Florida Democrat Maxwell Frost Pitches Bill to Fight DeSantis Book Bans (Exclusive)Frost's proposed 'Fight Book Bans Act' would give school districts up to $100,000 to oppose book challenges By Nicole Gaudiano As GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis signs laws making it easier to challenge books in Florida schools, a Democratic lawmaker from his… Dec 05 23December 05, 2023Article at The Messenger
Ahead of Supreme Court’s Student Loans Ruling, Advocates Fear Another ‘Dobbs-Style’ Response From White HouseProgressives are urging the Biden administration to act swiftly once the Supreme Court issues its ruling By Nicole Gaudiano Student debt relief advocates are urging the Biden administration to respond swiftly when the Supreme Court rules on the… Jun 29 23June 29, 2023Article at The Messenger
GOP-Led Book Bans Are Spreading. Here’s How the Left Is Fighting BackDemocrats see an opportunity to flip the script on the culture war issue By Nicole Gaudiano Democrats and progressive groups are upping their efforts to push back against conservative-led book bans that have sprouted across the country, using legal… Jun 26 23June 26, 2023Article at The Messenger
How to survive a family conversation about culture wars and politics: What I learned talking to my mother about her anger with DisneyI cover culture wars in politics, including controversies that have enraged some parents.When I visited Florida, I found another angry parent — my own.At issue: Disney's objection to a law known by critics as "Don't Say Gay." By Nicole Gaudiano One… Apr 19 22April 19, 2022Article at Business Insider
One ex-teacher in Memphis said she had 194 students during virtual classes because a colleague quit, and it shows why so many teachers are burned out and fed upTeachers are overworked and fed up with stress and disrespect.An "alarming number" of educators say they plan to leave the profession, one union warned."I think I was on the brink of breaking," Connecticut's 2019 Teacher of the Year said after… Feb 22 22February 22, 2022Article at news.yahoo.com
Biden is getting left behind by his own party as Democratic governors across the US move to lift mask mandatesDemocratic governors are breaking with Biden and are announcing plans to relax face-mask mandates. The CDC continues to recommend indoor masking for much of the country. The gulf between Biden and the governors leaves the president in a difficult… Feb 09 22February 09, 2022Article at Business Insider
Rep. Steve Scalise and 15 other Republicans lay out their plan to use controversies over the teaching of race and gender in schools to beat Democrats in 2022Insider interviews with Republicans show they're sharpening attacks on education culture wars. Their messaging pits Democrats, teachers unions, and the Justice Department against parents. They see "parental involvement" in schools as a winning issue… Dec 17 21December 17, 2021Article at Business Insider
Democrats know they need a better answer ASAP about parental involvement in schoolsDemocrats didn't like Terry McAuliffe's statement that parents shouldn't tell schools what to teach. They'll likely have their own chances to confront culture wars in education in midterm campaigns. Republicans are seizing on the issue of parent… Dec 13 21December 13, 2021Article at Business Insider
An important school board group is unraveling after it sent a letter to Biden likening threats against school officials to ‘domestic terrorism and hate crimes’The National School Boards Association compared threats to school leaders to "domestic terrorism." The message, and Attorney General Merrick Garland's swift response, backfired. Now state school board associations are distancing themselves from NSBA.… Dec 06 21December 06, 2021Article at Business Insider
I went to 'the shuttlecock of the Confederacy' to hear what people there thought about critical race theory. I heard about equity instead.Protesters have fought school boards over masks, books, and "critical race theory."But equity was the dominant theme at a school-board meeting in Winchester, Virginia.And no one showed up to protest. By Nicole Gaudiano WINCHESTER, Virginia —… Nov 24 21November 24, 2021Article at Business Insider
Critical race theory misinformation has the education world scrambling to set the record straightThis story is available exclusively to Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. The Republican furor over 'critical race theory' caught the K-12 education world by surprise.They weren't even teaching it. Now education leaders are… Nov 09 21November 09, 2021Article at Business Insider
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos resigns, citing violence at the CapitolShe is the second Cabinet member to resign after a pro-Trump mob stormed the building. DeVos told the president: “Impressionable children are watching all of this.” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos resigned on Thursday, telling President Donald Trump… Jan 07 21January 07, 2021Article at politico.com
Teachers should be a priority for Covid vaccines, unions and others sayTeachers should be near the front of the line for access to a coronavirus vaccine, according to unions, school officials and state lawmakers who say educators’ immunity is key to safely reopening schools for in-person classes. Giving educators their… Dec 03 20December 03, 2020Article at politico.com
First professor: Jill Biden to make history as a first lady with a day jobJill Biden steps away from the podium at a Sept. 1 campaign event at Evan G. Shortlidge Academy in Wilmington, Del. | Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo WASHINGTON — Jill Biden would scramble into cocktail dresses in a bathroom at Northern Virginia Community… Nov 12 20November 12, 2020Article at politico.com
DeVos’ security detail cost taxpayers $24M over 4 yearsU.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos speaks | Alex Wong/Getty Images Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ security detail has cost taxpayers more than $24 million over the past four years and is projected to cost another $3 million through… Nov 03 20November 03, 2020Article at politico.com
Trump exploits Biden’s charter school silenceBoxed in by a progressive tide, the former vice president may be creating an opening for Trump to woo parents of color. An empty classroom can be seen at Miami Community Charter School in Flagler City, Fla., during the first day of class Monday. |… Sep 06 20September 06, 2020Article at politico.com
DeVos out of sight even as her signature school issue gets top billing at RNCSchool choice is finally getting prime-time attention as President Donald Trump makes the issue a focal point of his reelection bid, appealing to parents clamoring for an alternative to neighborhood public schools during the pandemic. But the policy… Aug 28 20August 28, 2020Article at politico.com
Trump wants to teach ‘American exceptionalism,’ an idea he once disavowedPresident Donald Trump speaks on the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Charlotte Convention Center. | Jessica Koscielniak/Getty Images President Donald Trump decried the idea of “American exceptionalism” shortly before becoming a… Aug 24 20August 24, 2020Article at politico.com
‘Reopen!’ refresh: Trump adds masks, CDC assist in plea for in-person schoolLockers in a hallway. | Getty Images WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced a plan Wednesday to send 125 million reusable masks to school districts throughout the country and deploy CDC teams to those that need help reopening for in-person… Aug 12 20August 12, 2020Article at politico.com
Pediatricians split with Trump on school reopening threats“If Disney World can be open, so can our schools,” an administration spokesperson said. Teachers unions, parents and other education leaders have said they need more funding to reopen safely and that Trump’s political priorities will put children and… Jul 10 20July 10, 2020Article at politico.com
