Investigation Into Commended Students Notifications At FCPS Expands

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — The entire Fairfax County Public Schools system is under investigation after two more schools were found to have not sent notifications about an academic honor. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology was already under investigation for the same reason.

As reported by Fairfax Times, principals at Langley High School in McLean and Westfield High School in Chantilly did not notify students about the commended student honor from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in a timely manner.

That news came after Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology came under fire for the commended student notifications coming after key college and scholarship deadlines had passed for students, the Washington Post reported.

Langley High School Principal Kim Greer and Westfield High School Principal Tony DiBari said in letters to families that an internal investigation found their schools' commended students were not notified about the honor.

FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid provided an update to families Monday, noting Westfield and Langley High Schools have now notified impacted families and the school communities about the commended student honor.

"Staff has been contacting colleges where these students have applied to inform them of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation commendations," Reid wrote to families. "We are sincerely sorry for this error."

Reid said FCPS informed the office of Attorney General Jason Miyares about the two other schools that did not notify commended students. Miyares, who was already investigating Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, indicated the investigation would expand to the whole school district.

Miyares will investigate if the withholding of the commended student information violates the Virginia Human Rights Act. The law seeks to protect Virginia residents from "unlawful discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, or disability in places of public accommodation, including educational institutions and in real estate transactions."

"It’s concerning that multiple schools throughout Fairfax County withheld merit awards from students," said Miyares in a statement. "My office will investigate the entire Fairfax County Public Schools system to find out if any students were discriminated against and if their rights were violated."

Reid said FCPS is cooperating with the state on the investigation. A third party review was also started by FCPS to investigate the issue.

Miyares is also investigating Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's new admissions policy. The Fairfax County School Board changed the admissions policy in December 2020 with the intent of removing barriers for underrepresented student groups. But the Coalition for TJ pursued a lawsuit, leading to a federal judge ruling against the policy that cited discrimination against Asian American students. FCPS appealed the ruling and was allowed to keep the new admissions policy while the appeal is considered.

In light of the investigation, Shatter the Silence Fairfax County Public Schools has asked for an investigation into how FCPS handles sexual misconduct investigation. The group has a petition related to the FCPS appeal of a former Oakton High School student's Title IX lawsuit against FCPS.