America First Legal (AFL) has initiated an investigation into Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in Virginia. This follows a report by Fox News Digital on controversial guidance for teaching about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The focus is on identifying those responsible for creating instructions that advise teachers not to “center the extremists or the acts of the extremists.”
Guidance Content and Concerns
FCPS’s guidance discourages teachers from associating the 9/11 attacks with Islam or Muslims, recommending not to focus on the extremists’ actions. AFL seeks to understand the origins of this guidance and identify any external organizations involved in its development.
The district’s guide highlights “critical considerations” for educators, advising against discussing the extremist interpretation of Islam that motivated the 9/11 hijackers. It also stresses the importance of creating “safe spaces” for Muslim and Middle Eastern students and challenging bias expressions.
AFL’s Response
Senior counsel Ian Prior from AFL stated the group is investigating how FCPS developed this guidance. This probe was prompted by Fox News Digital’s earlier report. AFL accuses the school district of “sanitizing history” and demands full transparency on those responsible for the guidance.
The group’s investigation involves a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, aiming to uncover details behind the guidance’s authorship and approval process.
Background of FCPS’s Guidance
The six-page FCPS document, titled “25th Anniversary and Commemoration of 9/11,” was published in late August. It directs teachers who choose to commemorate the attacks to adhere strictly to district guidance and use resources available on the district’s Atlas site.
The guide instructs educators to delineate between the actions of al-Qaeda, the terrorist group responsible for the attacks, and Islam or Muslims as a religious community. It emphasizes that the commemoration of 9/11 should focus on the victims and heroes, not the attackers.
FCPS’s Statement
On September 11, FCPS’s Superintendent Michelle Reid issued a statement condemning the terrorist attacks unequivocally. She noted the district’s ties to the Pentagon, military families, first responders, and survivors, and confirmed ongoing material reviews following community feedback. The district aims to ensure actions of terrorists do not define any faith, culture, or community entirely.
Balancing Teaching and Sensitivity
For younger students, the district proposes that teachers introduce the topic by stating, “Twenty-five years ago today, there was an attack on the United States,” allowing further discussion to be guided by student questions. For older students, the guide is more detailed, focusing on the facts and the resistance shown by victims, such as the passengers on Flight 93.
FCPS’s guide acknowledges the diverse experiences within the Northern Virginia community, including the impact on military families and Muslim families facing potential harassment.
AFL’s Call for Action
AFL’s counsel, Will Scolinos, asserts that FCPS is attempting to erase the reality of radical Islamic terrorism that struck on September 11, 2001. The group demands transparency about the guidance’s origins and its creators.
While AFL’s next steps depend on the investigation’s findings, they emphasize their openness to revealing the truth about the guidance’s development.