ICYMI: PolitiFact Exposes Youngkin’s Lie on Critical Race Theory in Virginia Schools

From DPVA:

ICYMI: PolitiFact Exposes Youngkin’s Lie on Critical Race Theory in Virginia Schools

Politifact: “We rate Youngkin’s statement False.”

Richmond, VA — Today, a new PolitiFact fact check is debunking another one of Glenn Youngkin’s dishonest claims — this time on critical race theory. Throughout his campaign, Youngkin has stoked dangerous conspiracies and sought to divide Virginians on education for political gain.

Last month, Youngkin claimed that critical race theory is being taught in “all our schools in Virginia.” In fact, the Virginia Department of Education confirmed that critical race theory is not part of Virginia’s learning standards, earning Youngkin’s claim a “false” rating from fact-checkers. Youngkin’s constant lies and lack of knowledge about Virginia’s public education system are a danger to the commonwealth.

See key excerpts below and read the full fact check here.

PolitiFact: Youngkin offers little proof critical race theory is in ‘all’ Virginia schools.
By Warren Fiske

Glenn Youngkin stated on July 9, 2021 in a speech: “We actually have this critical race theory moved into all our schools in Virginia.” […]

Republican gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin says critical race theory has become pervasive in Virginia schools and must be expunged.

[…]

So we fact-checked his claim that “critical race theory has moved into all our schools in Virginia,” and found it to be highly exaggerated.

Is critical race theory taught throughout Virginia? 

Critical race theory is not mentioned in Virginia’s Standards of Learning, which set baselines of knowledge students are expected to master in different grades and subjects.

[…]

Contrary to Youngkin’s statement, however, a number of localities have issued statements saying they do not teach critical race theory. Here’s a sampling:

• • Virginia Beach
  • Colonial Heights
  • Hanover County
  • Gloucester County
  • Tazewell County
  • Loudoun County
  • Chesterfield County
  • Powhatan County

Youngkin’s proof

We asked Youngkin’s campaign to back up his statement that critical race theory has “moved into all of our schools in Virginia.” Only a smattering of the evidence it offered pointed to individual school systems or schools. Most of it shows that Virginia educators have discussed — but not endorsed — the theory at seminars and have been encouraged to read about it. […]

Blackstone, the Education Department’s executive spokesman, emphasized that critical race theory is not mentioned in Virginia’s learning standards. He said opponents of the theory sometimes conflate teaching it with the state’s goals of ensuring racial equity in school policies.

“Simply put, to equate all the VDOE’s educational equity work with critical race theory is inaccurate and unfair,” he wrote in an email.

[…]

Our ruling

Youngkin said, “We actually have this critical race theory moved into all our schools in Virginia.”

Critical race theory is being widely discussed by educators across Virginia. But there’s a difference between educators learning about the theory and actually teaching it to students. On that front, Youngkin cites a collection of memos and seminars, but no evidence that critical race theory is being taught in each of the state’s 1,825 public schools.

Critical race theory is not mentioned in the state’s Standards of Learning. A growing list of localities say they do not teach it.

We rate Youngkin’s statement False.