Fairfax County sends biased survey to community as part of plan to develop new “Anti-Racism” policy

  • Fairfax County Public Schools - Virginia

Incidents

Issues

On May 6, 2021, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand sent parents and community members a biased survey co-written by Leadership Academy, a consulting firm that the school district paid $49,600 to create. The email and survey to parents and family members are below.

The Survey

As a parent or family member of an FCPS student, your input is valuable. Please answer the below questions to the best of your ability. We recognize you may not have full insight into all of the topics, such as how topics are covered in classes, but we are eager to learn your impression and perspective.

  • We estimate that this survey will take 10 minutes to complete.  
  • Your answers are completely anonymous. We are not asking for your name or any way to be able to link you to your responses. 
  • We appreciate your candid answers.

Section 1: Current Experiences 

To what degree do you agree with the following:

Strongly AgreeAgreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree
3. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) creates a welcoming environment for me.
4. People within FCPS care for me.
5. My multiple identities (racial, ethnic, gender, religious, etc.)are valued and affirmed within FCPS.
6. FCPS staff are equipped to teach about race.
7. FCPS staff are equipped to teach about racism.
8. FCPS staff are equipped to teach about multiple identities.
9. FCPS staff are equipped to teach about identity-based bias.
10. FCPS helps students develop positive self-identities based on their membership in multiple groups in society.
11. In FCPS, students are taught to value other people’s multiple identities.
12. I would be welcomed to help shape the FCPS curriculum if I wanted to.
13. The curriculum and teaching methods (or teaching practices) provided in FCPS are culturally responsive and free of bias.
14. Students have access to high quality teaching and learning opportunities in FCPS.
15. Students experience barriers to learning because of how the schools and school system are designed.

Section 2: Potential Future Directions / Prospective Directions 


To what degree do you agree with the following: 

 

Strongly AgreeAgreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree
21. Teaching methods (or teaching practices) address race as often as they should.
22. Teaching methods (or teaching practices) address racism as often as they should.
23. Teaching methods (or teaching practices) address multiple identities as often as they should.
24. Teaching methods (or teaching practices) address identity-based bias as often as they should.
25. If FCPS staff discuss topics of race, racism, identity, bias with students, then staff members should have clear guidance from the district about how to teach those topics.
26. In discussions with students, staff should cover topics that relate to race, racism, identity, and bias in a similar manner as how they cover human rights issues.
27. It is important for curriculum materials (e.g., textbooks) to represent different races and identities with respect and without stereotypes.
28. The curriculum used in FCPS should teach students how to challenge power and privilege in society.
29. A curriculum and teaching methods focused on being anti-racist and anti-biased would support students’ academic excellence and accelerate learning.
30. If FCPS used a curriculum and teaching methods that were more inclusive of students’ identities, students would feel empowered.
31. If FCPS used a curriculum and teaching methods that were more inclusive of students’ identities, students would be better prepared for college and/or careers.
32. Teachers should have materials to guide them in creating anti-racist and anti-biased classroom environments.
33. The teaching methods (or teaching practices) used in FCPS should offer students ways to take action against racial and social injustice.
34. The FCPS curriculum should give students opportunities to recognize injustices that individuals create (e.g.,. biased-based beliefs and language).
35. The FCPS curriculum should give students opportunities to recognize injustices that systems create (e.g., discrimination and oppression).

Section 3: Background Information (optional) 

Please share background information. This section is optional. Please remember, all responses are anonymous. Your responses cannot be linked to you. 

We belong to a number of groups that form our identity. Select the multiple identities from the list that best describe you.

36. Are you Hispanic or Latino/Latina?

  • No, not Hispanic or Latino/Latina
  • Yes, Hispanic or Latino/Latina (A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.)

37. What is your race?

  • American Indian or Alaska Native (A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America, including Central America, and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.)
  • Asian (A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.)
  • Black or African American (A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.)
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.)
  • White (A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe.)
  • MENA (A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Middle East or North Africa.)

38. Please indicate any relevant aspects of your identity (or your family’s identity)? (select all that apply)

  • Religion (optional: indicate) 
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Gender Non-Conforming
  • Multilingual
  • Free or Reduced Meal Eligible
  • Veteran
  • Person with a Disability
  • Race
  • Ethnicity (please share) 
  • Country of Origin (please share) 
  • Other (please share) 

Please click on the arrow below to submit your responses.
 

Questions to Staff

Staff received separate questions that asked, “To what degree do you agree with the following:”

  • “I purposefully learn about the multiple identities of my students, families, and communities to inform my decision-making and actions.”
  • “I have what I need to carry our an anti-racist and anti-biased education.”
  • “I create opportunities that support students to take action on injustice and inequities, regardless of my role…or content area. 19. I challenge and confront behaviors that promote racism, bias and exclusion, even in the face of resistance or discomfort.”
  • “I regularly examine how my beliefs, biases, and role may contribute to or replicate inequitable practices.”


The Email


From: Fairfax County Public Schools<[email protected]>
Date: On Thu, May 6, 2021 at 11:07 AM
Subject: Fwd: Anti-Racism, Anti-Bias Curriculum Policy Survey

Dear FCPS Families and Community,

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to realizing a vision of educational equity in which every FCPS student thrives academically, socially, and emotionally and is empowered as the next generation of change leaders for a more just world.

One key strategy to achieve educational equity is to analyze and address the beliefs and policies that inform teaching practices along with what is taught in schools. FCPS will begin by revising the existing Controversial Issues Policy and developing a new Anti-Racism, Anti-Bias Education Curriculum Policy.  

We believe that hearing from all stakeholders (students, families, educators, and community) and collecting their input will support more inclusive and equitable curriculum policies. We are working with The Leadership Academy to support the revision and development of the two curriculum policies.

We invite you to participate in a survey to provide input on the development of the curriculum policy. 

Please click to take the survey.

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6322435/FCPS-Equity-Round1

The survey is opens May 6 and will close on May 16.

We welcome and encourage your participation as we shape critical policy around student success and our caring culture. If you have additional questions regarding our policy work and to access the survey, please visit the Anti-Racism, Anti-Bias Education Policy web page. 

As a part of the process, the Leadership Academy is also conducting a series of focus groups to gather the perspectives and input of all stakeholders.

The input from the survey and the focus groups will help inform the policy development. The information will be shared with the Fairfax County School Board this summer.

Working together, we can build a vision of educational equity for every child by name and by need.

Thank you for your participation.
 

Sincerely,

Scott S. Brabrand, Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools