretty good,” Annabel Kelly (’26) said. “A chem tutor helped bump up my grade to an A- after straight Cs.”
Hazel Health Initiative:
One of the most unknown resources is the FCPS-funded teletherapy through the Hazel Health platform. Services include behavioral health assessment to identify your needs, short-term evidence-based counseling, treatment planning and access to family resource managers who assist in the transition to long-term providers in the community. It is available in over 15 languages. To access, parents must complete a consent form online and students can request appointments at school or at home with parental support.
“Several students who have used Hazel Health have reported to me that it’s convenient and easy to access,” School Psychologist Dane Charneco said. “It’s a great option for students and families to take advantage of since it can reduce barriers to care.”
Student Bus Pass:
The free student bus pass allows students to access the Fairfax Connector and the City of Fairfax CUE bus from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the year. There are bus stops near the school and all around Vienna, which some students use to get to and from school. Ethan Chichka (’27) has been using the pass since mid-sophomore year to avoid needing to be driven to school every morning.
“I think it’s a very good thing that Fairfax has the money to provide free transportation for students,” Chichka said.
To attain the bus pass, ask the front office for the required form.
Library Resources:
If you’re tired of failing to access a needed article on your school computer due to a lack of a subscription, such as The Washington Post, the school library can help you out. To access an article, visit the Library Madison High School Group on Schoology, select “Library Websites aka Libguides,” then “Databases,” and look up “Proquest.” To access a specific article, simply put the title from the news source into the search box. School librarian Megan McKnight believes that many students are unfamiliar with these resources.
“Students’ natural tendency is to Google information, and they often forget about the library resources available,” McKnight said. “Proquest grants students access behind a paywall while providing translations, read-aloud and even built-in citations to support students in reading articles.”
On another note, have you ever gone to a Fairfax County library but either forgot or do not possess a library card? Don’t worry, if you know your student ID, then you can activate your Library Equity Access Pass (LEAP) account and check out physical materials without incurring any fees.
