Commended Student Notification Delay Not Intentional: Fairfax Superintendent

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — As school delays in notifying students about National Merit Scholarship Corporation commendations have taken the spotlight in at least three Northern Virginia school systems, Fairfax County Public Schools' superintendent spoke out against claims that it was an intentional district-wide policy.

The controversy stems from Fairfax County schools that had delayed notifications to students who were named National Merit Scholarship Corporation's commended students honor.

Commended students are not the same as the semifinalists and finalists chosen to compete for National Merit Scholarships. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, commended students are not eligible for National Merit Scholarships, but some may be candidates for business and corporation-sponsored special scholarships.

At least 16 schools in three Northern Virginia school divisions were found to have not notified students with the commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Critics, including Gov. Glenn Youngkin, believe the delayed notifications affected students who were not notified in time for key scholarship and college application deadlines. An investigation by Attorney General Jason Miyares was initiated to determine if the schools' delayed notifications violate the Virginia Humans Rights Act.

Youngkin has been vocal with criticism for FCPS and other affected school divisions, claiming in a statement they "withheld notification of accolades from high-performing students in the name of 'equity.'"

But Superintendent Michelle Reid spoke to CNN in an interview, rejecting the claim that the withholding of the commended student notifications was done intentionally.

"There is absolutely no division-wide effort to withhold recognition or not to honor hard work and achievement," Reid told CNN Wednesday.

In a previous message to FCPS families, Reid apologized for the error of delayed notifications at multiple schools. The superintendent said FCPS was cooperating with the attorney general's investigation and started its own third party investigation. Schools reached out to families as well as colleges the affected students applied to, according to Reid.

The superintendent told CNN the error was due to FCPS not having a "division-wide protocol" about notifying commended students. Reid has also reached out to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation calling for a "multi-layered notification system" in which National Merit Scholarship finalists, semifinalists and commended students would be notified directly as well as parents, caregivers, schools and school divisions.

Ranoj Ranjan, a parent of a Thomas Jefferson High School student, called the situation “not a very big thing” and told CNN it wasn’t done “for a malicious reason.”

While Youngkin has claimed the delays were the results of a “maniacal focus on equal outcomes for all students at all costs” Reid told CNN that “equal outcomes is the opportunity for each and every student to achieve their unique potential.”

While the controversy first involved Fairfax schools, administrators in Stafford and Loudoun schools said in recent weeks that they also had some students who weren't notified in a timely manner about earning National Merit commended status.

Meanwhile, Youngkin asked two state lawmakers to introduce legislation prohibiting schools from withholding information from students or their parents about recognitions, awards and scholarships. The legislation is intended for award information solely provided to schools, which includes awards or eligibility based on students' performance on the PSAT or those impacting a student's ability to be admitted to a higher education institution.

Related:

• Investigation Into Commended Students Notifications At FCPS Expands
• 6 Stafford Students Were Not Notified Of National Merit Awards
• 3 Loudoun Schools Failed To Notify Merit Scholars In Timely Fashion