America First Legal Investigates Fairfax County School’s 9/11 Teaching Guidance

America First Legal (AFL) has started an investigation into Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) for its teaching guidance about the 9/11 attacks. The investigation follows Fox News Digital’s exposure of the controversial guide as the 25th anniversary of the attacks approaches.

The FCPS guide advises teachers against associating the 9/11 attacks with Islam or Muslims and instructs them to avoid focusing on the extremists involved. AFL wants to know the origins of this guidance and if any external organizations contributed to its creation, though they have yet to confirm any involvement.

We wanna know where this comes from. We wanna know who the school is working with to develop these guidances.

AFL has filed a Freedom of Information Act request to seek full transparency about the guide’s development. Despite the focus, the two-page release does not specify which records are being sought.

The six-page FCPS guide suggests lessons might unintentionally stigmatize Muslim and Middle Eastern students. It recommends creating “safe spaces” for these students and challenging any expressions of bias during discussions about 9/11.

Superintendent Michelle Reid stated that FCPS condemns the 9/11 terrorist attacks and maintains the actions of terrorists shouldn’t define any particular faith or culture. However, the statement does not reveal authors or approvers of the guidance.

The guide emphasizes teaching students about al Qaeda, distinguishing the terrorist group’s ideology from Islam or any religious community. It suggests teachers focus on stories of resilience and sacrifice during the commemoration while providing age-appropriate information.

Elementary students might hear a general description of the attacks, while older students are told more specific details, including al-Qaeda’s involvement and the heroism of Flight 93’s passengers and crew.

FCPS asserts its approach embraces the diverse experiences of families, from those affected by losses related to the attacks to others concerned about harassment during anniversaries.

AFL argues that FCPS’s stance serves to “sanitize history” by omitting the elements of radical Islamic terrorism involved in the 9/11 attacks. The group believes parents and the public deserve full transparency.

As the investigation continues, AFL awaits its findings to determine any potential actions to be taken.