Fairfax Schools Monitor

What is really being taught in our public schools?

What is being taught to our children in Virginia’s Fairfax County public schools?  Critical Race Theory?  Gender fluidity?  Pornography?  Is excellence in education being sidelined in favor of other goals?

The county’s school system has been in national as well as local headlines, with conflicting claims and denials about what is and isn’t being taught.  Rather than relying on sensational news reports, this blog will expose the truth about the policies and curriculum of the public school system.  What are teachers being instructed to teach, and what are the children actually being taught?  Has the focus remained on reading, writing, language, mathematics, science, history and civics, or has the school system shifted towards implanting controversial ideologies into young minds?

We will dig into the facts and will reveal official documents, including policy statements and curriculum outlines.  We will monitor the activities of the Fairfax County School Board.  We will solicit knowledgeable input from parents and mature students.

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Recent Posts

Make a Difference

Can I Make a Difference?

By Mark Spooner | January 29, 2022

The Problem Is the Fairfax County School Board is on the wrong track?  If so, what can be done? The current Board seems unanimous in its commitment to race-centric education that focuses on “privilege,” “identity,” and so-called “equity,” so the task of turning things around seems daunting. The Board apparently assumes that since they were…

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Dialogue

Revealing Dialogue with a School Board Member

By Mark Spooner | January 24, 2022

I recently had an interesting email discussion with a member of the Fairfax County School Board.  Our exchange says a lot about how she, and perhaps other current Board members, think about educating our children. Background On January 13, 2022, I spoke in person at the School Board meeting.  Thirteen individuals who have submitted applications…

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Fairfax County’s Race-Centric Curriculum for US History

By Mark Spooner | January 21, 2022

Introduction This post goes to the heart of what this website is all about: What is really being taught in Fairfax County public schools?  It is a continuation of “Development of New ‘Anti-Racism’ Curriculum in Fairfax County,” January 16, 2022.  That post outlines the School Board’s decision to revise the social studies curricula to stress…

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Freedom of Information

Fairfax Schools Monitor Sues Fairfax Schools — Update

By Mark Spooner | January 19, 2022

Last Thursday, January 13, Fairfax Schools monitor sued Fairfax County public schools and its Superintendent, Scott Braband, to obtain access to a videotape of Professor Ibram X. Kendi’s presentation to Fairfax school leaders in August 2020.  The school system had denied a request for it under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”).  See “Fairfax Schools…

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Gov. Youngkin’s Executive Order No. 1 Addresses Education

By Mark Spooner | January 16, 2022

Glenn Youngkin was sworn in as Virginia Governor yesterday, January 15, 2022.  As his first act in office, he signed Executive Order No. 1, which addresses Critical Race Theory and other divisive education policies.  A copy of the Executive Order is HERE. The Order is a significant step in the right direction, but it is not…

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Development of New “Anti-Racism Curriculum” in Fairfax County

By Mark Spooner | January 16, 2022

Introduction The theme of the 2020-21 Leadership Kickoff Session for Fairfax County Public Schools (“FCPS”) on August 6, 2020 was “With Equity at the Center.”  The school Superintendent, Scott Braband, spoke at length to school principals and administrators, declaring that now was “a defining moment” for “racial and social justice” in the school system.  He…

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Freedom of Information

Fairfax Schools Monitor Sues Fairfax Schools

By Mark Spooner | January 13, 2022

Fairfax Schools Monitor filed suit today against Fairfax County Public Schools and its Superintendent, Scott Braband, to require them to produce a record that has been withheld from disclosure. During the past few months, we have been using the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) to obtain documents revealing the inner workings of the school…

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What “Stakeholder Groups” Does the School Board Seek Input From?

By Mark Spooner | January 10, 2022

In formulating policy, the Fairfax County School Board and administrators will sometimes seek input from “stakeholder groups,” i.e., community groups that have an interest in the policies under review.  Who are those groups? In 2020-2021, the School Board undertook a massive review and revision of school curricula for the purpose of devoting more attention to…

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Survey

Input on New Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools

By Mark Spooner | January 9, 2022

The Fairfax County school system is conducting a search for a replacement of the outgoing Superintendent of Schools.  A search firm has been retained. Community members have been invited to respond to a survey about what’s important in selecting the next Superintendent.  Responses are anonymous.  The survey includes multiple-choice questions and also a box for…

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Teaching about Race

Is It Okay For Schools To Teach About Race?

By Mark Spooner | January 8, 2022

Is it appropriate for our public schools to teach children about racial issues?  It’s an interesting question, and, in my view, there is no simplistic answer.  I’m interested in how readers of this post would answer the question.  Here’s the bottom-line of my current thinking: Proposed Principles Public schools should not — indeed, they realistically…

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