Judge refuses to reinstate standardized tests for TJ Admissions

Photo Courtesy of The Bull Elephant

Plaintiffs speak after filing a lawsuit to stop TJ Admissions changes on Nov. 5, 2020.

Elliott Lee, Staff Writer
February 3, 2021

A Fairfax Circuit Court judge refused to grant an injunction to force FCPS into administering a standardized test as part of the Jefferson admissions process Tuesday, Feb. 2. Such an order would have forced the county to reinstate the tests immediately.

The FCPS School Board voted during an Oct. 6, 2020 work session to eliminate the existing standardized tests along with the $100 application fee. A parent organization called Coalition for TJ filed suit, claiming the decision violates state law. 

While no injunction was issued, Circuit Judge John M. Tran is allowing the lawsuit to proceed. 

FCPS released a statement supporting the decision. 

“We are extremely pleased with the court’s ruling,” School Board Chair Ricardy Anderson said. “We firmly believe the Board’s decision is authorized by law. But, more importantly, access to TJ will now be available to a broader and more diverse student population which is long overdue.”