All 133 School Superintendents in Virginia Urge Governor to Scrap Tip Line

All 133 Virginia public school division superintendents have urged Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) to scrap the “tip line” set up to let parents complain about teachers and principals and have asked him to stop his campaign against the teaching of “divisive” content in schools.

The superintendents voiced their concerns in a letter Thursday to Jillian Balow, the state superintendent of schools, saying a recent administration report that rooted out policies aimed at racial equity was misguided and prepared without input from school districts around the state.

“Division superintendents disagree with your assumption that discriminatory and divisive concepts have become widespread in Virginia school divisions,” states the letter from Howard Kiser, executive director of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents.

It faults Balow for condemning and discontinuing a slate of racial equity programs “without having involved educators in formulating that position or without having provided evidence to support that position.”

In a written statement, Balow responded that the letter “fails to reflect the good faith efforts” that she and Virginia Education Secretary Aimee Guidera engaged in with the superintendents. “The specific requests listed in the letter are actions that the Secretary and I offered to the superintendents as a way to keep open productive channels of communication that could lead to partnership and ensure we are serving all students in Virginia.”

The superintendents were reacting to an interim report that Balow issued last month aimed at fulfilling promises Youngkin made during the political campaign last year to end the teaching of critical race theory, an academic framework for studying systemic racism. The concept has never been on the Virginia K-12 curriculum, but Youngkin tapped into grievances from conservative parents focused on the issue.