Search Results

Proposed K-12 Education Budget for 2026-2028 After months of sometimes contentious negotiations and infighting between conference committee members and with Governor Spanberger, the conference committee has reached a compromise on the 2026-2028 budget. The legislature passed the proposed budget on June 22nd and now the Governor has until June 30th to veto any line items or sign the budget bill. A major sticking point in the conference was regarding the data center tax exemption and whether or not those tax breaks should be continued into the future. To date, that tax exemption has saved data center developers billions of dollars at the expense of providing much-needed revenue to the Commonwealth. Or, another way of putting it is that data center developers have cost taxpayers billions of dollars in revenue that could be used for Virginians. One of the biggest needs for revenue is funding K-12 public education. In 2023 Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission it was reported that Virginia’s K-12 public education has been inadequately funded for years. The Commonwealth’s per student funding is lower than average values for all 50 states, the Mid-Atlantic region, and three of the Commonwealth’s bordering states. During the latest General Assembly, legislators tried to pass bills that would help alleviate funding shortfalls including SB66 which would have allowed a referendum in each locality for an additional 1% local sales and use tax to support schools. In December 2025, outgoing Governor Youngkin proposed a budget for 2026-2028 with his typical inadequate funding for public education. His budget was the starting point for the Virginia General Assembly budget revisions for the next biennium. Since January, the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates have been working on that revised budget with a looming deadline of June 30, 2026, while the entire Commonwealth waited with baited breath. Data Center Tax Compromise In an effort to attract businesses to Virginia during the Great Recession, the Commonwealth gave generous tax breaks to data center developers to attract high tech investment, allowing Virginia to become the Data Center Capital of the world. The Data Center Retail Sales & Use Tax Exemption, which is in effect until 2035, allowed data centers to avoid paying $1.6 billion in taxes for the year 2025 alone. Governor Spanberger and some legislators were hesitant to renege on the tax breaks, and instead they decided on the compromise that would tax electricity use by data centers. That alone is expected to raise up to (a capped amount of) $600 million a year for a total of $1.2 billion over the course of the biennium budget. As the Fund Our Schools coalition points out, the tax compromise is a positive first step in helping to mitigate the underfunding of Virginia’s public education system, but the new electricity tax expires on July 1, 2028. Virginia needs a permanent solution to ensure that industry pays its fair share. Others commented on the inadequacy of the data center tax compromise. For example, Michelle Moore of Bridge 2 Blue noted that the compromise did nothing to mitigate the air or noise pollution from backup diesel generators nor did it “place limits on data center and utility expansion, utility cost reforms so data centers, not ratepayers, cover the infrastructure and energy costs they create, and tougher natural resource, environmental, and health and safety protections for both new and existing facilities in our communities.” Returning Lab School Funds to the General Fund An additional amount of funding for the Commonwealth came from the proposed transfer of unobligated lab school balances to the general fund. This will provide an estimated $10,670,000 to the general fund in 2026. 4 Public Education has published extensively about Governor Youngkin’s push for lab schools, finding that Youngkin lacked legal authorization, the schools themselves were likely unconstitutional, and they were expensive and more similar to after school activities than real schools. A Positive Proposed Budget for Education With the resulting budget compromise, Virginia’s K-12 public education will receive better funding than previous years. The following are key K-12 investments taken directly from the June 22, 2026 Fund Our Schools statement on the conference budget (note: dollar amounts are two-year totals, FY27 and FY28, unless otherwise noted): Special Education Add-On: The budget more than doubles the flexible add-on for students with disabilities, with an investment of $148 million, which local school systems would have flexibility in determining how to use for special education. The budget also adds $10 million for students with intensive support needs, enabling them to learn alongside their peers in public schools. Despite these increases, the state continues to provide far less than is needed to cover its share of a high-quality education for students with disabilities. Funding for Students in Low-Income Communities: The final agreement includes almost $29 million to boost the At-Risk Add-On for K-12 students living in the highest-poverty communities. This is far less than earlier proposals would have provided, and far less than what schools need in order to make sure that students facing economic disadvantages have meaningful access to learning. Teacher and Staff Compensation: The budget provides the state share of 4% salary adjustments each year (2026-2027 and 2027-2028) for teachers and other school staff. While these adjustments will help school employees keep pace with the cost of living, some staff may not receive the full 4% increase because their local government may not be able to provide their share of the costs, particularly since most have already approved their local and school budgets for the upcoming school year. School Funding Formula Modernization: The budget includes $1.25 million to support the Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding as it continues its work to modernize how Virginia funds its schools. Local Option for School Construction: The budget authorizes all localities to hold voter referendums on an additional 1% local sales tax dedicated to school construction and capital needs, giving communities a new tool to address aging facilities and long-delayed building projects. Student Well-Being: So schools can address the needs of students as whole persons, the budget adds $17.6 million for school breakfasts, $5 million for the community schools model, and funding for the implementation of evidence-based restorative practices to resolve student conflicts. According to the Fund Our Schools Coalition: This budget reflects real, hard-won progress for Virginia’s public schools, and we are grateful to the advocates, educators, and families whose voices helped shape it. But Virginia’s students, especially those in our highest-poverty communities, deserve more than incremental gains. Public education is the key to a thriving community, and our K-12 schools have the potential to be anchors for our communities across Virginia. Governor Spanberger and the General Assembly, our public schools, students, and families are being given opportunities that were not available in the recent past under the previous governor.

States are Enticed by Disinformation to Opt-in to the Federal Voucher Program The Trump Administration and allies are doing what they can to entice states to opt into the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) program. This program was signed into law in July 2025 as part of HR1, or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Now it is up to the Governor of each state to decide whether they want to “opt into” the program before Jan 1, 2027. There is much confusion about the program, particularly since this confusion is purposefully fueled by massive amounts of inaccurate claims about the benefits of the EFTC program. Two of the most egregious claims are that: 1) public schools will benefit from the program, and 2) public school systems will not be economically impacted. The administration is using those misleading claims along with other misinformation about the need for school choice and constant efforts to vilify public education to entice participation in the voucher program. This article will evaluate some of the most common and meritless claims being used to entice governors and the families in their states to join the EFTC program. In fact, so much misinformation is circulating about the program, the Education Law Center recently presented and publicly posted a recording of “What almost everybody gets wrong about the Federal Voucher scheme.” 4 Public Education will use this recording as a reference in this document. For example, when the Education Law Center recording explains that misinformation is used by the EFTC to give democratic governors cover for opting into the program and also to fool the general public into thinking the program is beneficial, 4 Public Education will cite that timestamp as “12:14” (i.e., 12 minutes and 14 seconds into the recording) and link to the recording at that timestamp. False Claim: The EFTC will benefit public schools It is unlikely that public schools and public school students will derive significant benefit from Trump’s voucher scheme. Technically, the regulations will provide a way for public school students to apply for and accept vouchers, but experts warn that public school students will receive only “crumbs” relative to private schools and their students. Also, experts warn that the voucher scheme is all risk and no reward. In fact Jessica Levin, education litigator with the Education Law Center, warned that the benefit to public schools would be like paying $5 for a benefit of $1 (timestamp 26:26). The discrepancy between what is technically feasible versus what is probable is related to the fact that Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) have the freedom to grant vouchers to whomever they want and for the amount they want. States cannot require SGOs to offer scholarships to public school students (timestamp 12:00). Most SGOs have specific organizational goals, such as support for religious affiliated schools, thus those goals may override other factors in granting vouchers to public school students. SGOs will focus the tax credit resources on private schools both because public schools can not accept vouchers and privatization of public education is a well known intent of the program. One has only to review Project 2025, the Conservative Promise and the Administration’s attempts to vilify public schools as dens of indoctrination and immorality to understand the pressure that will be placed on SGOs to focus on private schools. To date, there is nothing in the proposed regulations that seems beneficial to public schools, public school students, or the larger community (timestamp 13:49). False Claim: The EFTC does not impact public school finances. School choice advocates love to claim that vouchers will not impact public school budgets, but experts warn that vouchers are likely to shrink public school budgets. Vouchers usually allow taxpayer funds to “follow” students out of public school systems and into private schools–in other words, vouchers provide taxpayer funds to private entities at the expense of public schools. Unless school districts can find ways to replace the funding lost to private schools, public schools may be forced to cut services to students, including popular and/or necessary programs like advanced academic coursework, special education programs for students with disabilities, and/or programming for English language learners. Declining enrollment and funding will destabilize most school districts, which is of particular concern in rural areas where there are few private school alternatives. And, unlike federal budgets, states cannot run a budget deficit because states can not borrow money to cover overspending, so school districts are highly vulnerable to funding loss. As a result they must make cuts commensurate with the funding loss. Thus, if funding is pulled from public schools for private vouchers, it can mean fewer staff and teachers, larger classrooms, less student services, cuts to afterschool programming, and older, less well-maintained school buildings, and even schools closing. Some “school choice” advocates try to minimize the potential impact of students leaving public schools by claiming that public schools would just have fewer students to teach, so what is the problem? Others minimize potential economic impacts by only considering the per pupil allocation and enrollment. However, school district budgets are much more complicated than school privatizers let on, and declining budgets could have devastating impacts on public schools. Fixed costs such as heating, cooling, support staff wages and transportation, will not change even if enrollment and funding drop. Those monthly bills still come due. Perhaps the biggest impact on public school budgets is that states opting into the EFTC are then responsible for funding oversight of their voucher program, including tracking donations and voucher recipients, and preventing waste, fraud and abuse in the program. None of that comes cheap, and it requires developing an entirely new bureaucracy within the state government. Some states with existing voucher programs have learned the painful lesson about those hidden oversight costs. Arizona, Iowa, Oklahoma, and West Virginia saw their state budgets balloon well over the original estimates as a result of unexpected costs related to their voucher programs. Also, states with voucher programs often suffer from wasteful spending and fraud (eg. Arizona) due to typically poor oversight of voucher programs. Obviously, because private schools have fewer requirements for transparency and accountability than public schools, there is a need for well structured oversight for voucher programs in states that opt in. The costs of a well structured state oversight program can be substantial. Governors and policy makers don’t have to be kept in the dark about the true cost of the voucher program to their state and its public school districts. The Economic Policy Institute created a tool for calculating the costs to each school district before states opt into the program. This author encourages those who are considering opting into the federal voucher program to first determine what it will actually cost their state. False Claim: Many states have already opted into the program There are reports that about half of the states have “opted into” the EFTC, but that is not true. For example, former Virginia Governor Youngkin claimed, as one of his last actions as governor, that Virginia had opted into the program. Governor Polis of Colorado made similar claims. However, no state has been able to do more than indicate an interest in opting into the program, since joining will not be possible until after the Treasury publishes the final version of the regulations. The release of those regulations is scheduled for September 2026. Before the regulations are finalized, draft regulations will be shared and the public will have an opportunity to comment on them. False Claim: The ELCT is inevitable in each state Historically, school vouchers programs have been unpopular and referendums for initiating voucher programs tend to be defeated when put to a vote. But privatizing public education and returning control of public education to the states are major conservative goals and getting the ELCT statute on the books was a celebrated step in realizing those goals. Click to read Mike DeGuire's detailed OpEd on the influence of billionaires on education policy The ELCT is an unpopular part of the OBBBA. To help this part of the bill pass, it was decided that Governors in each state would be able to decide for their own state whether they would participate by opting into the program. That is why the administration and privatization advocates are trying so hard to entice states to opt in. Even with each state able to make their own choice about opting in, quite a few members of Congress want to rescind the part of the OBBBA that is the EFTC. Recently, bills have been introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives that would, if they pass, strike section 25F, the code for the EFTC, from the OBBBA. Numerous democratic co-sponsors have signed onto each bill - about 30 in the Senate and more than 80 in the House at last count Although it is unlikely that the EFTC part of the OBBBA will be rescinded while republicans hold a federal government trifecta, efforts to rescind the EFTC have helped stimulate a national conversation about the harmful aspects of the federal privatizing voucher program. Hopefully, this will encourage those thinking about opting into the program to more carefully consider that decision. Also, when a more public education friendly government returns to Washington, DC the truth about the EFTC will already be known and that part of the OBBBA may be rescinded.

Honoring Graduates, Students, and the People and Schools that Supported Them this Year The end of the school year marks a significant milestone for students, staff, and families alike. It is a time to reflect on the hard work, growth, and achievements that have shaped the past months. Celebrating this moment means recognizing not only the accomplishments of graduates but also the dedication of teachers, administrators, and the unwavering support of families. This collective effort creates a foundation for success and new adventures ahead. Woodson High School graduation ceremony (credit: Vanessa Hall) Recognizing Student Accomplishments Graduation represents the culmination of years of learning, challenges, and personal growth. Each graduate’s journey is unique, filled with moments of perseverance and achievement. Celebrating these accomplishments encourages students to feel proud of their efforts and excited about the future. Whether students are celebrating academic achievements, extracurricular success, personal growth, or overcoming challenges, these accomplishments should be recognized. Honors and awards are as important as developing confidence, resilience, and independence. The former demonstrates the master of subjects, while the latter qualities helps prepare students for future challenges. Beyond academics, students often excel in sports, arts, clubs, and community service. These activities build skills like teamwork, leadership, and creativity. Highlighting these successes during end-of-year celebrations motivates students to continue striving for excellence. It also reminds the community of the diverse talents and strengths each student brings. Appreciating Staff Efforts Teachers and school staff play a crucial role in shaping the educational experience. Their dedication often goes beyond classroom instruction, involving mentorship, planning, and adapting to students’ needs. Beyond, designing lessons and educating, teachers also create a supportive environment and invest extra time to help students succeed. Support staff like counselors, librarians, aides, and custodians contribute to a safe and welcoming school atmosphere. Their work ensures that students have the resources and support necessary to thrive. School administrators often gets a bad name, but principals and other administrators coordinate programs, manage resources, and foster a positive culture. Their leadership helps maintain focus on student success and community engagement. School Board appreciating the hard work of school staff (credit: Vanessa Hall) Honoring Family Contributions Families provide the foundation for student success. Their support, encouragement, and involvement make a significant difference in students’ academic and personal development. Families offer practical assistance like helping with homework and attending school events, while many directly support schools through time, skill, funds, and fun. Families actively participate in the educational process , and family involvement strengthens the school community, by creating partnerships that benefit everyone. Families play a vital role in schools, which research shows improves student outcomes. Looking Ahead to New Adventures High school graduates face exciting opportunities and challenges as they move forward. Whether continuing education, entering the workforce, or exploring other paths, they carry with them the lessons and experiences gained during their school years. Higher education: Many graduates pursue college or vocational training, building on their academic foundation. Career paths: Some enter the military, apprenticeships, internships, or jobs that align with their interests and skills. Personal growth: The transition to adulthood involves developing independence, responsibility, and new relationships. Celebrate the Beginning of Summer! Celebrations at the end of the school year serve as a launchpad for next steps, whether it is graduation from preschool or high school. They inspire graduates (and their peers!) to embrace change with confidence and curiosity. Create a memorable and meaningful experience that celebrates the collective journey no matter where that takes your student or family. And don't forget to enjoy the Summer Adventure! Foosball at Middle School Graduation (credit: Vanessa Hall)

Summer can be a wonderful break from homework, tests, and busy schedules—but for many transgender and nonbinary students, it can also feel isolating. The school year often provides something that is easy to take for granted: supportive teachers, trusted friends, affirming clubs, counselors, and daily reminders that you belong. When summer arrives, those connections may suddenly feel far away. If you’re feeling lonely, unseen, or worried about the months ahead, please know that you are not alone. There are thousands of young people in Fairfax County and across Virginia who are navigating the same challenges, asking the same questions, and finding their way forward one day at a time. Most importantly, your identity is not something that disappears when school lets out. You deserve respect, dignity, and the freedom to be yourself every day of the year. Summer can also be an opportunity to strengthen friendships, connect with supportive communities online and in person, explore your interests, volunteer, create art, spend time outdoors, or simply rest and recharge. If you are struggling, reach out to someone you trust—a friend, family member, counselor, teacher, coach, or community organization. Asking for support is a sign of strength, not weakness. The world is better because you are in it. Your voice matters. Your future matters. The challenges you face today will not define the rest of your life. There are people throughout Fairfax County who care about your well-being, who are working to make schools and communities more welcoming, and who believe in your right to thrive. This summer, be gentle with yourself, celebrate the small victories, and remember: you belong exactly as you are.

The recent opinion piece published by Daily Signal by Stephanie Lundquist-Aurora on May 12, 2026, titled Fairfax Schools Financial Scandal, has stirred controversy in the community by presenting misleading information about Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). The piece contains numerous inaccuracies, misreported figures, and a lack of basic fact-checking. This blog post aims to clarify the truth behind FCPS’s financial situation and expose the real motives behind the opinion piece’s skewed narrative. See Privatizers are Fibbing with Figures for an earlier analysis of Daily Signal's attempts to pull the wool over your eyes about the amazing schools in Fairfax County. Read Know Your Disinformation Source to learn more about Independent Women's Forum (IWF) which employs Lundquist-Arora and others to push anti-public school narratives that encourage private school vouchers. 4 Public Education has previously fact-checked a March 2, 2026 Lundquist-Arora opinion piece in the Daily Signal and found it to be heavy on "hysterical arm-waving, but short on facts." Misreported and Misunderstood Figures It is hard to tell whether there was a tight deadline or merely an unwillingness to give FCPS credit, but the Daily Signal's reported SOL failure rates should not be taken seriously. A less polite way to say it is: "Don't believe what the Daily Signal prints." Ignoring Notations Creates Errors: Although Lundquist-Arora cited the Virginia Department of Education as a source, she failed to read or include critical notations that invalidate her figures for claimed "failure rates" of 84% and 58% in English Writing and History SOLs, respectively. These notations show that her reported "failure rates" are wildly inaccurate for both English writing and History SOLs. Specifically, there is no History-only SOL score for FCPS, because social studies are broken out by course and typically involve assessments that are not captured by VDOE. Overlooking Original Sources: Had Lundquist-Arora used original sources (e.g., FCPS Goal 3 Report, page 10), she would have found a 97% pass rate for the FCPS English Writing SOL. Under-reporting of FCPS Successes: The Daily Signal attempted to harm FCPS's reputation based on poor SOL pass rates, yet ignored the fact that FCPS not only has better pass rates than the Commonwealth of Virginia, but also than most of its neighboring districts. Figure 31 (Page 37) shows that FCPS surpassed surrounding school districts for the percent of 8th graders who took and passed a high school math SOL. Wild, Unsupported Claims Crafted With Utter Confidence The Daily Signal claims that FCPS is embroiled in a multiple financial scandals involving hundreds of millions of dollars over a school purchase and a doctorate program aimed at staff, without concrete evidence to support these claims. Simultaneously, they claim that FCPS is failing, but ignore the colleges and employers that recruit heavily from FCPS graduates. Skyview High School was a great deal in a great location: It would have taken two to four times the cost and five-ten years to build a new high school to satisfy the overcrowding of the four high schools that will feed into Skyview High School beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Those volunteering on the Boundary Review Advisory Committee, like this author, could see that when they were trying to solve overcrowding in the western high schools. Assuming without Evidence is Wildly Unprofessional: Lundquist-Arora assumes that doctorates pursued by staff are being funded by FCPS without any evidence. Many have pointed out that universities fund tuitions for PhD programs, not employers. Unsourced Private and Homeschooled Numbers: If the numbers are in a chart, they must be correct, right? Well, the chart does not link to any source but Lundquist-Arora's own earlier opinion pieces, which are also unsourced. The numbers cannot be tracked to a primary source, thus they will be discounted as false. Daily Signal is "Chicken Littling" Over FCPS SOL Scores: Overwhelming ly data suggests that FCPS students continue to succeed academically under the current leadership of Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid and her staff, under the guidance of the School Board. Whether it is number of National Merit Finalists, International Science and Engineering Fair attendees, or their annual SOL pass rates (see below). Fundamental Lack of Knowledge About How Things Function FCPS is one of the largest employers in Virginia and its budget is about one-half of the budget of Fairfax County, so things are complicated. This author is no expert on the FCPS budget or how a 180,000 student school district runs, but at least I know enough to know when I need to phone a friend if I don't understand something. Daily Signal should expect their opinion piece authors to do the same to avoid the following pitfalls. Misunderstanding of Fund Allocations: They do not differentiate between funds that are legally designated for specific purposes such as special education or infrastructure improvements versus funding that is more flexible. Some funding cannot just be redirected to other areas, a fact overlooked by Lundquist-Arora. Ignoring State and Federal Funding Complexities: Lundquist-Arora fails to account for the complex mix of local, state, and federal funding sources. Some funds come with strict guidelines on usage, which may appear as financial irregularities to an untrained eye. SAT scores are not a measurement of school quality, but of parent's wealth: Studies have long shown that high SAT and ACT scores are correlated with wealth, for example, a "Harvard-based team of researchers and policy analysts, found that children of the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans were 13 times likelier than the children of low-income families to score 1300 or higher on SAT/ACT tests." FCPS began offering free SATs in 2020 and still beats the National Average: Lundquist-Arora continues to gaslight the public just like Youngkin about falling SAT scores in Fairfax County while ignoring truths 4 Public Education revealed in 2023: FCPS increased access to the SAT by providing free SAT testing to all Seniors in 2020. Nationwide, fewer students took SAT preparation courses post-pandemic, and overall scores were lower. Nevertheless, Fairfax County still outperforms Virginia and globally per the chart below. These errors not only misinform readers but also unfairly damage the reputation of FCPS, a school system known for its transparency and accountability. Lack of Basic Research and Context The opinion piece’s flaws go beyond numbers. It shows a clear lack of research into how public school finances work and ignores the broader context of education funding challenges. No Consultation with FCPS Officials: The author did not seek comments or clarifications from FCPS representatives before publishing. This omission leads to a misleading, one-sided opinion piece that is published in the Fairfax GOP newsletter. Ignoring Public Records and Audits: FCPS regularly publishes detailed financial reports and undergoes independent audits. These documents contradict claims in the opinion piece but were not referenced. Additionally, there is a wealth of information available on FCPS Board Docs. Overlooking Educational Priorities: The opinion piece frames spending on programs and staff as wasteful without acknowledging the importance of these investments in student outcomes and community well-being. Concealing Lundquist-Arora's and IWF's legal entanglements with FCPS: It should be no secret at this point that Lundquist-Arora has been involved in at least two lawsuits against FCPS (masks and policy 2603), and that she leverages her role as a parent and Independent Women's Forum (IWF) employee to create charged opinion pieces in multiple right-wing (see Know Your Disinformation Source: IWF for more). But what many do not know is how IWF has been involved in amplifying or otherwise supporting legal cases, over the years through their media, relationships with other Project 2025 founders, and advocacy. Thus, rather than filing lawsuits itself, IWF affiliates, fellows, and members may serve as plaintiffs, "whistleblowers," or media activists amplifying legal battles spearheaded by other conservative or Project 2025 advocacy organizations. For example, IWF has been heavily involved in both the recent high profile cases at Centreville High School and Fairfax High School. This biased, superficial approach by the Daily Signal undermines the credibility of their opinion piece and misleads readers about the realities of public school finance. By concealing IWF's and Lundquist-Arora's own longtime opposition to and legal entanglements with FCPS, it is entirely disingenuous to highlight large legal fees without taking responsibility or ownership for a portion of those fees. The Hidden Agenda: Privatization of Public Schools Lundquist-Arora advocating for School Choice Week with Harry Jackson The Daily Signal’s opinion piece by Lundquist-Arora fits into a broader pattern of narratives aimed at promoting the privatization of public education. By portraying FCPS as financially mismanaged and failing to meet educational priorities, Lundquist-Arora continues to build a case for shifting control from public institutions to private entities. Privatization Push: Privatization advocates often use financial scandals—real or fabricated—to argue that public schools are inefficient and need private sector solutions. Ignoring Public School Successes: FCPS consistently ranks among the top school districts nationally in student achievement and equity. These successes are rarely mentioned in such partisan opinion pieces. Potential Consequences: Privatization leads to reduced transparency, less community control, and uneven educational quality. Lundquist-Arora does not address these risks. Understanding this agenda helps readers critically evaluate the motives behind the misleading claims. How to Verify and Counter Wild Claims About Public Schools Public schools like FCPS play a vital role in communities. Accurate information about their finances helps build trust and support. When encountering sensational claims about school performance and district finances, it is essential to verify information through reliable sources: Carter G. Woodson High School in Fairfax County, VA (credit: Vanessa Hall) Review Official Budget Documents: FCPS publishes its budget and financial reports online. These documents provide detailed, audited data. Look for Original Sources: School Districts are required by law to maintain documentation of budgets, expenditures, performance, demographics, and so much more. It can be found on their website, on state and federal websites, or via FOIA. Seek Multiple Perspectives: Look for statements from school officials, education experts, and community members. Understand Funding Sources: Recognize that public schools receive money from various levels of government, each with specific rules. Demand Transparency from Everyone: FCPS’s commitment to transparency includes regular financial updates and community engagement. Any media source commanding your attention and trying to influence you should be offering the same level of transparency regarding their funding, motives, and data sources. Recognize that Investments Benefit Students: Spending on teachers, programs, and facilities directly impacts student success. Support Community Involvement because it Matters: Parents and residents should stay informed and participate in school board meetings. By following these steps, readers can avoid falling for misinformation. Promoting fact-based discussions strengthens public education and counters misleading narratives. The Daily Signal’s most recent opinion piece (and previous opinion pieces!) on FCPS finances and performance falls short of journalistic standards by misreporting data and ignoring context. Its misleading claims serve a political agenda rather than the public interest. Readers should rely on verified information and support transparent, well-managed public schools that serve all students.

The Stealth Anti-Women’s Group that Despises Your Public Schools (and Possibly your Children) Nowhere are disinformation campaigns more common than from Project 2025 groups like Independent Women’s Forum (IWF), an anti-feminist group that partners with other hate groups to conduct well-funded disinformation campaigns against: LGBTQIA rights, masks and school closures during COVID, food safety, gun control, global climate change, paid parental leave, and women’s rights. It receives significant funding from far right individuals and organizations, including Leonard Leo, Koch, Scaife, Bradley Foundation, and Lambe Foundation. It has also received funding from Altria, Phillip Morris International, and vaping giant Juul. As Sourcewatch points out, “IWF has defended the vaping industry using Juul's own talking points” without disclosing its funding sources. In fact, IWF's Senior Policy Advisor Julie Gunlock (who also works for WMAL) has written opinion pieces, devoted podcasts, and testified before Congress in 2025 to "dispel myths" about e-cigarettes and Juul products, specifically. IWF is a known signatory of Project 2025 whose alliances and goals mirror those of known SPLC hate groups like Parents Defending Education (PDE) and Moms for Liberty. In some cases, they even shared employees, executives, and board members. IWF Culture Warriors The name “Independent Women” helps IWF and its sister organization (Independent Women’s Voice) fly under the radar, because who would suspect independent women–empowered, independent women–to support issues that harm children? As usual, dark money created another stealth moniker because “Independent Women” makes IWF sound like a feminist, woman-positive movement; rather than a movement that works against the Equal Rights Amendment, gun safety, public schools, unions, etc. In a wildly ironic turn of events, IWF was spawned in 1991 by "Women for Judge Thomas," created to defend Clarence Thomas against allegations of sexual harassment and other improprieties, while casting the victimized Anita Hill as an angry, lying, Black woman, during Thomas’s Supreme Court nomination. More recently, IWF has helped foment culture wars and fund right-wing candidates and in 2021 IWF and IWV created the ToxicSchools.org website to target Virginia schools in advance of the 2021 gubernatorial election. Since then, IWF employees, including IWF president Carrie Lukas, Julie Gunlock on WMAL, and others have been laser-focused on Fairfax County Schools, so it is no surprise that the Daily Signal opinion piece by IWF’s IWN Chapter Lead Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is targeting FCPS for the more than one hundredth time in the last three years. Maybe it's time? In 2022, in front of the School Board, IWF President Lukas stated, “It’s time for Virginia to give parents like me the ability to just leave this school system.” Of course with her six-figure IWF salary, one would think she could afford to leave FCPS if that was what she really wanted. IWF’s War on Public Schools: School Choice Week In 2022 IWF launched the Education Freedom Center (IWF-EFC) with the primary goal to advance School Choice, or as True North Research states, IWF-EFC “is used to peddle the majority of IWF’s anti-public school, pro-school privatization content.” Of course, this includes privatizing public funds to be used by private groups with little to no oversight, accountability, or track record. IWF-EFC has received grants from the notorious Donors Trust. Brinkman, Gunlock (WMAL and IWF), Mosely, and Gentles Initially, IWF-EFC was led by Ginny Gentles, lobbyist and former IWF president, who was also a senior political appointee in the U.S. Department of Education under President George W. Bush. Formerly, she both led Florida's school privatization programs and formed her own school privatization consulting firm, so no conflict of interest there…. Much of their website leverages culture war fearmongering about CRT, trans kids, and indoctrination to discourage public education with little facts or expertise. Gentles hosts a “Students over Systems” podcast for IWF-EFC. She also hosts events on Capitol Hill to “educate” lawmakers on how to reduce power of school districts, and tries to influence lawmakers, including handing out nifty awards. Since 2023, they have hosted National Choice Week events, advertised on WMAL, where IWN Chapter representatives like Stephanie Lundquist-Arora and Harry Jackson (see right) would “stand up” for school choice while sending their kids to public school. Lundquist-Arora and Jackson collaborated on many actions in 2022 and 2023, most notably the Shadow Board Youtube videos funded by unknown sources where they mocked an autistic student, ridiculed parent speakers, misrepresented school policies, and endorsed IWF/IWN to their double digit viewers. Lundquist-Arora supported Jacksons failed 2023 Fairfax County School Board campaign even after astonishing revelations about him in local media (e.g., history of spousal abuse, known association with Christian Nationalist Groypers, vicious attacks on local parents, sending controversial mailers to homes depicting sex acts, etc.). Web of Paid Parents and Dark Money What was initially confusing was the timing of this recent hit-piece by Stephanie Lundquist-Arora: why go all out on March 2nd when school choice week is typically held the last week of January? Well, this year, due to inclement weather, school choice week was rescheduled for March 7th with special guest Winsome Sears, Virginia’s unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate. Of course, the timing and amplification of her commentary had nothing to do with the event emceed by Larry O’Connor, an IWF regular whose morning WMAL show has two IWF cohosts, at the Leadership Institute, an organization that trains conservative activists. Before going much further, it is necessary to share the web of organizations that work together to create news and disseminate propaganda. As in March 2025 when Project 2025 groups decided to attack a Women’s History display created by students at West Springfield High School in Fairfax County, the same actors are involved in this disinformation piece. In short: March 2, Stephanie Lundquist-Arora, a IWF (a tax-free anti-feminist charity with over $7 million 2023 revenue) employee, wrote (yet) another opinion piece that targeted the FCPS. It was published in The Daily Signal, run by the Heritage Foundation (a.k.a., author of Project 2025), a tax-free charity with over $100 million 2023 revenue. March 3, WMAL advertised the Education Choice event. March 3, Real Clear Politics republished Lundquist-Arora’s commentary, along with other pro-privatization media. Real Clear Politics, was once a trusted source, but has aligned itself with President Trump and “rag[es] against the left.” March 4, EdReformVA, a “school choice” group (tax free charity with unknown revenue) run by Nathan Brinkman and former IWF President Ginny Gentles, and likely extension of IWF, amplified Lundquist-Arora’s opinion piece. See more about them below. On March 4, Fairfax GOP republished Lundquist-Arora’s commentary, almost as if it was written for them. March 7, the Education “Freedom” event was held at the Leadership Institute with Winsome Sears and O’Connor. On March 7, EdReformVA held an open house event for Fairfax County Republicans in Arlington at the Leadership Institute with speakers Larry O’Connor and Winsome Sears and a lovely barbeque for the 100 or so attendees. Lundquist-Arora was there with a table to hand out IWN Fairfax Chapter literature; however, it is unknown whether this chapter has more than one active member. Brinkman’s EdReformVA seems little more than a pass-through organization for IWF-EFC that began in 2021, but without financials, it is hard to be sure. It also runs EdNews Virginia, a Twitter handle that reposts IWF opinions and a website that aggregates school privatization ‘’news.” However, EdReform Virginia’s board is a who’s who of far right politicos, PACs, and anti-public school culture warriors: from its Executive Director Nathan Brinkman who is a communications coordinator at ALEC (a “corporate bill mill”) and has earned more than $160,000 from the Fairfax County GOP, to one of its most powerful trustees, Ginny Gentles, the former IWF and IWV President, who is a lobbyist for American Federation for Children (AFC) which promotes school privatization. Gentles is also the current Education Freedom and Parental Rights Director at the Defense of Freedom Institute, and works directly with the U.S. Department of Education to host events on the Hill. In fact, On January 29, Gentles held school choice events, a briefing, and award ceremony in the Capitol building for hill staff and with the Secretary of Education. Fake Grassroots Events for Paid Astroturf Operatives All in all, these were fake grassroots (i.e., astroturf) events held by paid political operatives, who work together on a regular basis, to disrupt and harm the reputation of our schools. These astroturf groups and their surrogates do this with minimal transparency and absolutely no accountability to the parents of FCPS students. And yet, they are successful in pushing legislation through their movement that works to tear down our public schools. And right now, they have a direct line to the U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Lundquist-Arora and Gentles are among the mostly Project 2025 parents meeting with Secretary McMahon They use flashy events and opinion pieces to encourage like-minded conservatives to be the mouthpieces for the movement. For example, Lundquist-Arora has written over 100 negative opinion pieces about LGBTQIA and immigrant students, parents, teachers, administrators, school board, and the superintendent of FCPS. These opinion pieces rarely include sources, but as Marianne Burke points out in her associated analysis, IWF-driven opinions often use common disinformation tactics like cherry-picking data and gas-lighting. Each opinion piece by Lundquist-Arora seeks to persuade the reader that FCPS is failing in a myriad of ways; however, if she really thinks that FCPS is that terrible, why does she keep her three children in "unraveling" schools? If she is so worried about the “alphabet mafia,” indoctrination, “failing” scores, immigrants, masks, and equity why does she send her kids to FCPS day after day? Or, does she stick with FCPS to continue to have content for writing gigs on behalf of the IWF school privatization agenda? One can't help but wonder: if this is what she says in public, what is she saying in private to her school administrators and teachers? How much time are her kids' schools spending dealing with her and her complaints or IWF research projects? Ultimately, if Fairfax County taxpayers are in any way supporting paid operative activities, including lawsuits, is that a good use of taxpayer funds? Someone should FOIA that kind of information, because there are a lot of paid operatives in Northern Virginia. Additionally, why are these far right media sources so opaque about who Lundquist-Arora is and who she works for? Lundquist-Arora has been involved in at least two Project 2025 lawsuits against FCPS (COVID masking with IWF President Lukas and about misgendering students, represented by America First Legal), been a controversial Fairfax GOP School Board candidate, and worked with Sebastian Gorka, House Freedom Caucus, and Lauren Broebert. Yet, she is regularly quoted merely as a “concerned parent” or a "IWN Chapter Lead" on Fox News, NewsMax, and Fairfax Times? It seems like common sense that one is more than just a “parent” if one is paid for one's input or role, especially when one's role is more mouthpiece or agitator than parent. Finally, it is concerning that neither she nor IWF, or other Project 2025 groups, are accountable to the parents and taxpayers of FCPS, most of whom are unaware of their pro-privatization, anti-public school parent agenda. Thankfully, more and more parents are questioning IWF's and Lundquist-Arora’s scathing criticisms of the school district where they send their kids. On the other hand, here at 4 Public Education, we are grassroots parents, teachers, grandparents, and citizens. We are NOT paid, and we decide what we will write, say, and do. Although our goals may align with other groups, most notably civil rights groups, we are guided by the belief that quality public schools are the right of the families in the community. We are honest about our agenda and we say it with our whole chest: We support public schools! Please find companion pieces here by Marianne Burke and Vanessa Hall.

If Yes, then School Vouchers and Pull-out Religious Programs are the Answer In the seventy years since Brown v. Board of Education desegregated public schools, there have been intense efforts made to privatize public education. One strategy has been to provide private school vouchers to offer families a “choice” of school. However, it is well documented nationwide that: School vouchers have a negative impact on public schools, Public schools are academically succeeding, not failing as some allege There is an advantage provided to businesses when public school students transfer to private schools, and Private school vouchers are unpopular among Americans. What has not been well documented, but is nevertheless true, is how the Christian Nationalist movement is jeopardizing public education. Of course “Christian Nationalism” is not actually Christian–instead it is a “political ideology that seeks to merge Christian and American identities, distorting both the Christian faith and America’s constitutional democracy.” Although Christian nationalism uses symbols of Christianity like the bible and the cross, in truth, its values typically overlap with white supremacy. In fact, the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State refer to it as a “noxious, ahistorical view that stands in opposition to religious freedom and the separation of church and state.” TPUSA pin handed out at the taxpayer-funded Rededicate 250 National Prayer Jubilee that some have termed a Christian Nationalist Event (credit: Laura Jedeed) Christian Nationalist Goal: Systematic Takeover of Public Education For decades, a subgroup of the religious right has led a “systematic movement to take over American education.” That movement is nondenominational (avoids traditional denominational affiliations) and is aimed largely at integrating extreme fundamentalist Christian views into public schools while they attack policies and programs that they consider immoral. A central tenet of that movement is that the United States was founded as a Christian nation, despite all evidence to the contrary. Toward that end, members of this far right, fundamentalist movement are working to integrate extreme, fundamentalist Christian views into public education and at all levels of public life. The danger to public school systems from the rise of Christian Nationalism goes beyond blurring the separation of church and state. Those in the movement claim it will improve morality for children but the Supreme Court disagreed. Abington School District v. Schempp found that Bible reading or prayer as a part of public school curriculum is unconstitutional. Pressure from the Christian Nationalist movement has been so strong that warnings about the growth of the movement have been given. In 2023, the national media warned that a well funded coalition of far-right groups wanted to put the Bible ahead of the Constitution. Some religious groups have warned that this Christian Nationalist movement is destructive, is gaining strength, and is being adopted by Trump’s political party which has courted extremist and fundamentalist views. Both the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and Christians Against Christian Nationalism outlined the dangers to public education. Also, Congress was so alarmed they developed a task force to stop the “far-right government takeover”. It has become apparent that instead of ensuring religious freedom for all Americans, the plan is for extreme Christian Nationalist views to be imposed on all citizens of the United States. This is in opposition to the First Amendment of the Constitution which clearly bars laws “respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” However, it also defies the intentions of the Founding Fathers, which included what Thomas Jefferson defined as a “wall of separation between Church and State.” Project 2025: The Christian Nationalist Blue Print The Forward of Project 2025, Mandate for Leadership, the Conservative Promise provides a summary of the Christian Nationalism plan for the Trump administration, and explains the rationale of leaders of that movement. In response, the Charles Kettering Foundation has outlined the disturbingly accurate blueprint for the Christian Nationalist regime change currently underway in our country. Significant portions of Project 2025’s anti-public education agenda have already been accomplished, which means that the warnings about the Project 2025 agenda for public education should have been taken seriously. The President is following the plan as he works to close the U.S Department of Education (ED) even though that authority officially lies with Congress, not the presidency. Trump has successfully exceeded his authority in the ED by laying off half of the employees, outsourcing most of the ED responsibilities to other agencies, and radically changing the goals and priorities of the department. Also, Trump has been trying to cut funding to the department. He was unsuccessful for FY 2026 but now he is trying to cut the ED budget for 2027. In the future envisioned by Project 2025 authors, public schools won’t be welcoming places where all kids can learn, think for themselves, and succeed. There won’t be a Department of Education to ensure everyone has access to a quality education and that students who are LGBTQ+, Black or Brown, or have disabilities are protected, much less educated. Vilifying Public Education as a Strategy One tactic that has been used to further the extreme right agenda is smear campaigns against public schools so parents will desire a different type of school. Despite abundant evidence that public schools have many advantages over private schools, there is an entire array of think tanks devoted to anti-public school campaigns. Recently the far right and the Republican party have begun to demonize public schools using false and often outrageous claims. In one of his first executive orders in his second term, President Trump alleged that public schools imprint “anti-American, subversive, harmful, and false ideologies on our Nation’s children”. Also he made inflammatory and baseless claims that public schools allow children to get sex change operations during the school day. Other examples of false and outrageous claims include that public school employees helped arrange abortions for students (see Vanessa Hall's current blog), and hit pieces that use misinformation to disparage public school systems and accuse administrations of mismanagement, Unfortunately, these false conspiracy theories are believed by many and are circulated widely, which endangers school staff and administrators. Federally Funded Private School Vouchers One of the goals of the extreme, fundamentalist Christian right is to have the federal government pay for students to receive religious training in private religious schools under the guise of “school choice”. This is at least part of the rationale behind the passage of the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program that was established under Public Law 119-21. That federal scholarship program promises families a “choice” of schools for their children but makes it more difficult to fund public education. The cost to public school systems is not yet fully determined but the use of school vouchers and reduced federal funding to public education will starve public schools that are already lacking adequate funding. In fact, allowing vouchers has already contributed to closures of some public schools, and the loss of schools as community hubs can be detrimental beyond the families who attend public schools. Also, because private schools are exempt from anti-discrimination laws, the loss of funding and civil rights protections that are required of public institutions will impact the most vulnerable of our children and families. This tax credit private scholarship program provides generous tax credits and an advantage to the private school industry, but private schools are not held to the standards and accountability that are required of public schools. Also, indications are that the academic advantage of private schools is being oversold. Because most private schools are religiously affiliated, (78% of students in private schools are in religiously affiliated schools), it is clear that encouraging the transfer of students from public to private schools supports the Project 2025 agenda by luring students to schools that will teach fundamentalist Christian ideology. Pull-out Programs for Religious Instruction A second strategy is Released Time Religious Instruction (RTRI), where public school students are released during the school day to attend religious classes or services. LifeWise Academy is a nationwide program that provides Bible classes to public school students during the school day using “release time.” Details about the program and the problems associated with this pull-out program are provided in this video. Often students who are not enrolled in the program feel left out and have unstructured time at their public school while their classmates attend the pull-out program. This is not conducive to academic achievement for those in the program or for those left behind, and in some cases substantial loss of core instructional time occurs. There is strong pressure exerted on children in LifeWise programs to recruit other students into the religious pull-out program. For elementary school students they are enticed to join with candy, toys, and pizza parties. Older children are lured with the opportunity to miss class time. The number of new LifeWise programs based in public schools continues to grow each year and Virginia shows a disturbing number of public school systems that have already initiated LifeWise programs. Ohio citizens organized after they realized that LifeWise Academy programming introduced indoctrination, divisiveness, disruption, and undue influence in Ohio public schools The Secular Education Association (SEA) “stands firmly against programs like LifeWise, advocating to preserve the constitutional separation of religion and public education nationwide.” The SEA monitors the status of participation by school systems across the country and posts information at this link. LifeWise Academy claims to be “non-denominational, character-based bible education” but the organization is using an extreme religious curriculum based on the “The Gospel Project” – a Bible study program produced by LifeWay Christian Resources, the publishing house for the Southern Baptist Convention.” Readers may not be aware that some Christian Nationalist educational programming hides behind the "non-denominational" label which often is misunderstood to mean inclusive. In this case it means the movement is autonomous, fundamentalist, and evangelical. In the case of LifeWise Academy, many have criticized its relationship with Christian Nationalism. For example, according to Bruce Gerencser of Ney, Ohio in a Letter to the editor of the Defiance Crescent-News: “Sadly, school boards seem all too willing to bulldoze the wall between church and state, reintroducing sectarian Christianity into our schools. Take LifeWise Academy. LifeWise, an Ohio-based Evangelical ministry, is a Trojan horse that has been rolled through the front doors of numerous local schools with no push back from school administrators or the media. LifeWise’s objective is indoctrination, not truth.” What can You Do? Readers may wonder what can be done about the rightward push by the federal government toward incorporating Christian Nationalism into the curricula of our public schools. There are two fronts where people can resist and create change. Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program: It is up to the governor of each state to decide if their state will opt into the program, which will start in January 2027. Former Governor Youngkin opted Virginia into the program as one of his last actions as Governor. 4 Public Education is appealing Youngkin’s decision to the Spanberger administration. Public school advocates in Virginia should watch for updates on this issue and respond to calls to action that will be published in the 4 Public Education newsletters. RTRI Programs like LifeWise: Public school advocates should become educated about the problems with these pull-out programs and monitor their school systems for plans to participate. Details on school systems in Virginia that are participating in LifeWise are available at this link and details for other parts of the United States can be found at this link.

Another Lawsuit against Public Schools Has Been Dismissed! Last Fall, 4 Public Education shared the truth about the Centreville High School (HS) widely publicized abortion scandal manufactured by political operatives in time for the 2025 Virginia Gubernatorial race. Since then, there have been incredible updates, including a defamation lawsuit and the release of a final investigation by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). This blog will briefly cover the history, allegations, FCPS investigations, and lawsuits. Try to follow along, because this is a tangled web of allegations and unreliable narrators, which required expensive investigations to untangle the full story. Brief History of the “Scandal” The story began on August 5, 2025 when a so-called “whistleblower,” an English as a Second Language (ESOL) teacher, Zenaida Perez, shared complex allegations of “illegal” abortions on immigrant students that she claimed were “facilitated” by the school social worker, ignored by her principal, and paid for by FCPS. Click to read 4PE's earlier coverage Supposedly, these events described by Perez occurred during the 2021-22 school year, but for unknown reasons Perez didn’t declare her allegations publicly or to Child Protective Services at the time. Instead, she shared her allegations with a small group of people including a fellow teacher and friend (Julie Perry) and a Fairfax Times reporter (Asra Nomani) in late 2022, after Centreville HS administration investigated and dismissed her claims as invalid. Three years later, in 2025, Perez shared her story with a number of conservative and partisan reporters, including Luke Rosiak of the Daily Wire, Walter Curt Jr. of WC Dispatch, and Nomani of the Fairfax Times. Interestingly, all three of these reporters had close ties to the Youngkin administration: Rosiak’s reporting was used heavily in the Youngkin 2021 campaign, and some say his media spin on parental rights issues and horrific sexual assaults in Loudoun became the cornerstone of the Youngkin 2021 campaign. Curt, an Ohio blogger, was the son of a Youngkin appointee and mega-donor to the Virginia GOP and Governor Youngkin. Nomani was well-known as a self-described “Hopping Mad Mama Bear” who helped get Youngkin elected in 2021, yet whose partisan articles about FCPS have been questionable (e.g., Pride Liberation student walk-outs, FCPS Equity Offices, FCPS Merit “Scandal,” NAACP Vice President, etc.). From August to October 2025, the Ohio blogger and Fairfax Times reporter shared lurid details including: Perez’s secretly recorded meetings with FCPS, interviews with Perez, letters supposedly written by the students involved, etc. However, their reporting on the Centreville HS "scandal" used the term “allegedly” so extensively that some Fairfax County critical thinkers had deep suspicions about the veracity of the story early on. Why? Because “allegedly” may be a term used by reporters to report on accusations; however, when it is overused, it can make stories appear untrustworthy. Nevertheless, the Centreville HS scandal was so titillating that it inflamed anyone who read it. Soon, it was shared wide and far by Sinclair’s WJLA. Perez and Perry were interviewed by multiple news sources, including Fox 5. Oddly, Independent Women's Forum's (IWF) president, Carrie Lukas was interviewed about the story, despite having no children at the school. At the same time, uninformed, angry people had lots to say on social media about the story, most of which centered on the opinion that FCPS was a “woke hellhole” and that people should go to jail for “this” despite not knowing what really happened. However, many Fairfax County parents and voters questioned why this old, unsubstantiated story hit right before an election and was being used by a weak candidate and her surrogates in campaign speeches across Virginia. John Reid uses the fake scandal in his August 28, 2025 campaign speech On August 28, 2025, the story even inspired (or was leveraged by) a rally of anti-abortion groups (e.g., the Family Foundation). Republican Lt. Governor candidate John Reid, busy trying to make a name for himself in advance of the November 2025 election, used the fake scandal in his stump speech. The Family Foundation imported most of their rallygoers from out of town, and their speeches were influenced by Curt’s and Nomani’s reporting of this four-year old unconfirmed story about the “scandal” at Centreville HS. FCPS Pride Rally supporting Fairfax County School Board's resistance to Trump's US ED threats At the time, this pop-up political rally filled with out-of-towners competed for physical rally space and School Board speaking spots with FCPS Pride, a local group, who planned a rally in support of the Fairfax County School Board for their affirmation of transgender student protections and policies in the face of threats by the U.S. Department of Education (US ED). It was a bit messy, to say the least; however, both groups tried to coexist. FCPS Independent But Expensive Investigations Interestingly, the mainstream news did not touch Perez’s story until after FCPS released a preliminary investigation on October 16, 2025 after a ten-week investigation performed by King & Spaulding, a highly regarded “top-tier” law firm in Washington, DC. As 4 Public Education has previously reported, this preliminary investigation found that “based on fact-finding, it appears that the allegations are untrue.” In addition, King and Spaulding found the “shocking” allegations by Perez, Curt, and Nomani that “FCPS procured and paid for minor abortions without parent consent, are very likely untrue and lacking in factual or evidentiary support.” In summary, King and Spaulding’s report found: “The evidence we have reviewed indicates that Mrs. Diaz and Mr. Lehman acted appropriately and consistent with FCPS policies and regulations and with applicable federal and state laws. Mrs. Perez’s allegations appear to be rooted in speculation. It also appears that in her zeal to prove her suspicions true, Mrs. Perez procured statements from students that were false.” Immediately, Curt and Nomani harshly dismissed the findings of the independent report. Nomani referred to it as a “burn book,” and stated that “FCPS will have to delete from its website.” Curt was a bit more colorful with his response, calling FCPS a bunch of “losers,” “liars,” and “scumbags.” Meanwhile, Perez was placed on paid administrative leave on October 20, 2025. Of course, those she had accused of malfeasance had been on administrative leave since August 2025. Click to Read On January 9, 2026, Superintendent Reid provided a further update to respond to allegations by Perez and others: “As explained in today’s submission, the available facts appear to confirm that these allegations are not only untrue but were based largely on statements that were misinterpreted, mistranslated, taken out of context, or in some cases knowingly fabricated. We have found no credible evidence of any actual wrongdoing by school staff or administrators. As important as it was to take these allegations seriously, we also believe we have a duty to be transparent about our findings and, regrettably, it appears that innocent Centreville HS personnel in this case were wrongly and publicly accused of criminal acts without any sound factual basis.” "Regrettably, it appears that innocent Centreville HS personnel in this case were wrongly and publicly accused of criminal acts without any sound factual basis.” - Superintendent Reid The supplemental investigation included another letter to Senator Bill Cassidy and an Appendix that responded to statements made by both Perez and her counsel, Americans United for Life (AUL), which the independent investigators found to further undermine her allegations. The Appendix further outlined major concerns, such as: “If Mrs. Perez or others with whom she shared her private concerns between November 2022 and August 2025 had genuinely believed that young girls were at risk of what she and her lawyers have termed “abortion trafficking,” presumably steps would have been taken sooner to call public or law enforcement attention to these concerns, or at a minimum to bring such concerns to the attention of senior school division leaders, who instead learned of this issue for the first time through the story posted by Mrs. Perez’s social media collaborator, Walter Curt. “ Walter Curt and Congressional Candidate Julie Perry at May 2026 Prince William GOP fundraiser This statement highlights a concern of this author, who has followed this case quite closely. If Perez’s claims were true, as outlined in the stories by her compatriots, then she and they ignored an even worse activity: sex trafficking. Perez’s stories involved vulnerable pregnant girls who lacked housing, power, documentation, language, family, and financial stability to insulate them from sex traffickers. One even had a much older boyfriend! These are all hallmarks of sex trafficking that should have been examined and reported. Instead, these girls were exploited for for a political story for the very same vulnerable circumstances that would expose them to sex trafficking. Seemingly, all of this was done just in time for the 2025 Gubernatorial Election. Additionally, the investigation highlighted how Perez’s lawyer, AUL, had “gone to great lengths to promote this story for its own benefit” with Perez’s active participation in sensational dramatized accounts of Perez’s allegations in videos. Furthermore, the investigation indicated that AUL went beyond attacking FCPS to “disseminating accusations against Mrs. Diaz that the organization should know by now to be false and defamatory” particularly when Mrs. Diaz, the social worker, ”should be commended for the kindness and attention she showed to a vulnerable student facing difficult life circumstances.” Perez’s Defamation Lawsuit Against FCPS On October 29, 2025, with lots of fanfare, Perez filed a lawsuit in Fairfax Circuit Court against various FCPS staff and Dr. Michelle Reid, the FCPS Superintendent (CL-2025-0016376). Monique Miles and Steven Aden of AUL held a press conference in front of the Fairfax County Circuit Court with the Republican National Committeewoman for Virginia (Pattie Lyman), friend and fellow Centreville HS teacher Julie Perry, and reporters present. During this press conference, Perez admitted that the student “didn’t write” the letter, but “it was informed by the student who’d had the abortion.” This lawsuit was soon withdrawn. On November 21, 2025, Perez filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District (E.D.) Court of Virginia, Perez v FCPS (1:25-cv-02126). In her complaint, Perez alleged that she has been subjected to a pattern of retaliation and defamation following her reports to administration of the abortion scandal, demanding $1,000,000 in damages, compensatory damages, legal fees, court costs, and interest. She sued the former principal, current principal, the assistant principal, and FCPS Superintendent. The complaint includes many unsubstantiated accusations, including some against FCPS lawyers, such as claiming that the King & Spalling preliminary report had an "unnecessarily vindictive tenor" and that it made false and fabricated claims that Perez manipulated evidence or witnesses in order to "absolve FCPS" in the "court of public opinion". (Personally, this author found the report to be professional, well-sourced, and thought-provoking!) On December 16, 2025, FCPS responded with a request to dismiss since the claims were barred due to sovereign immunity, Anti-SLAPP immunity, and because Perez failed to demonstrate that her speech addressed matters of genuine public concern. They also asked that “Plaintiff’s immaterial and impertinent attacks on Defendants’ counsel should be stricken from Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint.” Additional documents and legal filings can be found here. On May 8, 2026, Judge Anthony J. Trenga, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2008, ruled that Perez’s lawsuit was dismissed on all counts. Rumors are that her legal team is considering appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court; however, it is unlikely such a suit would be successful. What’s Next in this Bizarre "Scandal"? First, it is entirely possible that Perez’s lawsuits are not finished. AUL has already indicated that they are looking at all options, despite the weakness of their case. Additionally, the FCPS personnel who were harassed, defamed, and/or threatened in this process, particularly Ms. Garcia, have good cases against multiple parties for defamation. Perry and Perez attend Rally Virginia Women's GOP Leadership March 2026 Summit It seems fairly obvious that the FCPS personnel who were publicly attacked by by Perez, AUL, and associates have the necessary components for a defamation lawsuit: 1) a false statement of fact that was 2) publicized to third parties by a defendant who 3) either knew the statement was false or acted with negligence in determining the truth. There is ample evidence on social media that the defamatory statements caused harm to the reputation of FCPS staff. Whether or not they wish to pursue such cases is another question, since lawsuits are time-consuming and expensive to pursue; however, due to the high profile nature of Perez’s case, it is possible that the affected staff may be offered some pro-bono legal services for a defamation lawsuit against the parties involved. Second, it is almost certain that someone will lose their job. It is inconceivable that any teacher could keep their job after what was described in the initial and final independent FCPS investigations, now that the defamation litigation was dismissed. FCPS has an array of regulations and policies for staff to follow, and there are consequences for violating them. Third, FCPS suffered economic and reputational damage due to the accusations and lawsuits that cannot be restored. The investigations cost millions of dollars, as did the lawsuit, and there is un-costed time and energy spent by FCPS staff and the Superintendent to address the issues caused by the allegations brought by Perez and her associates. This doesn’t even touch the damage caused by the unsubstantiated allegations initially published in blogs and on social media. It is unfortunate that FCPS can never recover these costs. Fourth, taxpayers will have to foot the legal bills of the FCPS investigations, FCPS defense of Perez’s lawsuits, the police investigation initiated by former Governor Youngkin which never surfaced, and the multiple investigations conducted by the federal government. Additionally, the court time in Fairfax Circuit Court and the Eastern District Court of Virginia is also costly to local, state, and federal taxpayers. Of course, FCPS staff and leadership, targeted by these claims, were either put on paid leave or distracted from their core duties of educating FCPS students by the false claims and the lawsuits. It is impossible to ignore the emotional and reputational impact of hundreds of social media posts threatening prison sentences (and worse!) to innocent people involved in these allegations. It’s possible that the total costs of these allegations by Perez and associates could exceed seven figures when all of the damages and expenses are valued. Finally, all of this was a horrible distraction from our kids’ education, particularly for students and staff at Centreville HS who were under a microscope for months. Centreville HS students were subject to filming by at least one known extremist group, Tradition Family Property (TFP) Student Action, identified by the red capes they wear. TFP Student Action is the campus outreach component of “The American TFP” which has been cited by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as a hate group for their “virulently anti-LGBT” views. In fact, a teacher asked that the Fairfax County School Board review their policies about filming students on school grounds due to concerns over recent filming of minors by TFP Action or their allies. She indicated that this group comes to protest at high schools around Fairfax County, which is a concern to many parents, guardians, and staff because it endangers the students and their safety. Fairfax County schools have been the target of many disinformation campaigns by the same actors over the last six years. It is costing our families, students, staff, schools, and taxpayers too much, while the disinformation is dividing the community. Every single time political operatives play legal football with our public schools, it is our students who pay the price.

In today’s media landscape, understanding the sources behind the news we consume is crucial. All Virginia News (AVN) has recently emerged as a media outlet with increasing social media conflict, but beneath its surface lies a complex identity. While this blog reveals AVN's role as a stealth Republican media site 4 Public Education will examine in subsequent blog how AVN operates, its impact on public opinion, and what readers should keep in mind when engaging with its content. Who is Behind All Virginia News? Answer: the Loudoun GOP. The Loudoun GOP hosts the website. The former Loudoun GOP chairman Harold (Scott) Pio registered AVN as a business entity with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Longtime active Loudoun GOP activist and contributor to RedVirginiaNews, Audrey Carpenter, was the initial Northern Virginia Bureau Chief for AVN. AVN's website and social media pages are opaque regarding these connections. They have failed to answer questions on social media, nor do they have an "About Us" link on their website. Instead, they covertly deliver conservative talking-points and Republican propaganda to unsuspecting readers. They are a stealth media site. What Does It Mean to Be a Stealth Media Site? A stealth media site is one that presents itself as an independent or neutral news source but subtly promotes a specific political agenda. In this case, AVN operates with a Republican slant, often framing stories to support conservative viewpoints without overtly declaring its political leanings. This approach allows the site to attract a broader audience, including those who might not typically seek out partisan news. Stealth media sites use various techniques to influence readers: Selective story coverage emphasizing conservative issues Framing news with language that favors Republican policies Downplay or omit stories that portray Republicans negatively Headlines designed to evoke emotional responses aligned with Republican values Highlighting criticisms of opposing political parties Using opinion pieces disguised as news reports These content strategies contribute to shaping public perception in subtle but effective ways. Understanding these tactics helps readers critically evaluate the information they receive. What Comes Next? For 4 Public Education, this author needs to do a little more research to evaluate how AVN operates, its impact on public opinion, and what readers should keep in mind when engaging with its content. For those reading this blog, keep in mind that Virginia has experienced significant political shifts in recent years, with a growing divide between urban and rural areas, and stealth Republican media outlets like AVN play a role in this dynamic by reinforcing partisan perspectives. When they operate without transparency of motive or funding to readers, they are not operating as an ethical newspaper, but are operating as a political propagandist. Stealth media groups like AVN revel in deepening divides among Virginians, because it increases readership. Correspondingly, readers who rely heavily on such sources may develop a skewed understanding of apolitical events, which can deepen polarization. Of course, it is unnecessary to engage in further polarization. There is no need to argue--just state the truth of who is operating the stealth media site known as All Virginia News and then disengage, because social media arguments can never be won. There is no need to add fuel to the fire, just inform others who is causing the fire, and hand them a fire extinguisher so that they can make a choice about whether or not to fuel or extinguish the fire of stealth media sites like AVN.

Members of Mclean’s Envirothon team showing off their one page handout On a bitter January evening, students, scientists, and neighbors gathered to talk about something most of us have stopped noticing: the disappearing night sky. On January 15, 2026, the McLean Envirothon Club and the Longfellow Middle School Eco Action Club hosted a community event at Longfellow Middle School centered on one of the fastest-growing — and least-discussed — environmental problems in the world: light pollution. A Problem Hiding in Plain Sight More than 80% of people in the United States can no longer see the Milky Way from where they live. That alone should stop you cold. Longfellow students explained how artificial light at night throws off the biological clocks of humans and wildlife alike — disrupting bird migration, confusing pollinators like moths and fireflies, and denying every species, nocturnal or not, the darkness they need. And the problem is accelerating: artificial sky brightness is growing by roughly 10% per year globally, fueled largely by the rapid spread of bright white LED lighting. The front of McLean HS is lit as brightly as a Target at night When Efficiency Has a Hidden Cost LEDs were supposed to be a win. They use less energy — that part is true. But students pointed out an uncomfortable twist: because LED lighting is cheaper to run, we've simply installed more of it. The efficiency gains have been swallowed whole by growth in use. Light pollution is something people my age have heard about for decades," said Kate Carey, who helped guide the student project. "But what we're missing is that with the advent of LED lighting, the problem has gotten exponentially worse and is causing significant damage to biodiversity." Carey is a Virginia Master Naturalist who began volunteering at Longfellow in 2020, working alongside Dr. Yannos Misitzis with the school's Get2Green teams to study natural resources, reduce waste, and explore the park and stream near campus. She also coaches the McLean High School Envirothon team, which has grown dramatically. "Last year we barely fielded a team," she said. "This year we have eleven incredibly enthusiastic members." McLean HS near woods. It's 10pm at night, but it feels like daytime. Students Leading the Way The two clubs divided and conquered. The Longfellow Eco Action students spent the fall building out the science — explaining what light pollution is, how it works, and why it matters. The McLean Envirothon students focused on further outreach and solutions, producing a one-page handout outlining the principles of dark-sky-friendly lighting: Useful — If a light isn't needed, turn it off. Targeted — Direct light downward, not into the sky or onto neighboring properties. Low Level — Use only as much brightness as the task requires. Controlled — Timers, motion detectors, and dimmers keep light from running unnecessarily. Warm-Colored — Warmer bulbs (lower Kelvin) cut down on blue light, which drives skyglow and disrupts wildlife. Ben Aiken from the Fairfax County Department of Code Compliance was, by all accounts, the most in-demand speaker of the night, fielding a steady stream of questions about county lighting regulations. But Carey was most proud of her students. The middle schoolers had spent a semester on the project and put in hours of rehearsal. The high schoolers handled advertising, thought through how to make the event feel welcoming to all ages, and — critically — baked dozens of cookies. A few even made the trip over to Longfellow's club meetings. Envirothon President Brianna Wang summed it up well: Coordinating our event and merging our different ideas was such an amazing experience. I really felt a strong community around environmental awareness growing in so many people of different ages and backgrounds. Seeing the Night Again For anyone wanting to go deeper, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History currently has a major exhibit — Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky — that examines how artificial lighting has reshaped the nighttime environment and what communities can do to get it back. See the online exhibit here. What stays with me from this student-led community conversation is the students' sense of possibility and the ease of their solution. Light pollution is rare among environmental issues: it's one we can do something about that costs no money and requires very little effort. Starting tonight, turn off a light you don't need. Swap out a harsh bulb. Point a fixture downward instead of up. The night sky didn't disappear all at once. It can come back the same way — gradually, one light at a time. An unused football stadium at 10pm flooding nearby neighbors with light