Investigation Launched into Fairfax County Public Schools’ 9/11 Teaching Guidance
America First Legal (AFL) has initiated an investigation into Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in Virginia. This comes after a Fox News Digital report revealed the district’s guidance on teaching about the 9/11 attacks.
Guidance Review
Fox News Digital first reported that FCPS provided guidance instructing teachers not to “center the extremists or the acts of the extremists.” The guidelines also advised against associating the 9/11 attacks with Islam or Muslims.
“We want to know where this comes from. We want to know who the school is working with to develop these guidances,” said Ian Prior, senior counsel at AFL.
Prior stated that AFL is investigating how the school district developed this guidance and whether any external organizations were involved.
Response and Reaction
The FCPS guide, titled “25th Anniversary and Commemoration of 9/11,” includes considerations to avoid linking the attacks to an extremist interpretation of Islam. FCPS suggests that teachers prepare for potential anti-Muslim rhetoric and create “safe spaces” for affected students.
FCPS did not directly respond to questions about who wrote or approved the guidance. A statement from Superintendent Michelle Reid condemned the 9/11 attacks and emphasized the district’s commitment to inclusivity without specifying details about the guide’s authorship.
Educational Approach
The guidance distinguishes between al-Qaeda and the broader Muslim community. It stresses that al-Qaeda’s actions should not define the entire religion or culture.
Teachers are urged to focus on the victims of the attacks and the resilience shown by Americans. For younger students, FCPS suggests a simple introduction about the attacks, while older students receive more detailed information.
According to AFL counsel Will Scolinos, the investigation seeks to uncover those responsible for what AFL describes as an effort to sanitize history.
The AFL has not determined its next steps but aims to bring transparency to the process through its investigation.