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Fairfax County’s NAACP chapter is demanding greater urgency and transparency from the school system when it investigates complaints of anti-Black bias and discrimination.
The organization called for stronger training and oversight for teachers and administrators, prompt reviews of complaints, and clearer guidance for students and families reporting harassment or discrimination.
The statement followed a forum with Superintendent Michelle Reid earlier this month. During the meeting, which lasted more than 90 minutes, families described frustration over poor communication and a lack of transparency.
Ashleigh Williams said her son, a student at Thoreau Middle School, has been handed bananas, called a monkey and repeatedly subjected to the N-word in front of staff. She said staff members sometimes failed to intervene, including in a recent case when they said they could not identify the student responsible within a group.
Niki Zimmerman, president of the Fairfax County NAACP, said she left the forum hopeful that the concerns would lead to changes and accountability.
“We’ve always gotten complaints about FCPS, but my takeaway was, I got the feeling that they got it,” Zimmerman said. “They understood the seriousness of these concerns from parents.”
The organization encourages families to report incidents to school leaders, Zimmerman said, but parents sometimes turn to the NAACP after feeling ignored. Complaints frequently involve racial or disability discrimination, while teachers have also raised concerns about their treatment by colleagues.
Fairfax County Public Schools has introduced an online form for reporting harassment or discrimination. Zimmerman said families still do not know enough about who evaluates those submissions, how complaints are judged or whether filing a report results in action.
The school division said it is speaking directly with families to hear their experiences, understand their concerns and allow their input to shape its next steps. It also said it values its partnership with the NAACP and the organization’s advocacy for students and families.
Zimmerman alleged that administrators sometimes protect one another, preventing complaints from producing meaningful results. She said rap lyrics or the political climate have also been cited in some cases to excuse student behavior.
At the June 18 forum, Reid acknowledged that the school system has more work to do.
“We’re working hard at upholding a standard, and a clear standard,” Reid said. “It’s clear we can continue to work harder. We can do better.”
The NAACP chapter plans to release guidelines it wants Fairfax County schools to adopt. Among its recommendations will be a firm timeline for resolving complaints so cases do not remain unsettled for months.
“There is a contrast in how our Black students are being treated versus any other protected group, how their complaints and their concerns are being looked at,” Zimmerman said.