Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), a top-ranked public school in Virginia, is under scrutiny for allegedly violating state law by sharing proprietary academic materials with a Chinese-linked group. Emails show that school officials provided curriculum plans, lab designs, and internal documents to an organization attempting to replicate TJ’s model in China.
The communication reveals that the school’s then-principal, Ann Bonitatibus, acknowledged the violation in 2019, stating the partnership had crossed legal boundaries by sharing deliverables protected under Virginia law. These included lab equipment lists, assessments, and educational frameworks—intellectual property owned by Fairfax County Public Schools. Despite warnings, reports suggest some exchanges and financial transactions continued, routed through the school’s nonprofit arm.
The partnership, which involved funding from the China-affiliated Ameson Foundation, raised additional concern. Between 2014 and 2021, TJ’s associated nonprofit received over $3.6 million from Chinese sources. Investigators claim staff were compensated for sharing information without proper oversight, raising alarms about foreign influence and the protection of sensitive educational content.
A watchdog group has filed a complaint with the IRS, urging a formal investigation into the nonprofit’s foreign ties and financial conduct. Meanwhile, the school district has not confirmed whether disciplinary actions were taken. The case has prompted renewed calls for transparency and safeguards to prevent public institutions from inadvertently compromising intellectual property or national educational interests.
