Save Merit.

Let Kids Thrive.

America faces a war on merit. It is a war on our kids.
We are standing up for merit. For kids.

The TJ Scandal

Intrepid parents of students and alumni of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, or TJ, a Governor’s School in Alexandria, Virginia, have discovered a disturbing truth that has shocked the nation: for years, the principal, Ann Bonitatibus, and administrators have hid National Merit Commended Student Awards from students. It’s not a “one-time” error in the fall of 2022, as administrators claim, but rather a pattern and practice of systemic injustice that must be abolished.

Our Demands

A coalition of parent groups — including American Hindu Coalition, Chinese American Parents Association of Northern Virginia, Coalition for TJ, Hispanics for STEM, Fight for Schools and Army of Parents — hand-delivered a letter to Fairfax County Public Schools Supt. Michelle Reid with demands to eliminate the flawed notion of “equal outcomes for every student” and save merit. The letter is being delivered to Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, Attorney General Jason Miyares and other leaders.

What You Can Do

Since June 2020, our families — mostly minority, mostly immigrant, have led the parents’ movement against school boards, educrats and actvists more committed to indoctrination than education. We have elected a governor, won a historic court decision and inspired and galvanized a national parents’ movement. Join us in this movement by taking action to save merit. Our current campaign is to #SaveMerit at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.You can help us behind-the-scenes and out front.

News Flash

Gov. Youngkin calls for an investigation! Yes!

STATEMENT: Our diverse coalition of parents from northern Virginia cheer the news from Gov. Glenn Youngkin, calling for an investigation by Attorney General Jason Miyares into the systemic injustice against the kids at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. We the parents have said from day one that there is a war on merit and there is a war on children. The letter from Gov. Youngkin is sheer poetry. He sees us. He sees our families. He recognizes that violating children’s rights in education is a civil rights violation and it’s a human rights violation. We will win.

Read parent reactions at this link.

Associated Press – Youngkin seeks probe of delayed awards at elite high school – Jan. 3, 2022 – Matthew Barakat

WJLA – Gov. Youngkin urges Miyares to launch investigation into Fairfax County school scandal – Jan. 3, 2023 – 7NewsStaff

FOX & Friends interview about the damage done

Watch Harry Jackson, a TJ father, speak about the cost of the scholarships lost on the lives of young people.

400,000+ views because merit matters!

FOX5 reporter Sierra Fox interviewed TJ parents Harry Jackson and Srilekha Palle on a topic that earned 400,000+ views and counting because we care about education!

@TheSierraFox @FOX5DC

Learn more →

@MatthewBarakat @AP and @NBC Washington

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@Gellman_Scott @WTOP

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The elite Thomas Jefferson High School in Alexandria, Virginia is in hot water after parents accused school officials of withholding students' ……
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Published on: 2023-05-29

… Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology to continue using its admissions policy while the Fairfax County School Board appeals ……
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Published on: 2023-05-27

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) 2021 National Merit semifinalists are: … Here is who is on Washington's list: AUBURN Thomas Jefferson H….
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Published on: 2023-05-26

May 10—Nico Carlson, a senior at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School in Joplin, was announced Wednesday as a winner of a $2,500 National Merit ……
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Published on: 2023-05-24

… delayed sharing National Merit recognition this school year — including Thomas Jefferson and seven other schools in Fairfax County,….
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Published on: 2023-05-24

Thomas Jefferson student wins National Merit Scholarship. May 11, 2022 Announcement Eileen Artemakis or Matthew Budreau Public Information Phone: ……
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Published on: 2023-05-24

The Fairfax County school board changed the admissions policy at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in 2021, getting rid of ……
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Published on: 2023-05-24

… moving forward with investigating Thomas Jefferson High School after students were allegedly not notified of their national merit recognitions ……
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Published on: 2023-05-24

… Fairfax County School Board in 2021 after it changed Thomas Jefferson High … Asian students that they had received the National Merit award….
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Published on: 2023-05-24

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid said Monday in a release … Thomas Jefferson student wins National Merit Scholarship….
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Published on: 2023-05-24

SEE ALSO | College admissions expert calls National Merit delay 'a … by the Fairfax County School Board for Thomas Jefferson High School for ……
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Published on: 2023-05-24

… the Fairfax County School Board in 2021 after it changed Thomas Jefferson … Asian students that they had received the National Merit award….
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Published on: 2023-05-23

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. … 2 investigations into Thomas Jefferson High School over national merit award delay · Stafford County joins Fairfax, ……
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Published on: 2023-05-23

Thomas Jefferson student wins National Merit Scholarship The Joplin … Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) 2021 National Merit semifinalists ……
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Published on: 2023-05-23

National Merit Semifinalist 2022 Virginia14, 2022, Fairfax County Public … Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), ……
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Published on: 2023-05-23

14, 2022, Fairfax County Public Schools released an official … Ding, Abhijith Jenkins and Shrihari Nagarajan, all of Thomas Jefferson ……
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Published on: 2023-05-22

Education Valerie Strauss Jay Mathews Local Education Thomas Jefferson High under … 14, 2022, Fairfax County Public Schools released an official ……
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Published on: 2023-05-22

National Merit Semifinalist 2022 Virginia14, 2022, Fairfax County … Education Valerie Strauss Jay Mathews Local Education Thomas Jefferson High ……
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Published on: 2023-05-22

The “Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School” is celebrating its 22 … Advanced Placement Scholars and National Merit Scholarship Program […]…
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Published on: 2023-05-22

It appears Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia has been disseminating pedophilic pornography to its students. Thomas Jefferson High School ……
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Published on: 2023-05-20

Fairfax Co. Police To Play Charity Hockey Game Against Fire And Rescue – Kingstowne-Rose Hill, VA – The Fairfax County Police Department and the ……
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Published on: 2023-05-19

Semifinalists: 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program 4 California (continued) … Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology has 144 ……
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Published on: 2023-05-18

… across Fairfax County Public Schools have been named semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for 2022. Thomas Jefferson ……
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Published on: 2023-05-18

National Merit scholarships awarded to LCPS seniors … Jessica Yixiu Wang – Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology….
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Published on: 2023-05-18

Loudoun Seniors Named National Merit Scholars … Jessica Yixiu Wang, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology….
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Published on: 2023-05-15

Fairfax County Public Schools 2023 National Merit semifinalists are: … Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), ……
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Published on: 2023-05-14

Fairfax County Honors 'Trailblazing' West Springfield Girl Wrestlers … National Merit Scholarships Awarded To 3 Arlington Students ……
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Published on: 2023-05-13

Greenspring, celebrating its milestone 25th anniversary in 2023, is conveniently located in the heart of Fairfax County….
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Published on: 2023-05-13

Emma Cox, who attends Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology and will be attending MIT in the fall, was the only 2023 recipient of ……
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Published on: 2023-05-12

It should come as no surprise then that Fairfax County Public Schools, … decided to withhold–or at least excessively delay–national merit ……
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Published on: 2023-05-12

Ding, Abhijith Jenkins and Shrihari Nagarajan, all of Thomas Jefferson Independent Day … Tags Fairfax County Public Schools National Merit….
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Published on: 2023-05-12

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA: Republican Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is … National Merit Semifinalists Selection Index Scores Is 1420 a good ……
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Published on: 2023-05-12

Fairfax County attributed the rise primarily to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on families in terms of health, employment and inflation ……
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Published on: 2023-05-11

Thirty-six students from nine Fairfax County high schools have been named winners of $2,500 scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship ……
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Published on: 2023-05-11

… districts delayed sharing National Merit recognition this school year — including Thomas Jefferson and seven other schools in Fairfax County, ……
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Published on: 2023-05-11

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (7News) … RELATED: Fairfax County schools' National Merit recognition flub wasn't ……
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Published on: 2023-05-11

In fact, 15 years for Nico Carlson at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School. This is a special day since she's now officially a National Merit ……
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Published on: 2023-05-11

Winners of the National Merit Scholarship's $2,500 scholarship were chosen … These include Ethan Caldwell of Thomas Jefferson High School for ……
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Published on: 2023-05-11

Winners of the National Merit Scholarship's $2,500 scholarship were chosen … Tarini Basireddy of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and ……
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Published on: 2023-05-11

May 10—Nico Carlson, a senior at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School in Joplin, was announced Wednesday as a winner of a $2500 National Merit ……
Read more
Published on: 2023-05-10

Thirty-six students from nine Fairfax County high schools have been named winners of $2,500 scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship ……
Read more
Published on: 2023-05-09

Eight Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students have been awarded 2023 … Clara Kim of Thomas Jefferson (bioengineering), National Merit ……
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Published on: 2023-05-05

… Jason Miyares launched a civil rights investigation into Fairfax County Public Schools for withholding National Merit awards from students, ……
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Published on: 2023-05-05

During a Fairfax County, Virginia, school board meeting last week, … general against the withholding of National Merit awards from students….
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Published on: 2023-05-04

Fairfax Schools Monitor has sued the Fairfax County School Board to compel the release of its factual findings concerning the National Merit ……
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Published on: 2023-04-30

A team of students from Fairfax County's Thomas Jefferson School for Science and Technology came out on top … National Merit Scholarship Winners….
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Published on: 2023-04-29

Fairfax County officials are not ready yet to give up on maintaining Lake Accotink, despite "eye-popping" cost estimates provided by staff….
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Published on: 2023-04-29

GOP, FCDC announce school board candidate endorsements. Both the Fairfax County Republicans and the Fairfax County Democratic Committee have announc……
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Published on: 2023-04-28

Both the Fairfax County Republicans and the Fairfax County Democratic Committee have announced their endorsements for the school board….
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Published on: 2023-04-28

The first round of 2023 National Merit Scholarship winners featured 16 from … Vishal Reddy Kotha from Dulles, Thomas Jefferson High School….
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Published on: 2023-04-26

Accidental Activists

We are ordinary parents, like most of you. We are also mama bears and papa bears, and nobody gets between us and our cubs. And nobody stands in the way of their education.

Ying Julia McCaskill is a volleyball mom at TJHSST from China

Learn more →

Srilekha Palle walked miles to go to school in India

Learn more →

Asra Q. Nomani arrived in the U.S. at 4, not knowing a word of English

Born in Bombay, India, in the first generation after British colonialism, Asra Nomani knew not a word of English, growing up in public schools and becoming a Wall Street Journal reporter at the age of 23 and a mother years later.

Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears

This is reprehensible. I have reached out to the Governor and Attorney General and asked for an investigation. Our children’s education is not a zero-sum game. We cannot punish success in order to have “equal outcomes at all costs”.

— Dec. 30, 2022, 7:50 AM

Read the Emails

On Sept. 16 of this year, National Merit sent a letter to Principal Ann Bonitatibus listing 240 students recognized as Commended Students.

The letter included these words in bold type: “Please present the letters of commendation as soon as possible since it is the students’ only notification.”

Read the emails

 

Fortune in the Book

We are inspired by the parents and grandparents whose courage is fearless. Watch their stories in a mini-documentary created by Pacific Legal Foundation.


We want to hear from you, whether you’re a parent or a congressional office.


We you or someone you know potentially impacted by the delays at TJ. Let us know how.


Numerous groups collaborated to write this petition to local, state and federal officials.

Shawnna Yashar

TJ mother

Mama Bear
Spotlight

It takes a lot to speak to the world. But our parents overcome their fears because they know if they don’t, who will? That’s what happened to Shawnna Yashar when she discovered that administrators at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology had waited a month to tell students they were National Merit Commended Students. She started digging and the rest of the story became international news. Previously, she spoke to CNN about learning loss. Thank you, Shawnna!

“Keeping these certificates from students is theft by the state,” says Shawnna Yashar, the mother of a TJ student impacted by the delay delivering National Merit Commendation awards.

How the New ‘Equity’ Agenda Threatens Merit

School administrators nationwide, have implemented an “equitable grading” policy, for example, in Fairfax County, Virginia, eliminating zeros, giving students a grade of 50 percent just for showing up, and assigning a cryptic code of “NTI” for assignments not turned in. It’s a race to the bottom.

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