Virginia School District Probes Abortion Arrangement Claims

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Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the largest school district in Virginia, has launched a thorough investigation following allegations that school staff helped arrange and fund abortion services for students without notifying their parents, raising questions about compliance with state law and parental rights.

The claims focus on Centreville High School, where two minor female students reportedly received assistance from a school social worker to access abortion procedures in 2021. These allegations were initially reported by independent journalist Walter Curt and widely circulated on social media, prompting public concern over the district’s handling of such sensitive matters.

According to the report, one student, a 17-year-old in the 11th grade at the time, stated that social worker Carolina Diaz scheduled her abortion appointment at Fairfax Healthcare Center, paid the clinic fees, and instructed her to keep the procedure confidential. The abortion reportedly occurred in November 2021.

A second student, who was five months pregnant, recounted that Diaz told her she “had no choice” but to proceed with an abortion. This student left the clinic unwilling to undergo the procedure and later informed her teacher, Zenaida Perz. The teacher shared an audio recording with Curt, in which the student’s family confirmed they were never notified by the school of the abortion plans.

Virginia law requires that physicians obtain written certification confirming that at least one parent has been informed before performing an abortion on a minor, unless a judicial bypass is granted. The allegations suggest a potential breach of this legal requirement.

An FCPS spokesperson told The Christian Post on Thursday that the district is taking the accusations seriously and has engaged an external investigator to establish the facts.

“The situation described in these allegations from back in 2021 would not be acceptable in Fairfax County Public Schools,” the spokesperson said. “We have serious questions about these allegations that must be answered. We all deserve to know exactly what happened. We will take appropriate action as necessary.”

Fairfax County Public Schools serves over 180,000 students with an annual budget exceeding $3.5 billion. The district’s policies, as set out in FCPS Regulation 2504, encourage staff to support students suspected of pregnancy in discussing the issue with their parents, although parental notification is not mandated by policy.

The regulation states that school personnel should not keep pregnancy-related information confidential from parents, guardians, or appropriate school authorities. Students seeking health-related services are typically referred to public health nurses employed by the Fairfax County Health Department. Additionally, school staff are instructed to avoid influencing students’ decisions regarding pregnancy.

The investigation comes amid heightened public debate about parental rights and abortion access for minors. Fairfax County Public Schools has pledged transparency and a full accounting of the events.

No further comments have been made by the school social worker involved or the students’ families.