Statement released by Chair Rock in response to tomorrow’s town hall on CRT

Throughout school board meetings across the country the topic of critical race theory has been one of intense debate between supporters and detractors. Despite the fact that it is only taught at the graduate level, it has not deterred those who believe that it is being installed into curriculums in grades K-12. Last month, the debate sparked controversy during the Prince William County School Board meeting, resulting in police and school security being involved.

Members of the county’s Racial and Social Justice Commission will conduct a town hall on critical race theory tomorrow evening. Shantell Rock, Chair of the Racial and Social Justice Commission, released a statement earlier today in response:

“The Racial and Social Justice Commission is charged with examining the state of racial and social justice for people of color in the areas of policing, the provision of government services, and public education.  In partnership with the Prince William School System, the Commission is charged with examining how the public-school system’s policies impact children of color. The Commission is not responsible for promoting, reviewing, or discussing Critical Race Theory.

Commissioner Mac Haddow, Commissioner Erica Tredinnick, and Commissioner London Steverson, will conduct a Town Hall meeting on October 5, 2021, to discuss Critical Race Theory. This conversation is separate from the mission of the Racial and Social Justice Commission, and therefore, this is not a conversation sanctioned by the Commission.  However, the Commission encourages all Commissioners to conduct town hall meetings to discuss with constituents their experience in education as it relates to the school system’s policies impacting children of color.

Loree Williams, the school board’s appointee to the Commission, and the School Board have stated that Critical Race Theory is not being taught in Prince William Counties, public school, and the Racial and Social Justice Commission respectively accept their position.”

More details will be provided as they are received.