
The U.S. Division of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation right into a Virginia faculty district following allegations of racial discrimination in opposition to Asian American college students, performing on a referral from Virginia Lawyer Normal Jason Miyares.
Fairfax County Public Faculties has been accused of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through the use of race in its admissions resolution course of, “amongst different impermissible acts, errors, and omissions,” in keeping with a Could 21 letter from Assistant Lawyer Normal Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
In line with Dhillon, the alleged discrimination occurred at Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty for Science and Expertise (Thomas Jefferson HS), a top-ranked public highschool in Alexandria, Virginia. Miyares referred the case to the DOJ, citing proof of intentional discrimination tied to the college’s 2020 admissions coverage overhaul.
Ranked among the many prime STEM-focused colleges within the nation, the college noticed a steep drop in Asian-American pupil enrollment from about 73% in 2020 to roughly 54% in 2021, regardless of a rise in obtainable seats.
In line with Miyares, inside communications, together with textual content messages amongst Fairfax County Faculty Board members, reveal an intent to cut back Asian American illustration, with references to an “anti-Asian really feel” and statements like “Asians hate us.” He described the coverage as a “deliberate, race-based system designed to drawback” Asian American college students, violating each state and federal civil rights legal guidelines.
“The Fairfax County Faculty Board made clear its meant consequence was to cut back alternatives for Asian American college students, and that’s precisely what occurred,” mentioned Miyares. “These college students are usually not statistics. They’re little children, neighbors, classmates, and Virginians who deserve equal safety and alternative underneath the regulation.”
The 2020 coverage shift eradicated standardized testing and launched a “holistic” admissions course of, reserving seats for prime college students from every center faculty in Fairfax County and prioritizing components like socioeconomic standing and attendance at underrepresented colleges.
In a press release launched Thursday, an FCPS spokesperson mentioned:
“This matter has already been absolutely litigated. A federal appellate court docket decided there was no benefit to arguments that the admissions coverage for Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty for Science and Expertise discriminates in opposition to any group of scholars. Fairfax County Public Faculties (FCPS) division management and counsel are at the moment reviewing the paperwork launched at the moment by the Lawyer Normal and can concern a extra detailed response within the coming days. FCPS stays dedicated to offering a world class schooling for all of our college students.”
Dhillon mentioned her workplace will work in coordination with the Division of Schooling’s Workplace of Civil Rights “to find out whether or not Fairfax County Public Faculties has violated its obligations” underneath the regulation and has directed her workplace to “overview this matter to find out whether or not the actions in query additionally violate the Equal Safety Clause of the Fourteenth Modification to america Structure.”
U.S. Secretary of Schooling Linda McMahon mentioned in a assertion that Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty “has lengthy had a fame for producing a few of our nation’s brightest minds, due in no small half to its rigorous admissions course of.”
“The Fairfax County Faculty Board’s alleged resolution to weigh race in TJ’s admissions selections seems to be each opposite to the regulation and to the elemental precept that college students needs to be evaluated on their benefit, not the colour of their pores and skin,” McMahon mentioned.
“The Division of Schooling is grateful for the diligent work of Governor Youngkin and Lawyer Normal Miyares for documenting a sample of regarding practices at TJ, and we are going to additional examine this grievance to make sure that all college students being assessed pretty, in keeping with benefit and accomplishment.”
The overview comes amid reviews Thursday that FCPS additionally faces a federal civil rights grievance over its enforcement of “racial fairness” insurance policies that reportedly contain skewing grades primarily based on race and a curriculum that features a video depicting white college students as mosquitoes biting folks of shade.
The advocacy group Defending Schooling filed a federal civil rights grievance in opposition to Fairfax County Public Faculties on Tuesday, requesting that the U.S. Division of Schooling’s Workplace for Civil Rights examine the district.

The U.S. Division of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation right into a Virginia faculty district following allegations of racial discrimination in opposition to Asian American college students, performing on a referral from Virginia Lawyer Normal Jason Miyares.
Fairfax County Public Faculties has been accused of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through the use of race in its admissions resolution course of, “amongst different impermissible acts, errors, and omissions,” in keeping with a Could 21 letter from Assistant Lawyer Normal Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
In line with Dhillon, the alleged discrimination occurred at Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty for Science and Expertise (Thomas Jefferson HS), a top-ranked public highschool in Alexandria, Virginia. Miyares referred the case to the DOJ, citing proof of intentional discrimination tied to the college’s 2020 admissions coverage overhaul.
Ranked among the many prime STEM-focused colleges within the nation, the college noticed a steep drop in Asian-American pupil enrollment from about 73% in 2020 to roughly 54% in 2021, regardless of a rise in obtainable seats.
In line with Miyares, inside communications, together with textual content messages amongst Fairfax County Faculty Board members, reveal an intent to cut back Asian American illustration, with references to an “anti-Asian really feel” and statements like “Asians hate us.” He described the coverage as a “deliberate, race-based system designed to drawback” Asian American college students, violating each state and federal civil rights legal guidelines.
“The Fairfax County Faculty Board made clear its meant consequence was to cut back alternatives for Asian American college students, and that’s precisely what occurred,” mentioned Miyares. “These college students are usually not statistics. They’re little children, neighbors, classmates, and Virginians who deserve equal safety and alternative underneath the regulation.”
The 2020 coverage shift eradicated standardized testing and launched a “holistic” admissions course of, reserving seats for prime college students from every center faculty in Fairfax County and prioritizing components like socioeconomic standing and attendance at underrepresented colleges.
In a press release launched Thursday, an FCPS spokesperson mentioned:
“This matter has already been absolutely litigated. A federal appellate court docket decided there was no benefit to arguments that the admissions coverage for Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty for Science and Expertise discriminates in opposition to any group of scholars. Fairfax County Public Faculties (FCPS) division management and counsel are at the moment reviewing the paperwork launched at the moment by the Lawyer Normal and can concern a extra detailed response within the coming days. FCPS stays dedicated to offering a world class schooling for all of our college students.”
Dhillon mentioned her workplace will work in coordination with the Division of Schooling’s Workplace of Civil Rights “to find out whether or not Fairfax County Public Faculties has violated its obligations” underneath the regulation and has directed her workplace to “overview this matter to find out whether or not the actions in query additionally violate the Equal Safety Clause of the Fourteenth Modification to america Structure.”
U.S. Secretary of Schooling Linda McMahon mentioned in a assertion that Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty “has lengthy had a fame for producing a few of our nation’s brightest minds, due in no small half to its rigorous admissions course of.”
“The Fairfax County Faculty Board’s alleged resolution to weigh race in TJ’s admissions selections seems to be each opposite to the regulation and to the elemental precept that college students needs to be evaluated on their benefit, not the colour of their pores and skin,” McMahon mentioned.
“The Division of Schooling is grateful for the diligent work of Governor Youngkin and Lawyer Normal Miyares for documenting a sample of regarding practices at TJ, and we are going to additional examine this grievance to make sure that all college students being assessed pretty, in keeping with benefit and accomplishment.”
The overview comes amid reviews Thursday that FCPS additionally faces a federal civil rights grievance over its enforcement of “racial fairness” insurance policies that reportedly contain skewing grades primarily based on race and a curriculum that features a video depicting white college students as mosquitoes biting folks of shade.
The advocacy group Defending Schooling filed a federal civil rights grievance in opposition to Fairfax County Public Faculties on Tuesday, requesting that the U.S. Division of Schooling’s Workplace for Civil Rights examine the district.

The U.S. Division of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation right into a Virginia faculty district following allegations of racial discrimination in opposition to Asian American college students, performing on a referral from Virginia Lawyer Normal Jason Miyares.
Fairfax County Public Faculties has been accused of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through the use of race in its admissions resolution course of, “amongst different impermissible acts, errors, and omissions,” in keeping with a Could 21 letter from Assistant Lawyer Normal Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
In line with Dhillon, the alleged discrimination occurred at Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty for Science and Expertise (Thomas Jefferson HS), a top-ranked public highschool in Alexandria, Virginia. Miyares referred the case to the DOJ, citing proof of intentional discrimination tied to the college’s 2020 admissions coverage overhaul.
Ranked among the many prime STEM-focused colleges within the nation, the college noticed a steep drop in Asian-American pupil enrollment from about 73% in 2020 to roughly 54% in 2021, regardless of a rise in obtainable seats.
In line with Miyares, inside communications, together with textual content messages amongst Fairfax County Faculty Board members, reveal an intent to cut back Asian American illustration, with references to an “anti-Asian really feel” and statements like “Asians hate us.” He described the coverage as a “deliberate, race-based system designed to drawback” Asian American college students, violating each state and federal civil rights legal guidelines.
“The Fairfax County Faculty Board made clear its meant consequence was to cut back alternatives for Asian American college students, and that’s precisely what occurred,” mentioned Miyares. “These college students are usually not statistics. They’re little children, neighbors, classmates, and Virginians who deserve equal safety and alternative underneath the regulation.”
The 2020 coverage shift eradicated standardized testing and launched a “holistic” admissions course of, reserving seats for prime college students from every center faculty in Fairfax County and prioritizing components like socioeconomic standing and attendance at underrepresented colleges.
In a press release launched Thursday, an FCPS spokesperson mentioned:
“This matter has already been absolutely litigated. A federal appellate court docket decided there was no benefit to arguments that the admissions coverage for Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty for Science and Expertise discriminates in opposition to any group of scholars. Fairfax County Public Faculties (FCPS) division management and counsel are at the moment reviewing the paperwork launched at the moment by the Lawyer Normal and can concern a extra detailed response within the coming days. FCPS stays dedicated to offering a world class schooling for all of our college students.”
Dhillon mentioned her workplace will work in coordination with the Division of Schooling’s Workplace of Civil Rights “to find out whether or not Fairfax County Public Faculties has violated its obligations” underneath the regulation and has directed her workplace to “overview this matter to find out whether or not the actions in query additionally violate the Equal Safety Clause of the Fourteenth Modification to america Structure.”
U.S. Secretary of Schooling Linda McMahon mentioned in a assertion that Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty “has lengthy had a fame for producing a few of our nation’s brightest minds, due in no small half to its rigorous admissions course of.”
“The Fairfax County Faculty Board’s alleged resolution to weigh race in TJ’s admissions selections seems to be each opposite to the regulation and to the elemental precept that college students needs to be evaluated on their benefit, not the colour of their pores and skin,” McMahon mentioned.
“The Division of Schooling is grateful for the diligent work of Governor Youngkin and Lawyer Normal Miyares for documenting a sample of regarding practices at TJ, and we are going to additional examine this grievance to make sure that all college students being assessed pretty, in keeping with benefit and accomplishment.”
The overview comes amid reviews Thursday that FCPS additionally faces a federal civil rights grievance over its enforcement of “racial fairness” insurance policies that reportedly contain skewing grades primarily based on race and a curriculum that features a video depicting white college students as mosquitoes biting folks of shade.
The advocacy group Defending Schooling filed a federal civil rights grievance in opposition to Fairfax County Public Faculties on Tuesday, requesting that the U.S. Division of Schooling’s Workplace for Civil Rights examine the district.

The U.S. Division of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation right into a Virginia faculty district following allegations of racial discrimination in opposition to Asian American college students, performing on a referral from Virginia Lawyer Normal Jason Miyares.
Fairfax County Public Faculties has been accused of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through the use of race in its admissions resolution course of, “amongst different impermissible acts, errors, and omissions,” in keeping with a Could 21 letter from Assistant Lawyer Normal Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
In line with Dhillon, the alleged discrimination occurred at Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty for Science and Expertise (Thomas Jefferson HS), a top-ranked public highschool in Alexandria, Virginia. Miyares referred the case to the DOJ, citing proof of intentional discrimination tied to the college’s 2020 admissions coverage overhaul.
Ranked among the many prime STEM-focused colleges within the nation, the college noticed a steep drop in Asian-American pupil enrollment from about 73% in 2020 to roughly 54% in 2021, regardless of a rise in obtainable seats.
In line with Miyares, inside communications, together with textual content messages amongst Fairfax County Faculty Board members, reveal an intent to cut back Asian American illustration, with references to an “anti-Asian really feel” and statements like “Asians hate us.” He described the coverage as a “deliberate, race-based system designed to drawback” Asian American college students, violating each state and federal civil rights legal guidelines.
“The Fairfax County Faculty Board made clear its meant consequence was to cut back alternatives for Asian American college students, and that’s precisely what occurred,” mentioned Miyares. “These college students are usually not statistics. They’re little children, neighbors, classmates, and Virginians who deserve equal safety and alternative underneath the regulation.”
The 2020 coverage shift eradicated standardized testing and launched a “holistic” admissions course of, reserving seats for prime college students from every center faculty in Fairfax County and prioritizing components like socioeconomic standing and attendance at underrepresented colleges.
In a press release launched Thursday, an FCPS spokesperson mentioned:
“This matter has already been absolutely litigated. A federal appellate court docket decided there was no benefit to arguments that the admissions coverage for Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty for Science and Expertise discriminates in opposition to any group of scholars. Fairfax County Public Faculties (FCPS) division management and counsel are at the moment reviewing the paperwork launched at the moment by the Lawyer Normal and can concern a extra detailed response within the coming days. FCPS stays dedicated to offering a world class schooling for all of our college students.”
Dhillon mentioned her workplace will work in coordination with the Division of Schooling’s Workplace of Civil Rights “to find out whether or not Fairfax County Public Faculties has violated its obligations” underneath the regulation and has directed her workplace to “overview this matter to find out whether or not the actions in query additionally violate the Equal Safety Clause of the Fourteenth Modification to america Structure.”
U.S. Secretary of Schooling Linda McMahon mentioned in a assertion that Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty “has lengthy had a fame for producing a few of our nation’s brightest minds, due in no small half to its rigorous admissions course of.”
“The Fairfax County Faculty Board’s alleged resolution to weigh race in TJ’s admissions selections seems to be each opposite to the regulation and to the elemental precept that college students needs to be evaluated on their benefit, not the colour of their pores and skin,” McMahon mentioned.
“The Division of Schooling is grateful for the diligent work of Governor Youngkin and Lawyer Normal Miyares for documenting a sample of regarding practices at TJ, and we are going to additional examine this grievance to make sure that all college students being assessed pretty, in keeping with benefit and accomplishment.”
The overview comes amid reviews Thursday that FCPS additionally faces a federal civil rights grievance over its enforcement of “racial fairness” insurance policies that reportedly contain skewing grades primarily based on race and a curriculum that features a video depicting white college students as mosquitoes biting folks of shade.
The advocacy group Defending Schooling filed a federal civil rights grievance in opposition to Fairfax County Public Faculties on Tuesday, requesting that the U.S. Division of Schooling’s Workplace for Civil Rights examine the district.