Virginia's Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology deprived students of National Merit awards apparently in the name of "equal outcomes for every student, without exception."
After learning that her son was among the nation's top 3 percent of students, Shawna was able to uncover the school's policy of not giving such awards. TJ senior administrators didn't distribute the letters of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to students until later in the year, preventing the National Merit distinction from being included on his college applications
Brandon Kosatka, TJ's director of student services, told a parent that they wanted to recognize students for who they are, not their achievements, according to a report.
The school didn't distribute the award letters to students until late November, two weeks before the early-acceptance deadline for manyselective colleges.
According to Asra Nomani, who broke the story in the New York Post, the certificates were stolen by the state. Two years after his graduation from TJ, Nomani's son found out he was a National Merit recipient.
There are equity-based policies at TJ.
During the summer of protests after George Floyd's murder, Bonitatibus urged students and parents to consider the privileges they have. TJ altered its admissions process in order to restrict the number of Asian Americans.
A series of redacted emails from concerned parents to TJ administrators show growing frustration over Fairfax County's school policies.
You lied to me. I don't like that. The director of student services was reprimanded by a parent for not knowing how the notifications worked. I want to know why the award notifications were not given to over 200 students. You didn't give an award to children.
TJ was ranked as the best high school in the country.
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