|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The conservative policy proposal was front and center at the Democratic convention. Dems looked to tie the controversial document to the former president and blasted Project 2025 for four nights while showing off the new Democratic Party.
Published by the Heritage Foundation, the project has drawn the most attention for its “Mandate for Leadership,” a 900-page proposed policy agenda that describes itself as a “plan to unite the conservative movement and the American people against elite rule and woke culture warriors,” laying out plans for all aspects of the executive branch.
THE BEGINNING
Throughout the week, featured DNC “presenters” had their take on the 900-page monstrosity. Still, none had a more powerful presence than union NEA leader Becky Pringle, who clearly stated that the future of education was at stake in this election.
Education in the Foreword:
Kevin Roberts (Heritage Foundation) lays out some of the broadest promises in the foreword, the first of which is to “restore the family as the centerpiece of American life and protect our children.”
Roberts calls for “deleting” a list of terms starting with “sexual orientation and gender identity” as well as “diversity, equity and inclusion,” “reproductive rights,” and a host of similar terms. It’s unclear how he proposes that “deleting” would occur, but the 900 pages clarify that the federal government would stop using them.
Roberts demands that “parents’ rights” are non-negotiable and that “States, cities and counties, school boards, union bosses, principals, and teachers who disagree should be immediately cut off from federal funds.”
He declares “parental authority” central to policy and, in that context, makes the call for vouchers straightforward, calling it “a goal all conservatives and conservative Presidents must pursue.”
BROAD GOALS
Lindsey Burke, chief of the Heritage Center’s Center for Education Policy, wrote the education chapter. She also works at EdChoice, a school choice advocacy group formerly named after Milton Friedman, and was part of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s transition team in 2021.
Burke leads off with broad goals, including eliminating the Department of Education and the goal that “families and students should be free to choose from a diverse set of school options and learning environments.”
She salutes Friedman’s idea that education should be publicly funded, but “families make education decisions.” She points to state leadership where the “future of education freedom and reform is bright and will shine brighter when regulations and red tape from Washington are eliminated.”
She wants to address administrative “bloat,” arguing that the federal Department of Education has spawned a “shadow” department of state-level education employees through the “labyrinthian nature of federal education programs.” She calls for a Department of Education Reorganization Act to “reform, eliminate, or move” programs. (That name refers to the Department of Education Organization Act that established the department in 1979)
BROADER GOALS
Burke calls on Congress to rescind the National Education Association’s charter, and members should hold hearings to determine how much federal taxpayer money the NEA has used for radical causes. She also has many recommendations for keeping critical race theory out of classrooms.
Burke argues that parental rights are treated as “second-tier.” She wants to see them legislated into a “top-tier” position with rights like free speech and free exercise of religion.
Every proposed rule should be scrutinized to ensure it doesn’t infringe on parental rights.
Burke calls for a private right of action, so parents who think institutions have violated their rights may sue. She recommends a federal law similar to those already passed in some states, such as Florida and Oklahoma.
PURE CRAZY GOALS
Federal law should require school staff to out LGBTQ students to their parents, and no school staff should be allowed to address a student by anything other than the gender and name on their birth certificate without parental approval. However, if a staff member objects, those parents do not have the right to insist their child be addressed by their chosen name or gender.
States should be free to opt out of any federal education program but still be able to collect the funds as grants and use them as they please.
THE END
There are several significant threads when it comes to K-12 education.
Project 2025 emphasizes a “school choice” policy that directs public funds to be used for students to attend private or religious schools, bars “critical race theory” from being taught in federally funded schools, and advocates for legislation that would allow parents to sue schools they feel have acted improperly—such as by teaching controversial subjects or requiring students to disclose information about their religious beliefs.
There is no mention anywhere of students’ rights.
So, if you think the 900 pages lay out a utopian future, imagine if there was a page 901.
This column is by Ritchie Lucas, Founder/CEO of the non-profit The Student Success Project. He can be reached by email at ritchie@studentsuccessproject.org and on Facebook as The Student Success Project.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com.
