Category: Education (K-12)
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Coming Soon to a 2nd Grade Classroom Near You – Critical Whiteness
by James C. Sherlock Marx believed the economic system determines the nature of social, political, and intellectual life. The University of Virginia (Main Campus) School of Education and Human Development has established itself as a leader in Marxist thought in education. This author thinks that Virginians will learn from that school’s “Critical Whiteness Study…
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Classrooms or Campaigns?
Virginia legislators have passed three bills this year to dilute and politicize history and civics instruction in public schools, accelerating the undeniable trend of indoctrination in the state’s public schools. by Stephanie Lundquist-AroraPublished originally in IWFeatures Last week, a Fairfax County mother said her twin 14-year-old sons were each encouraged by two public school civics teachers to urge their…
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What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Read the City Journal article here.
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Thirteen Brave Girls Came Forward…
and Fairfax County Public Schools filed zero Title IX complaints by Stephanie Lundquist-AroraOriginally published in IWFeatures This year, 13 brave girls at Fairfax High School stepped forward to tell administrators that Israel Flores Ortiz, an adult illegal immigrant from El Salvador who was enrolled as a junior at the school, sexually assaulted them during school…
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Classroom Consequences of the “Equity” Calendar
Due to expanded religious/cultural holidays, Fairfax County Public Schools classrooms are open for full five-day weeks only half the time. Minorities and the poor pay the price. by Stephanie Lundquist-AroraOriginally published in iWFeatures In January 2022, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) adopted a calendar containing fewer five-day school weeks and more early release days with…
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Accountability Is the Broccoli of Education Reform. States Must Eat More of It.
by Jeb Bush, The 74 Publisher’s note by Todd Truitt Virginia’s recent overhaul of its school accountability system and upcoming overhaul of its assessment system offers a timely case study for the argument advanced in Jeb Bush’s OpEd below. His arguments on the importance of accountability and assessment largely mirror those made by the leading educational…
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Fairfax Schools’ Stonewalling of Title IX Data Invites Mistrust
by Stephanie Lundquist-AroraRepublished with permission from IWFeatures Last month, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it is investigating Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to determine whether the district discriminated on the basis of sex by failing to respond to multiple reports that Israel Flores Ortiz, an 18-year-old illegal immigrant enrolled as a junior at Fairfax…
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FCPS Legal Spending Soars
Fairfax County Schools’ legal bills: $12 million and counting by Stephanie Lundquist-Arora On March 23, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Michelle Reid announced that she is enlisting the services of yet another law firm, McGuireWoods, to “investigate” the district’s latest scandal — allegations that an 18-year-old illegal immigrant fondled the genitals of several female students in Fairfax High…
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When Schools Overreach
by Stephanie Lundquist-Arora As Virginia’s public schools fail at their core mission—educating children—state legislators are expanding their role in ways that encroach on parental rights. Debra Gardner, a former social worker who was first elected to Virginia’s House of Delegates in 2023, introduced HB 355 in January. Beginning in the 2028–2029 school year, the bill would require Virginia’s public…
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Spanberger Signs Tighter School Cellphone Ban Into Law
by Todd Truitt Virginia’s move toward cellphone-free schools has now become a bipartisan through-line across two administrations. Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger yesterday signed Senator Stella Pekarsky’s (D-Fairfax County) follow-up school cell phone legislation, which had unanimously passed the Senate and overwhelmingly passed the House of Delegates. The law tightens the existing ban by replacing the…
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A Troubling Gap in School Transparency
by Stephanie Lundquist-AroraRepublished with permission from IWFeatures Last week, Fairfax County police confirmed that a public school student reported she was physically attacked at Centreville High School on March 4. Inside sources have told IW Features that the incident occurred during instructional hours and that the alleged assailant is a black male student. One source described…
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Youngkin-led VDOE Backed Limits on Undocumented Students’ Program Access
Trump pressured states to limit undocumented high school students’ access to career education programs By Matt Barnum and Lily Altavena, Chalkbeat This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters At least three states have taken steps to restrict undocumented high school students’ access to dual enrollment and career-technical education programs, according…
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Bipartisan Praise Greets New Superintendent at Board of Ed
by Todd Truitt The Virginia Board of Education convened this week for its first meeting under the new administration of Governor Abigail Spanberger. The meeting represented a milestone for State Superintendent Jenna Conway, who presided over the Board for the first time in her new role. Rather than a reset, her first Board meeting as…
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Fairfax’s No-Accountability School Zone
by Stephanie Lundquist-AroraRepublished with permission from IWFeatures Fairfax County Public Schools manages a $4 billion budget, but lacks a thorough audit mechanism. Skepticism has grown as spending has increased while student enrollment has declined. Adding to these concerns, critics point to the school board’s decision to appoint Kyle McDaniel—who has faced embezzlement allegations and remains involved…