Virginia School District's 9/11 Teaching Guide Draws Scrutiny Over Portrayal of Attacks

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has issued instructional guidance for educators commemorating the September 11 attacks, which advises against “centering the extremists or the acts of the extremists” and cautions teachers not to “associate the 9/11 attacks with Islam or Muslims.”

This guidance has led to an investigation by America First Legal (AFL), a legal advocacy organization. Prior, counsel for AFL, stated the group aims to understand the process by which FCPS developed these guidelines and to ascertain if any external organizations were involved in their creation. He clarified that AFL has not yet determined the extent of such involvement but is actively investigating to uncover the full scope. Prior mentioned that the investigation began recently following public reports of the guidance, stating that AFL learned of it “just like everybody else” and sought to identify collaborators in its development.

America First Legal Launches Probe

In their announcement of the probe, AFL accused the school district of attempting to “sanitize history” and demanded “full transparency regarding who is responsible” for the instructional materials. The organization’s statement mentioned a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, though the two-page press release did not specify the exact records being sought.

AFL maintains that the district’s strategy is excessive. Will Scolinos, counsel for AFL, stated when announcing the investigation:

Fairfax County Public Schools is attempting to sanitize history and erase the radical Islamic terrorism that struck our nation on September 11, 2001. Parents and the public must have full transparency regarding who is responsible for stripping truth from our children’s classrooms.

Prior indicated that AFL has not yet decided on the specific actions that might result from its investigation, noting that the organization’s subsequent steps will be determined by its findings.

New Guidance for 9/11 Commemoration

The six-page document, officially titled “25th Anniversary and Commemoration of 9/11,” was initially published on August 27 and subsequently updated on August 31. It instructs educators who opt to observe the anniversary to strictly adhere to the district’s directives and to utilize only approved instructional materials found on the district’s Atlas platform.

The FCPS guide emphasizes that discussions surrounding the attacks can inadvertently lead to the stigmatization of Muslim and Middle Eastern students. It directs teachers to anticipate and prepare for potential anti-Muslim rhetoric, to establish “safe spaces” for students of Muslim and Middle Eastern backgrounds, and to actively challenge any manifestations of bias.

FCPS instructs teachers that “the commemoration of 9/11 focuses on those whose lives were lost and those who sacrificed to help others — not those who attacked the United States.” The document advises educators to highlight narratives of “resilience, support, and resistance” and to present details about the violence in an age-appropriate manner.

Prior contended that educational institutions are capable of instructing students about the ideology behind the September 11 terrorists without attributing collective responsibility to the broader Muslim community. The district’s guidance aligns with this, instructing teachers to explicitly state that al-Qaeda perpetrated the attacks, while clearly differentiating the terrorist group from Muslims as a religious community. The guide states:

When discussing this topic with students, please make clear that the September 11 attacks were carried out by Al-Qaeda, a terrorist extremist organization. Al-Qaeda’s ideology and actions should not be attributed to Islam or to Muslims as a religious community.

A central point of contention revolves around the extent to which educators should focus on the perpetrators and their extremist ideology during commemorations of the attacks.

District's Rationale and Age-Appropriate Content

In a statement, Superintendent Michelle Reid affirmed that FCPS “unequivocally condemn[s]” the September 11 terrorist attacks. She highlighted the district’s deep ties to the Pentagon, military personnel families, first responders, and survivors. The superintendent’s statement also indicated that FCPS was “reviewing our materials” in response to input from the community, while reiterating the principle that “the actions of terrorists should not define the entirety of any faith, culture, or community.” While the September 11 statement from FCPS offered some insight into the review process for the materials, it did not disclose the authors of the six-page guide or those responsible for approving its final wording.

For younger, elementary school students, the district proposes an opening statement such as, “Twenty-five years ago today, there was an attack on the United States.” Subsequent details shared would then be determined by student inquiries and the teacher’s professional judgment. For older students, the suggested language is more explicit, stating that “members of the extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four planes in a coordinated terrorist attack on the United States.” This is followed by a mention of the 2,977 individuals killed, encompassing civilians, military personnel at the Pentagon, and emergency responders. The guidance also underscores the bravery of the passengers and crew aboard Flight 93 who resisted the hijackers.

FCPS explained within the guide that its instructional approach is designed to acknowledge the diverse experiences of families residing in the Northern Virginia district. This area includes many individuals directly impacted by the attacks and the subsequent War on Terror. The document notes that “Many families of military personnel and first responders experienced loss and hardship,” while also recognizing the concerns of Muslim families regarding potential harassment and hate crimes around the anniversary.