The Attorney General of Virginia has accused Cooper Middle School of selecting students for a college preparation program based on race, colour and national origin.
The school had sent an email to parents of eighth grade students stating that the course was only open to black or Hispanic students. After the issue was raised, the school clarified that the course was open to all, but the website only stated that a typical college prep student was black, Hispanic, Native American, or economically disadvantaged.
Despite this, the Attorney General, Jason Miyares, has requested that the school cease and desist its illegal conduct and is investigating the matter further.
The Fairfax County Public Schools spokesperson noted that the Attorney General’s claims are false and damaging, and undermine the public school’s efforts to improve US educational achievement. Miyares, however, stood by his complaint, stating that every public school in the Commonwealth must follow the law.
Miyares has previously launched an investigation into the school district earlier this year for withholding merit awards from students at Thomas Jefferson High School, which is the top-performing public school in the US. Miyares is also investigating whether TJ’s discriminated against Asian students with their admission policies.
The email sent by Cooper Middle School was asking parents whether their children were considering college and could benefit from college preparation classes.
The email stated that the lessons were only available 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.
Journalist Asra Nomani, who obtained the letter, noted that the program’s benefits were significant, including academic counselling, access to colleges to experience their teaching, and advice on completing college and scholarship applications.
One father, an attorney named Glenn Miller, called the scheme problematic, stating that it excluded children based on race, and it seems to be in direct violation of the school district’s own anti-discrimination policy.
The Virginia school board has been under scrutiny recently for their policies, including a transgender bathroom policy, which led to a boy in a skirt molesting two girls in bathrooms at two separate high schools.
The current buzzword in schools is equity, which means seeking equal outcomes for all students, rather than just offering them equal opportunities.
Critics say achieving equity rarely lifts those children up and instead seeks to lower standards overall, giving the artificial impression of improved outcomes.
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