TJ admissions now verifying free and reduced price meal status for successful 2026 applicants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there are kids who declined AOS/AET because they got in TJ, this will be a disaster for them.

How is it a "disaster"? They can verify that they indeed qualify for FARMS (as they stated on their application), and they will remain at TJ.

Because there will be students who are unadmitted from TJ as a result of this fiasco, and people make important life decisions on the basis of information such as admissions decisions.

The TJ admissions office apparently counseled applicants that they could answer yes because everyone was receiving free meals during the pandemic. Even those who didn't obtain such counsel may reasonably have believed that answering yes was honest and truthful regardless of their economic circumstances. As such, it is unfair to claim that everyone who answered yes is a liar or a cheater.

If the point of the question was to ask whether one would have been eligible for free meals even if the pandemic policy was not in place, they should have carefully asked the right question. They instead used an old application (it also asked about teacher recommendations and made reference to semifinalists, both of which are vestiges of the old admissions process) and failed to update it in light of the new admissions process or the pandemic policies.

Having failed to ask the right questions, they should not have automatically awarded FRM points to anyone who checked yes without confirming FRM status. They could have asked for verification of FRM status back in October or November.

And no matter what else they screwed up, surely they should have sorted this all out *before* issuing admissions decisions (and a press release touting the FRM numbers)!

ONLY if the bolded is true should anyone be given any latitude here. However, I won't believe it's true until someone posts written evidence because it seems like a wild rumor.

Even if it's not true, the question was poorly asked, and could have honestly been answered yes by applicants with no ill intentions. And either way, the fact that they're having to clean up the mess at this stage of the process is an embarrassment. They could have asked the question more clearly, issued clarifications long ago, collected documentation and conducted verification before rather than after issuing decisions.

Prediction: there won't be a follow-up press release announcing that any of this happened or that the FARMS number went down significantly (which it inevitably will).

There isn't an original press release from this year, is there? If so, please link to this much discussed release.

Regardless of sloppiness here, no one can claim they deserve to hold onto a slot they got through questionable means. That's it. End of story.

[Anonymous]

Why is this coming out now?

My guess is either:

1) A lawsuit

2) The Washington Post decided to start asking questions and the admissions office is now embarrassed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When was the FARMS documentation requested? Today???

Yes. Today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Prediction: there won't be a follow-up press release announcing that any of this happened or that the FARMS number went down significantly (which it inevitably will).

There isn't an original press release from this year, is there? If so, please link to this much discussed release.

Regardless of sloppiness here, no one can claim they deserve to hold onto a slot they got through questionable means. That's it. End of story.

Perhaps there is not an FCPS press release as such. However, they released the information to the press, i.e. the Washington Post:

"Fairfax releases demographic data on Thomas Jefferson Class of 2026"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/05/25/tj-class-of-2026-data/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear TJHSST Applicant and Parent/Guardian,

You are receiving this letter because you responded “yes” on page five of your application in response to the question “Are you eligible for free meals?” This question was asked to allow us to identify those applicants who meet the criteria for the Economically Disadvantaged Experience Factor, as outlined in Regulation 3355.

In order to confirm your seat in the TJHSST Class of 2026, or in the wait pool, you must confirm your eligibility for the Free and Reduced-Price Meal (FRM) Program. You may do this in one of two ways:


By providing a certification from your school or school division showing your inclusion in FRM. If you do not have a copy of this certification, you may obtain it by calling FCPS Food and Nutrition Services at 703-813-4800 or 703-813-4844 (current FCPS students only) or by contacting the Food and Nutrition Services office in your school division. This certification should be sent by email to [e-mail] no later than 4 p.m. on June 10.


2. By submitting one of the following items by email to [e-mail] no later than 4 p.m. on June 10:
o Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Certification Notice and/or Case Number
o Documentation showing that you are a foster child under the case of a foster agency or court (alternatively, provide the name and contact information for a person at the agency or court who can verify your foster status)
o A letter from your school or division verifying your status as a homeless, migrant, or runaway youth
o Documentation showing your family’s household income falls below the 2021-22 SY USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines outlined below:

o

We will review all submissions promptly. Once your FRM eligibility is confirmed, we will notify you that your submission is adequate and no further action is necessary.

If your FRM eligibility is not confirmed, or if you fail to submit documentation showing your FRM eligibility, we will consider you FRM ineligible and will re-evaluate your application accordingly. Reevaluation of your application may result in a change of admission decision, so it is critical that you confirm your FRM eligibility by the June 10, 4 p.m. deadline.

If you have any questions, or need any assistance obtaining or submitting your documentation, please contact TJHSST Admissions; [e-mail] or call 571-423-3770.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Regards,
Jeremy



Jeremy Shughart, ED.S.
Director of Admissions
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Fairfax County Public Schools
571-423-3770

HAHAHA this is greatness! Couldn’t have happened to more deserving people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so why didn't TJ admissions ask for this information before? They are incompetent.

Exactly. They are stressing the kids. Someone needs to sue TJ

No, the kids whose parents didn’t try to game the system and pretend they didn’t understand the question aren’t “stressed” at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is this coming out now?

My guess is either:

1) A lawsuit

2) The Washington Post decided to start asking questions and the admissions office is now embarrassed.

I’d like to believe it was due to this board!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there are kids who declined AOS/AET because they got in TJ, this will be a disaster for them.

How is it a "disaster"? They can verify that they indeed qualify for FARMS (as they stated on their application), and they will remain at TJ.

Because there will be students who are unadmitted from TJ as a result of this fiasco, and people make important life decisions on the basis of information such as admissions decisions.

The TJ admissions office apparently counseled applicants that they could answer yes because everyone was receiving free meals during the pandemic. Even those who didn't obtain such counsel may reasonably have believed that answering yes was honest and truthful regardless of their economic circumstances. As such, it is unfair to claim that everyone who answered yes is a liar or a cheater.

If the point of the question was to ask whether one would have been eligible for free meals even if the pandemic policy was not in place, they should have carefully asked the right question. They instead used an old application (it also asked about teacher recommendations and made reference to semifinalists, both of which are vestiges of the old admissions process) and failed to update it in light of the new admissions process or the pandemic policies.

Having failed to ask the right questions, they should not have automatically awarded FRM points to anyone who checked yes without confirming FRM status. They could have asked for verification of FRM status back in October or November.

And no matter what else they screwed up, surely they should have sorted this all out *before* issuing admissions decisions (and a press release touting the FRM numbers)!

Oh, BS. If they were asking “are you a rich family who had access to free meals during the pandemic for a government program” and EVERYONE was eligible, why the hell would they even ask the question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there are kids who declined AOS/AET because they got in TJ, this will be a disaster for them.

How is it a "disaster"? They can verify that they indeed qualify for FARMS (as they stated on their application), and they will remain at TJ.

Because there will be students who are unadmitted from TJ as a result of this fiasco, and people make important life decisions on the basis of information such as admissions decisions.

The TJ admissions office apparently counseled applicants that they could answer yes because everyone was receiving free meals during the pandemic. Even those who didn't obtain such counsel may reasonably have believed that answering yes was honest and truthful regardless of their economic circumstances. As such, it is unfair to claim that everyone who answered yes is a liar or a cheater.

If the point of the question was to ask whether one would have been eligible for free meals even if the pandemic policy was not in place, they should have carefully asked the right question. They instead used an old application (it also asked about teacher recommendations and made reference to semifinalists, both of which are vestiges of the old admissions process) and failed to update it in light of the new admissions process or the pandemic policies.

Having failed to ask the right questions, they should not have automatically awarded FRM points to anyone who checked yes without confirming FRM status. They could have asked for verification of FRM status back in October or November.

And no matter what else they screwed up, surely they should have sorted this all out *before* issuing admissions decisions (and a press release touting the FRM numbers)!

Oh, BS. If they were asking “are you a rich family who had access to free meals during the pandemic for a government program” and EVERYONE was eligible, why the hell would they even ask the question?

+1. DD hasn’t eaten the free lunches all year and even she understood the intent of the question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there are kids who declined AOS/AET because they got in TJ, this will be a disaster for them.

How is it a "disaster"? They can verify that they indeed qualify for FARMS (as they stated on their application), and they will remain at TJ.

Because there will be students who are unadmitted from TJ as a result of this fiasco, and people make important life decisions on the basis of information such as admissions decisions.

The TJ admissions office apparently counseled applicants that they could answer yes because everyone was receiving free meals during the pandemic. Even those who didn't obtain such counsel may reasonably have believed that answering yes was honest and truthful regardless of their economic circumstances. As such, it is unfair to claim that everyone who answered yes is a liar or a cheater.

If the point of the question was to ask whether one would have been eligible for free meals even if the pandemic policy was not in place, they should have carefully asked the right question. They instead used an old application (it also asked about teacher recommendations and made reference to semifinalists, both of which are vestiges of the old admissions process) and failed to update it in light of the new admissions process or the pandemic policies.

Having failed to ask the right questions, they should not have automatically awarded FRM points to anyone who checked yes without confirming FRM status. They could have asked for verification of FRM status back in October or November.

And no matter what else they screwed up, surely they should have sorted this all out *before* issuing admissions decisions (and a press release touting the FRM numbers)!

Oh, BS. If they were asking “are you a rich family who had access to free meals during the pandemic for a government program” and EVERYONE was eligible, why the hell would they even ask the question?

+1. DD hasn’t eaten the free lunches all year and even she understood the intent of the question.

Correction - has eaten

[Anonymous]

It was an ethics test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was an ethics test.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think they will withdraw offers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think they will withdraw offers.

Maybe they will withdraw offers only if people don’t respond one way or another.

Maybe they just want to clean up reporting #s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think they will withdraw offers.

This is what I think. The cheaters will claim that the questions were misleading and they didn’t know any better.