After months of attack by critics charging that the division has embraced critical race theory, the School Board on Tuesday held a special workshop to provide an update on its equity initiatives designed to tamp down the growing culture war playing out each month in its meeting room.
“LCPS is not indoctrinating students using critical race theory. Critical race theory is not a part of the curriculum,” said Interim Superintendent Scott Ziegler, to punctuate the workshop, held under the title of “A Path Forward Together.”
For months, board members have been dealing with a torrent of complaints over racial education in schools, most of which, Ziegler said, has been based on misinformation, rumors and even fabrications.
CRT began as a broad set of ideas about racial inequity in academia nearly 40 years ago. In the past year, it has become a movement that fans the flames of conservative opposition to the social justice movement. Internet message boards are filled with comments about students across the nation being “indoctrinated” with the progressive ideology.
While division leaders said CRT is not a part of the curriculum and there is no imminent plan to adopt it, Ziegler and his staff highlighted the history of the school district’s equity work.
That work, in part, recognizes that students of color now comprise nearly 60% of enrollment. Today, 59 of Loudoun’s 95 schools have majority minority enrollment, with seven more approaching that…
