When transgender activists urged the Fairfax County Board of Education to eliminate gender-separated sex classes for girls and boys in 2022-23, 84% voted against the idea. The School Board avoided the topic and did not vote on it. FCPS administrators then quietly decided to implement a version via a “pilot project” in 14 elementary schools and middle school, as reported previously

The program will soon be implemented in the school year 2024-25. Parents/caregivers have the option to “opt out”. However, unless they take affirmative steps, their children will be automatically enrolled in unisex classes. FCPS administrators believe that many parents will not pay attention to the issue, and by default, they’ll create a false impression of popularity in the same-sex classes at elementary and middle school.

What are the Pilot Program Schools?

FCPS did not want to make its plans public, so it hasn’t announced which schools will participate in the pilot program. However, a list was obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. The list is below:

Elementary Schools

• Beech Tree (West Falls Church)
• Camelot
• Centreville (Centreville)
• Clermont
• Hutchison
• Lake Anne
• Lynbrook
• Mantua
• Terra Centre (Burke)
• Wakefield Forest

Middle Schools

• Cooper
• Frost (Fairfax)
• Liberty
• Mark Twain Rose Hill

It is important that you are aware of the situation and take action.

What classes are included in the Pilot?

Two classes per grade 5 to 8 will be included in the pilot program of unisex sex education.

• Grade 5: Lessons in Abstinence, Refusal and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Grade 6: Lessons about Human Reproduction and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Grade 7: Lessons about Reproductive Systems and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Grade 8: Abstinence and Contraception Lessons

During the pilot program, other lessons in the Family Life Education Curriculum for these grades will remain gender-separated.

What are the options?

Parents/caregivers will be informed by FCPS of their three options. The first option is the “gender-combined” class; the two other options are what they were before.

• Option 1: Classes for both genders. If parents do nothing, this is the default option.
• Option 2: Classes for boys and girls.
• Option 3: You can opt out of all classes: Once again, affirmative action will be required.

I am unable to determine when FCPS will be sending letters or emails informing parents of the pilot program, and its options. It’s possible some of the schools have already done this. Timing may differ from school to school. Parents will probably be given a time limit to respond. It’s vital to keep an eye out for relevant communications coming from the school system and respond accordingly.

A parent can choose Option 2 above, which, according to a document I obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, allows the child to participate in the opposite gender’s gender-separate class. However, unless the child consents, this choice will not be revealed to the parents. According to a document obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), if the parent selects Option 2, the child could theoretically choose to attend the gender-separate classes of the other gender. Unless the child consents, their parents will not know this decision. If you choose Option 2, I recommend that parents who are against this write on the response sheet: “I would like my son to attend the boys-only classes” (or vice versa).

Publicity is Important!

FCPS is trying to sneak in an extremely divisive program and is trying to maximize the participation of the small minority who do not want to choose between gender-separated boys’ and girls classes. FCPS, however, could have accommodated those who wanted it by offering them the option to join gender-combined class. It didn’t need to come up with a plan that made the majority, who are against gender-combined classes, have to opt out of something only a small minority wants.

FCPS is trying to ignore the wishes of its citizens. Parents must not only be vigilant for their children but also spread the word amongst friends and neighbors.

Citizens can also voice their concerns by writing to the School Board or to editors of newspapers, as well as speaking at School Board meetings. At a recent School Board Meeting, a large group of Muslim parents made this request. Publicity and combined action are the only ways to defeat the citizen-defying acts of FCPS administrators and Board.