Supporters of school choice predict 2024 will be their third successful year in a row for growth. One year ago, Education Reporter described Arizona’s comprehensive school choice program, noting that it was the first of its kind in the nation but that it may be in jeopardy due to the change in the governorship from Republican to Democrat in the hotly contested 2022 mid-term elections. Since taking office, Governor Katie Hobbs (D) has been searching for ways to derail Arizona’s popular ESA (Education Savings Account) program, which the previous Governor Doug Ducey (R) signed into law. On January 16 of this year, The Center Square.com quoted Jenny Clark, founder of Love Your School Arizona as saying: “Governor Hobbs has made it perfectly clear that she wants to dismantle the ESA program at any cost. She wants to send tens of thousands of kids back to public school for 100 days. This would cause unbelievable educational chaos and trauma for Arizona children.” Clark is referring to Hobbs’ insistence that students be required to “spend 100 days in a public school in order to be able to use ESA funds.” Her scheme is part of the proposed state budget, which observers say faces “a tough road ahead with a Republican-led legislature.” Center Square pointed out that “Hobbs’ ideas align largely with proposals by Democrats in the legislature, who are hoping to rein in the program.” As for school choice success overall, American Federation for Children senior fellow Corey DeAngelis told the Washington Examiner that 2023 boasted “the biggest wins the school choice movement has ever witnessed,” with 10 additional states adopting some form of school choice. “A universal school choice revolution has ignited,” he said, adding that he expects this trend to continue in 2024. “Twenty-two states have GOP trifectas, where Republicans control the legislature and the governor’s office,” he continued. “If all legislators with ‘Rs’ next to their names voted like Republicans and listened to their constituents, we’d have at least twice as many states with universal school choice.”

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and offices seem to be in decline, at least in higher education, as the Washington Examiner recently documented. The article first noted that the imposition of DEI initiatives “was deceptively sold as a set of policies designed to promote ‘the fair treatment and full participation of all people,’ particularly groups that ‘have historically been underrepresented.’” But as the Examiner observed, DEI offices quickly became “epicenters of division and ideological conformity, stirring hostilities and imposing an intolerant monoculture.” Among the states taking action against DEI at the college and university level is Florida, which last May banned state funding for DEI programs at the state’s public universities. Texas also acted against DEI abuses last year, abolishing all DEI office training for staff and “eliminating diversity statements in hiring.” Iowa’s Board of Regents eliminated DEI positions at the university level and also at the narrower department and “unit” levels. In Wisconsin, Republicans compromised with Democrats, agreeing to limit DEI positions by putting a freeze on new hiring. In Georgia, 26 state colleges were barred from requiring job applicants to take “diversity loyalty oaths” and banned all DEI training, including for existing staff. Oklahoma’s Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an executive order eliminating DEI programs and the related staff that are not necessary for ensuring compliance or accreditation. Stitt’s order also banned compulsory diversity statements for new hires. The Examiner noted that not all states will be able to achieve such results due to the political makeup of their governor’s offices and state houses. But the article stated: “Fortunately, 2023 saw more than a dozen states start to take action against the DEI hydra, with six achieving concrete steps that other states should follow.” Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, as onerous DEI programs and directives in business and industry continue to flourish.

Another Libs of TikTok (LOTT) investigative report exposes on X how the State of Virginia is working with Planned Parenthood (PP) to cut out parents from their child’s medical decisions using “judicial bypass.” The LOTT journalist posed as a 16-year-old pregnant girl looking to obtain an abortion without her parents’ knowledge. The PP administrator first admitted that she thought parental consent was required in Virginia and asked the caller to hold while she checked. When she returned to the line, she explained that in Virginia “there is a way to get an abortion without your parents being involved at all. But it does require you to get something called a ‘judicial bypass.’ It’s like a court order the court signs off on that says you do not have to have parental presence at your abortion.” She went on to provide a phone number for information on obtaining the paperwork, and then explained that “these organizations are typically going to do all of this for free. They’ll have someone represent you in court so you don’t even have to go. They’ll get that paperwork for you and then you will have to bring it with you to your [abortion] appointment.” The LOTT journalist confirmed that “my parents will not have to find out about this,” to which the PP administrator responded: “No, they won’t have any indication. It will be handled completely by the attorney that’s appointed for you. This is the reason judicial bypass exists.” The journalist then asked about financial help with the cost of the abortion, and was told by PP that they have “a limited amount of financial assistance available.” She also confided that there are “outside funding agencies” available to help with any shortfall, and offered to provide those phone numbers as well. Finally, the journalist was assured that “we [PP] would do everything we could to help you get somewhere [outside Virginia] where you could do it [obtain the abortion]” in the unlikely event the judicial bypass was not approved. But the PP administrator said: “I have never heard of somebody not being approved for a judicial bypass process.” PP of Virginia admits it will assist minors to cross state lines for abortions if necessary, and fund them, all without parental knowledge. And judges across the state assist in this scheme to thwart parents.

The Parental Rights Foundation wants parents to be aware that state legislatures across the country are launching their 2024 sessions and that the watchdog organization will be monitoring their progress. Founded in 2014, the Parental Rights Foundation’s mission “is to defend, support, and advance the right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their minor children through research, education, advocacy, and legal representation.” One of the organization’s activities is to monitor state legislatures for bills impacting parental rights, either in support of or opposition to those rights. “In past years, state legislatures have undertaken bills to protect parental rights as fundamental or even to spell out an entire parents’ bill of rights,” organization president Michael T. Ramey wrote on January 4. “Other legislatures have taken up bills to make sure public-school boards recognize a parent’s right to know what their child is learning in school and to be informed of changes to their child’s health and welfare. At the same time, there are legislative proposals every year that threaten the vital role of parents as the primary defenders and decision-makers for young children.” The Foundation sends letters and provides testimony to battle the bills that threaten children and families. “And when it makes strategic sense to do so,” Ramey writes, “we will email alerts to members so they can weigh in via emails or phone calls to their lawmakers.” In this way, the group hopes to stop bad bills from being passed. “On the flip side,” Ramey adds, “we look forward to when we can send letters or provide testimony in support of bills that offer the kinds of protections children and families need, such as protections rooted in liberty for parents to direct the care, custody, and control of their children. These are the wins we are working for.”

Want to be notified of new Education Reporter content?
Your information will NOT be sold or shared and will ONLY be used to notify you of new content.
Click Here

Return to Home PageEducation Reporter Online - January 2024