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U.S. Dept of Education Demands "anti-DEI" Certification in Exchange for Student Funding
Explore the U.S. Dept of Education's controversial (and failed) anti-DEI certification demand. Why are they playing chicken with school funding and our students' education?
Vanessa Hall
May 1, 20256 min read
Demanding the Impossible
Explore why the federal government is demanding impossible when they try to eliminate DEI in public education. This is the 21st century, and the reality is our schools are diverse because our student are unique individuals.
Cheryl Binkley
Apr 18, 20257 min read
Federal Scene on Education is at a Turning Point
The nation is at a turning point in public education history with the dismantling of U.S. Department of Education.
Cheryl Binkley
Apr 8, 20255 min read
Attacks on Equity Offices are Attacks on the Students they Serve
Our Students, Staff, and Families need the Equity Office If you’ve been reading the news in the last two weeks, it is pretty clear that...
Vanessa Hall
Feb 2, 20256 min read
DEI is Civil Rights
DEmyst-I-fied from a K-12 Perspective Author's Forward: (January 31, 2025): Earlier this week, 4PE approached me about republishing my...
Anjy Cramer
Feb 1, 20257 min read
State of Schools for Black Students in Fairfax County
Fairfax NAACP Community Meeting with the Superintendent Members of the Fairfax NAACP witnessed a rare event: a school superintendent willing to have a frank conversation about the state of schools for Black students. The meeting was hosted by Fairfax NAACP’s Dr. Sujatha Hamption (first Vice President and Chair of the Education Committee) and Mike Woltz (Chair of the Legal Redress Committee). It was a tough, open discussion with Dr. Michelle Reid, Superintendent of Fairfax Cou
Vanessa Hall
Nov 24, 20245 min read
Essential Boundary Policy for a New Century
It Is Time For Some Real Change After months of debate, the Fairfax County School Board is finalizing a comprehensive overhaul of the county’s current boundary policy which was originally adopted in 1986 and last revised in May of 2013, despite 5-year review requirements. This all followed a February school board meeting on Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) amendments, when most of the school board members expressed strong concerns that one-off boundary adjustments at individu
Vanessa Hall
Jul 5, 20248 min read
Focus on Equity, Literacy, and Excellence
2025 FCPS Budget Public Input At the May 14, 2024 Public Hearing in front of the Fairfax County School Board on the 2025 Budget, the...
Vanessa Hall
May 14, 20242 min read
DEI is here to Stay
You can’t just ignore problems away. Author's forward: I wrote this piece on a snowy day in January. Dr. Claudine Gay had just resigned,...
Anjy Cramer
May 1, 20249 min read
Ironically, the VDOE Accountability Listening Tour Lacks Both Transparency and Accountability
Read other blogs about VDOE's Accountability Listening Sessions and the Public Input process.
Vanessa Hall
Apr 12, 20248 min read
A Big Win for Students at the Supreme Court
TJ and FCPS Win in Court after Three Years of Litigation Fairfax County and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) are celebrating a...
Vanessa Hall
Mar 7, 20243 min read
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Relief after Years of Legislative and Executive Attacks on Education
2026 General Assembly Legislative Support for Public Education Public education remains one of the General Assembly’s most significant policy and budgetary responsibilities. With the conclusion of the Youngkin administration and the beginning of Governor Abigail Spanberger’s term last month, the legislature has continued its role in shaping education policy—particularly through direct investment, funding reform, and oversight. Strengthening State Investment in K–12 Schools In
Appreciation and Concerns Raised about the Superintendent's Budget
Explore key insights from the school board meeting on the FY 2026-27 budget. Understand diverse perspectives which include appreciation and concern over the Superintendent's school budget.
Restore Mental Health Professionals to our Schools
Vanessa Hall shares a personal story highlighting how important mental health professionals are in our schools and why the Superintendent should reinstate positions cut last year.
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