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The first executive order Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed when he took office was to “end the use of inherently divisive concepts, including Critical Race Theory, and to raise academic standards.”
Now more than a month later, his administration has defined some “divisive” concepts and has rescinded several policies, programs and resources that were published by the Virginia Department of Education.
An interim report compiled by Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow that lists "divisive" concepts was released Friday afternoon by the Youngkin administration.
The report states that the concepts surrounding equity and anti-racism have become widespread in the VDOE and in Virginia school divisions.
“Our Virginia students should not be taught to discriminate on the basis of sex, skin color, or religion and VDOE policies should certainly not recommend such concepts," Youngkin said in a statement. "There is much work to be done, but I am encouraged that Superintendent Balow is proactively reviewing policies and practices around the Commonwealth."
In rescinding “divisive concepts,” Balow has discontinued the EdEquityVA initiative begun by her predecessor.
EdEquityVA collectively refers to efforts of the VDOE Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The future of the department is unclear.
Balow's report states, “numerous resources within EdEquityVA advance ‘equity,’ which is redefined to mean that there can be no differences or disproportionalities between students—and any difference in what students have or what they achieve is due to systemic racism.”
Some resources from the EdEquityVA initiative include frameworks about how to close the academic achievement gaps that exist between different demographics of students. Strategies focused on tactics such as mitigating barriers to enrollment for under-represented students into accelerated, advanced and selective academic programs.
Balow wrote in defense of slashing the initiative that basic tenants of anti-racist education are adapted from a critical race theory author and include the idea that white people benefit from racism, regardless of intentions.
Democrat legislators railed against the report on Friday afternoon.
“With the appointment of Jillian Balow, Governor Youngkin had hired his general for the war to erase any history that might be perceived by white students or parents as forcing them to feel inferior," said state Sen. Mamie Locke (D- Hampton) in a statement. "But, after decades of being told that I was inferior for my race, for my gender, for the way I look–and children in my community facing that same treatment–I am sincerely appalled at and fearful of what these reforms will mean for the next generation."
It’s not immediately clear how Balow’s report and Youngkin’s executive order will affect what is taught in classrooms. Balow wrote in the memo that the administration will need to proactively review policies, practices and pedagogies around the state.
Henrico County Public Schools promotes a framework called the Culturally Responsive Education Model through the HCPS office of equity, diversity and opportunity. A HCPS spokeswoman said on Friday afternoon that the school division has not received guidance from the VDOE on the matter.
Balow is tasked with submitting another report to Youngkin in 60 days.
