The U.S. Department of Education announced today that it is initiating enforcement action against Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) over allegations that a school social worker helped underage students obtain abortions without parental consent.
On August 5, conservative news site W.C. Dispatch published an article stating that two minor female students said school officials at Centreville High School helped arrange and pay for them to receive abortions at Fairfax Healthcare Center.
For one 17-year-old student, a social worker scheduled an appointment, paid the fees, and “swore the girl to secrecy,” a news release from the DOE said. For another student, the social worker allegedly “pressured” the student to have an abortion and told her she “had no other choice,” the release said. The officials did not alert either student’s parents, according to the report. The alleged incidents occurred during the 2021-2022 school year.
Investigation
Gov. Glenn Youngkin then directed the Virginia State Police to open a criminal investigation into the matter on August 13.
The DOE said in a news release today that these incidents could violate the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). This requires schools to notify parents of an invasive physical examination and allow parents to opt their children out of such a procedure.
The DOE’s Student Privacy Policy Office will require FCPS to investigate the matter and respond by October 17. That includes supplying documents such as:
- Any records related to the alleged incidents;
- Copies of FCPS’s general notices to parents about PPRA rights;
- Copies of policies related to nonemergency, invasive physical examinations; and
- A statement explaining whether DOE funds were used in connection with “the sensitive medical services, including abortion-related referrals or procedures.”
FCPS Statement
FCPS said in a statement that it had received the DOE’s letter requesting information. And it “welcomes the opportunity to answer the DOE’s questions, based on our ongoing review of these 2021 allegations.”
“We want to reiterate that such conduct would be completely unacceptable in Fairfax County Public Schools. Although there is also an ongoing state police investigation, we are committed to cooperating, to the fullest extent possible, with the DOE’s inquiry. FCPS remains focused on our commitment to academic excellence and opportunity for each and every student in a safe and welcoming environment,” the statement said.
This issue comes in the midst of a battle between the DOE and FCPS over the district’s restroom and locker room policies. FCPS could potentially lose up to $167 million in federal funding over that issue.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
