A Virginia school district is under fire once again for its ‘equality’ programs – this time for offering college preparation classes only to black and Hispanic students.
Fairfax County Public Schools has since the beginning of this year been under investigation by the state Attorney General for withholding merit awards from students at Thomas Jefferson High School.
TJs, as locals call it, is the United States’ top-performing public school, and woke teachers there claimed they’d held back the awards to boost ‘equity.’
And now, another school in the district – Cooper Middle School in McLean, Virginia – sent a letter to parents which critics said was also discriminatory.
On February 21, parents of eighth grade students were asked whether their children were considering college, and could benefit from college preparation classes.
The lessons were only available, however, to black or Hispanic students, as well as those with disabilities, language barriers, economic disadvantages or those who were the first in their family to apply.
Lisa Barrow is the princpial of Cooper Middle School, which has come under fire over a new program offering college prep to students – except those who are white or Asian.
Journalist Asra Nomani, who obtained the letter, tweeted: ‘In the 20th century, Asian Exclusion Act denied Asians equal opportunities.
‘Now @FCPSNews promotes a college prep program with race-based admissions, excluding Asians + whites.
Asra Nomani first revealed the letter to parents
‘A judge already ruled FCPS violated US Constitution in new anti-Asian admissions.’
Nomani noted that the benefits of the program were substantial: those attending were given academic counseling, access to colleges to experience their teaching, and advice on ‘completing college and scholarship applications.’
One father, Glenn Miller, an attorney, told Fairfax Times the scheme was problematic.
‘This program excludes children based on race, and it seems to be in direct violation of the school district’s own anti-discrimination policy,’ he said.
There are 17,760 black students in Fairfax County Public Schools, representing 10 percent of the total student body.
Hispanic students make up 28 percent, with 51,048 people.
The school district’s anti-discrimination policy states: ‘No applicant or employee on the basis of, of race, sex, color, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, pregnancy status, childbirth or related medical conditions, marital status, veteran status, and disability shall be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under, any education program or activity, as required by law.’
The school has refused to comment. Thomas Jefferson was forced into a humiliating apology over its withholding of merit awards, which angry parents said could have been used to boost their children’s college applications.
Virginia’s GOP Governor Glenn Youngkin was sufficiently outraged by the incident to launch a formal probe by state lawyers.
Criminal charges against the school could follow.
Youngkin swept to a surprise victory in the liberal-leaning state in 2021 largely on the back of his opposition to woke policies such as those on display at Fairfax County schools.
Democrat rival Terry McAuliffe is widely believed to have destroyed his campaign after telling parents they had no place interfering in what was going on in schools.
Another Virginia school board, Loudon County, sparked national outrage with its transgender bathroom policies after a boy in a skirt molested two girls in bathrooms at two separate high schools.
‘Equity’ is the current woke buzzword, and means seeking equal outcomes for all students, rather than just offering them equal opportunities.
Proponents say it takes into account disadvantages some children have, a disproportionate number of whom are black and Hispanic.
Critics say achieving equity rarely lifts those children up, and instead seeks to lower standards overall, to give the artificial impression of improved outcomes.