The recent midterm elections may not have seen the predicted “red wave,” but they certainly sent a strong message about the state of education in America. Parents and education advocates have made significant strides in local races, impacting the quality of schools across the nation.

Angela Morabito, spokesperson for the Defense of Freedom Institute, noted a distinct “red undercurrent” in state and local education offices. Parents are making their voices heard, she says, with conservative candidates flipping school boards even in traditionally blue states like Michigan and Maryland.

In Florida, all six school board members endorsed by Gov. Ron DeSantis won their runoff elections, indicating a shift towards pro-parent policies in the state’s education system. Meanwhile, in Minnesota, over 40 candidates backed by parental rights groups celebrated wins, demonstrating a clear demand for change.

The Institute for Education Reform applauds these victories and the increased involvement of parents in shaping educational policies. We believe that parents should have a say in their children’s education, and that each child deserves an education that is tailored to their age and developmental stage.

Nicole Neily, President of Parents Defending Education, shares this sentiment, stating, “A lot of people ran on these cultural issues, and they won.” The success of these pro-parents candidates will have a tangible effect on schools, shifting focus to recognizing fundamental parental rights and prioritizing student achievement.

As we move forward, we anticipate these newly elected members will bring meaningful change to the conversation around education. We hope they will prioritize academic focus, transparency, and the involvement of parents in decision-making processes.

However, Bethany Mandel, a critic of COVID lockdowns and advocate for parents’ rights, emphasizes the need for continued vigilance and active messaging around school choice and the importance of reducing the power of unions.

Join us at Reform Education as we continue to support initiatives that promote quality, age-appropriate education and uphold the rights of parents in the educational journey of their children.

Recently, House Republicans from South Carolina, including Reps. Jeff Duncan, Nancy Mace, Ralph Norman, William Timmons, and Joe Wilson, have called upon the state’s superintendent of education to end affiliations with the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and its state-level affiliate. This action was prompted by NASP’s opposition to legislation aiming to ban federal funding for drag shows, drag queen story hours, and other programs deemed inappropriate for children.

“Explicit sexual content should not be a part of our children’s public education,” the lawmakers wrote. They further emphasized their concerns about NASP’s resources and training materials being used in South Carolina schools.

The proposed legislation, “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act,” aims to prohibit the use of federal funds to expose children under 10 to sexualized themes and radical gender theory, something NASP has labeled as potentially harmful.

We believe that every child deserves an education that is tailored to their age and developmental stage. We stand firmly against the politicization of our schools and champion an education system that nurtures the growth of our children into well-rounded individuals, equipped with the necessary academic and life skills.

Join us in this mission to reform education, to ensure that our children’s classrooms are places of learning, not battlegrounds for adult ideological disputes.