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At least 13 Virginia high schools are under investigation after failing to deliver merit awards prior to college admissions, with the state Attorney General alleging that the move specifically targeted Asian-American students.
Following the case against 11 Fairfax and Loudoun County high schools, officials from Prince William County Public Schools revealed two of their schools did not tell 16 students they had earned a National Merit award.
Attorney General Jason Miyares condemned the schools’ actions as the state launched an investigation over alleged Anti-Asian bigotry.
Miyares told Fox News on Tuesday that in Fairfax, the district paid an equity consultant $450,000 to ensure ‘equal outcomes no matter what, even if it means treating some students purposefully unequally.’
He added: ‘You hear the word equity all the time. Equity without excellence is actually emptiness. It doesn’t really help the student at all. It actually divides us.’
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares says at least 13 high schools failed to let students know they won merit awards. The AG has opened an investigation into the issue following allegations that Asian-American students were targeted to ensure ‘equal outcomes’
Families are furious that they were not informed of their children winning awards, with many protesting the schools’ decision to keep it quiet
The National Merit awards are only given to 50,000 of 1.5million high schoolers who score well on the PSATS – and can help students compete for scholarships, honors accolades, and college admissions.
The state’s investigation is looking into the administration’s decisions to withhold the National Merit Scholarship honors from students and if it violates the Virginia Human Rights Act.
Miyares said that one mom in the Fairfax School district lamented that her daughter had done everything right since the first grade to excel academically.
‘She studied so hard, and now she’s realizing she may not go to the school of her dreams because of who she is, a Korean American,’ Miyares said. ‘That goes against everything we believe in this country.’
Miyares cited especially troubling figures at the Fairfax’s Thomas Jefferson High School.
The school is America’s best-performing public school – with the district officials insisting their decision to change their admissions standard was part of a new strategy meant to provide ‘equal outcomes for every student, without exceptions.’
The Attorney General said that just one year after the change, the high school saw ‘close to a 20-point drop in Asian-American enrollment.’
Miyares noted that what was happening in Virginia is reflective to the alleged discrimination Asian-American applicants were seeing across the country, as the Supreme Court weighs on the future of affirmative actions at colleges.
‘It seems as though the only state sanctioned form of bigotry in America is anti-Asian bigotry, and we want to make sure that’s not happening in Virginia,’ he said.
Prince William County district officials said the Battlefield High School (above) was among the 13 schools in the state that failed to report merit awards
Along with the Charles Colgan High School, about 16 students were affected in the county
Prince William County’s Battlefield High School and Colgan High School became the latest schools embroiled in the controversy.
A district spokesperson said in a statement: ‘This year, due to an accidental administrative oversight, two out of 13 PWCS high schools made recent notifications to approximately 16 students. ‘PWCS believes strongly that all student achievement should be recognized.’
Along with the two new schools, investigators are looking into seven Fairfax schools and four Loudon schools.
Parents of pupils in Fairfax hit out after the revelations, claiming that the students were deliberately left in the dark, so other students ‘feelings were not hurt.’
Fairfax County schools involved include Annandale, West Potomac, John R. Lewis, Edison, Thomas Jefferson for Science and Technology, Westfield, and Langley High Schools.
The seven schools account for 25 percent of the high schools in Fairfax County, and Youngkin appeared angered by the school’s decision to act in such a manner.
Governor Youngkin criticized the Fairfax County Schools Superintendent for using taxpayer money to hire equity consultants and believes the issue is a systematic problem in the schools.
He said: ‘They have a maniacal focus on equal outcomes for all students at all costs. And at the heart of the American dream, is excelling, is advancing, is stretching and recognizing that we have students that have different capabilities.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has expressed his concern about the impact of seven Fairfax County schools decision to withhold national merits from students which often aid scholarships and college admissions
‘Some students have the ability to perform at one level, others need more help, and we have to allow students to run as fast as they can to dream the biggest dreams they can possibly dream and then go get them.
‘It impacts students’ ability to apply to college for scholarships, and in this idea of a golden ticket, as it is called, was withheld from them and it seems to have been withheld from them for the purpose of not wanting to make people feel bad who didn’t achieve it.
‘And all of a sudden, we see it spreading around to the rest of Fairfax County.’
He blamed Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for hiring a $450,00 liberal consultant to teach the schools how to have ‘equal outcomes for all students.’
She has met with parents at Thomas Jefferson, Westfield, and Langley high school to address their concerns and says she is committed to being transparent with the results of their ongoing review.
During a meeting last week she said: ‘In each case, it’s my understanding principals sign certificates and pass those to staff who distribute them.’
The impact on students and their families can be significant, as some scholarships and grants can be worth over $90,000.
Last month, parents called for the axing of principal Ann Bonitatibus and Director of Student Services Brandon Kosatka – alleging they are responsible.
Last month, parents called for the axing of principal Ann Bonitatibus (left) alleging they are responsible. Langley High School Principal Kimberly Greer (right) is one of the educators also in charge of faculty embroiled in the scandal
The decision by brass at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax, Virginia, was reportedly part of a new school strategy meant to provide ‘equal outcomes for every student, without exceptions’
Over in Loudon County, Superintendent Daniel Smith said 14 of the high schools promptly notified commended students in the fall, but Freedom, Loudoun County and Potomac Falls high schools didn’t – along with another unidentified faculty.
Smith said: ‘It’s important to note that there are two types of recognition students receive, Semi-finalist/Finalist and Commended Scholars.
‘I can confirm all LCPS National Merit Scholar Semi-finalists were notified, and appropriate procedures were implemented to assist in their scholarship applications this year.’
He added that the county’s Office of Student Mental Health will create an operating procedure to inform students of the award.
Principal Michelle Luttrell, who leads Loudoun County High School, is one of the top educators to become involved in the scandal
Smith, who got the job last year and previously worked in Fairfax and Page Counties, said that the process varies ‘significantly from school to school’.
A National Merit Scholarship Corporation spokesman said that any students who aren’t notified of the recognition by their schools could call the NMSC to check their status.
Loudoun County High School, which is run by Principal Michelle Luttrell, was reportedly never notified by the NMSC of the students who were Commended Scholars.
It is not the first time officials with the Fairfax County Public School network – which encompasses 198 schools and centers – have come under fire for guidance touted as ‘progressive’.
In 2021, the school and its board found themselves in federal court after it changed its admission requirements to limit the number of Asian-American students enrolled to improve the chance of admission of other students regardless of academic ability.
Once again, billed as a means to boost equity, the guidance immediately sparked controversy for scrapping merit-based admissions – and was subsequently found to be against federal law.
Last February, a federal judge ruled Fairfax County school officials guilty of racial discrimination however, plans to overturn the woke rules have been put on hold thanks to a successful legal challenge by their supporters, with a court set to consider an appeal last this year.
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