America First Legal (AFL) has initiated an investigation into Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in Virginia. This follows reports on controversial guidance for teaching about the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The guidance advises teachers not to link the attacks with Islam or Muslims and to avoid focusing on the extremists or their acts. AFL wants to understand the origins of this guidance and identify any external contributors involved in its development.
America First Legal’s senior counsel, Ian Prior, emphasized the importance of determining how FCPS developed the guidance. He noted AFL’s objective to discover any involvement of outside organizations, despite not yet having this information.
“We’re still seeking to determine how far this goes,” Prior said. “That’s why we’re investigating so that we can get to the bottom of it.”
The FCPS guidance aims to prevent the stigmatization of Muslim and Middle Eastern students in lessons about 9/11. It advises educators to prepare for potential anti-Muslim rhetoric and to create safe spaces for affected students.
FCPS did not directly address questions about the authors of the guidance nor confirm any external involvement. The school referred to a statement from Sept. 11, which condemned the attacks and highlighted the district’s connections to military families and the Pentagon.
In the statement, Superintendent Michelle Reid affirmed FCPS’s condemnation of the attacks and mentioned the ongoing review of materials concerning community feedback.
Prior believes efficient education on the ideology motivating the 9/11 terrorists is possible without assigning blame to Muslims collectively.
The guidance provides specific language for teachers based on students’ age groups. For elementary students, it suggests acknowledging the attack’s anniversary and allowing students’ questions to steer further discussion. For older students, it details the 9/11 events, emphasizing resilience and stories of resistance.
America First Legal argues the district’s approach might overly sanitize history. AFL counsel Will Scolinos demands transparency regarding who influenced this guidance and its development process.
Prior clarified that AFL’s actions will depend on the findings of their investigation.
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