The Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR)  is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing civil rights and liberties for all Americans, and promoting a common culture based on fairness, understanding, and humanity. FAIR promotes compassionate anti-racism rooted in dignity and our common humanity. 

We believe children should be taught a balanced, unbiased account of our nation’s history:  both its founding principles of freedom and equality and the many times in history it has failed to live up to them. In a nation filled with diverse people and ideas, we believe that when teaching sociopolitical topics, public education should provide students with perspectives from multiple sources, with no single perspective or source favored over another. Anything less undermines the ability of students to learn, think for themselves, and engage constructively with those who have different opinions.

As described in FAIR DC’s detailed review, the proposed Washington DC K-12 Social Studies Standards fall short of this aim by:

• Framing the standards through a lens which teaches that individuals are largely defined by their immutable characteristics.
• Emphasizing group identity over individual qualities.
• Essentializing groups as oppressed and oppressors within a matrix of domination or a victim/oppressor model.
• Calling for student activism on sociopolitical issues, which is not the purpose of social studies or the appropriate role of public education.
• Omitting numerous relevant and important historical events.

Academic standards guide what children are taught in school. According to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), they establish the expectations for the content knowledge and skills that all district students in public and public charter schools should master at each grade level. Following the adoption of the new standards, teachers, administrators, and education agencies throughout the district are expected to implement them.

Call to Action

FAIR DC asks all Washington DC residents, as well as anyone interested in the academic standards proposed for the school district of our nation’s capital, to:

1. Review the proposed changes to the Washington DC K-12 Social Studies Standards.
2. Submit comments on the draft standards through the public comment portal before the conclusion of the comment period on February 10, 2023. Respondents may submit their own comments, or draw from FAIR DC’s review.
3. Sign our petition before the conclusion of the comment period on February 10, 2023. 

By signing this petition, you are joining FAIR DC in calling on The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) with the State Board of Education (SBOE) to drastically revise the proposed standards. The Washington DC K-12 Social Studies Standards should aspire to guide educators to provide students with multiple perspectives and equip them to think for themselves. The standards should limit the emphasis on immutable characteristics, group identity, the victim/oppressor model, and calls to activism. Finally, the standards should include a comprehensive study of history and avoid pressuring students to see the world through any single lens.