School Board Approves Frisch Proposal Granting New Diplomas Requested by Trans Alumni and Those From Schools Formerly Named After Confederacy

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — This morning, the Fairfax County School Board approved a proposal from Providence District Representative Karl Frisch directing the Superintendent to develop a plan for reissuing diplomas and records upon request by alumni who graduated from schools previously named in honor of the confederacy. The proposal also requires a pathway for transgender and gender-expansive students to update their diplomas and records.

“After we renamed Robert E. Lee High School last summer, I began hearing from alumni eager to have their diplomas updated with the school’s new name: John R. Lewis High School. Many of them cited the shame of carrying the confederate leader’s name with them as they spoke about high school with their college classmates or sought employment,” said Frisch.

He continued, “I have also heard from many transgender and gender-expansive alumni who, despite living openly as their true authentic selves for the first time, continue to be deadnamed by their academic documents long after graduation.”

“To be clear, there is significant work to be done as we follow through on our commitment to make Fairfax County Public Schools more equitable. This proposal is a small part of that equation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on other initiatives as well,” Frisch concluded.

Specifically, the Board’s action requested a plan for implementation for the 2021–22 school year but granted the Superintendent timeline flexibility given the current staff workload with return to school planning.