Latest news with #DefendingEducation
Fox News
02-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Hundreds of millions in tax money goes to contracts for DEI groups, watchdog finds: 'Total racket'
EXCLUSIVE: Over the last several years, a few dozen diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) consultant groups have racked up over a hundred million dollars in taxpayer-funded contracts from K-12 schools across the country, a new report by Defending Education found. The report, shared with Fox News Digital, details how 41 DEI consultant groups garnered millions in taxpayer-funded contracts from 303 school districts and public education entities from 2021 until now. In total, the groups collected over $123 million from public schools in 40 states. The report found public school DEI contracts in both red and blue states, from Florida and Alabama to California and Washington. Erika Sanzi, a spokesperson for Defending Education, described the schools-consultants partnership as a "total racket that makes schools worse" and often takes no consideration of age-appropriateness in curricula. According to the report, the biggest winner in the scheme was Amplify, a firm that provides professional development and curricula to school districts, which scored a total of over $70,500,000. The report states that in a now-scrubbed statement on its website, Amplify said its mission is to "make education, and thereby the world, more equitable and accessible" and to "help teachers support their students in constructing, questioning, expanding, and strengthening knowledge of where they come from and who they are becoming." In response, a representative for Amplify told Fox News Digital that the group "publishes textbooks and other instructional materials that help students learn reading, math and science" and that "there is no place anywhere in Amplify's products, or in the training programs about how to use them, for ideologies or political agendas." The representative said "our programs help students learn how to think, not what to think." The report highlights another consultant group, Adjusted Equity Solutions, which it says is associated with the Culturally Responsive School Leadership Institute, that claims to help schools challenge "whiteness and hegemonic epistemologies in school," use "equity audits to measure student inclusiveness, policy, and practice" and serve as "advocate and social activist for community-based causes in both the school and neighborhood community." This group took in over a million dollars from public schools during the study period. "Tinkering in the minds of other people's children is big business and countless K-12 schools across the country are active participants," Sanzi said. "They pay big bucks to enter into contracts with ideologues and activists who, in turn, gain access, directly or indirectly, to a captive audience of young minds." Speaking with Fox News Digital via Zoom, Sanzi said that "rather than this being a focus on sort of academic interventions, it's a lot of jargon that so far has not proven itself to be measurable. And there's really not much evidence, if any, that any of this is helping students or helping schools or helping staff." Sanzi said that though these DEI groups couch their activities in agreeable terms like "belonging" and "empathy," they often end up being a "wolf in sheep's clothing." "At first, you're thinking lesson on empathy, like that's good," she said. "Who wouldn't want their child to be empathetic? We want that. Until you realize that the lesson on empathy is going to be about something like a little girl in her bathroom at school, a staff member who's trans, so biologically male, but identifies as female, comes into the restroom with her. She naturally feels uncomfortable because that's a very natural feeling in a circumstance like that. But she's told that she needs to have 'empathy' for this grownup who identifies as female, right? And that her discomfort is the problem… That feeling discomfort in that situation is wrong or makes her un-empathetic." The Trump Department of Education has warned state education departments in all 50 states that they must remove diversity, equity and inclusion policies or risk losing federal funding. Despite this, Sanzi said many of these consultant groups have adjusted by scrubbing references to DEI on their websites and using other words to describe the same thing. "We see a lot of renaming," she said. "So, they might say, 'Well, we're getting rid of our DEI office or we're getting rid of our equity officer.' [But] the proof will be in the pudding because what we notice often is that you'll see a switch, like suddenly we hear the word belonging a lot more now. And so the question becomes, 'Are you getting rid of it? Or are you just rebranding it and shifting it somewhere else and taking it off your website?'" "What many people don't understand is that the founders of these consultant companies and the people who run them and the practitioners are activists. They are ideologues," she went on. "They have every right to believe that what they're transmitting is the right thing, but in a public-school setting that is required to maintain viewpoint diversity, these really have no place, not only because of the cost, not only cause it's public money, not only because they're not very transparent about what they're doing, but also because they are really trying to push an ideological agenda on other people's children." The Culturally Responsive School Leadership Institute did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Parents overwhelmingly want colleges to stop prioritizing race, allowing transgenders in girls' sports: poll
Parents want colleges and universities to place less of an emphasis on race in scholarship awards or staffing decisions — and overwhelmingly believe transgender competitors should be kept out of women's sports, a new poll shared with The Post found. A firm 54% of American parents with children between the ages of 15 and 21 oppose university policies of prioritizing race on certain scholarships, and 57% oppose hiring decisions made with a racial preference, according to a survey commissioned by Parents Defending Education, a conservative nonprofit advocacy group. On transgenderism, 60% of respondents said they don't believe transgender competitors should be allowed into women's sports, and 61% want women's bathrooms to be reserved for biological females. Advertisement 'It's no surprise that American parents and students expect a college experience that is academically rigorous, open to diverse viewpoints, and focused on preparing graduates for meaningful careers,' Paul Runko, Defending Education's director of strategic initiatives for K-12, told The Post. 'Colleges and universities should take note when families express concern about campus climates — calling for environments free from political extremism, ideological agendas, antisemitism, and campus disruptions.' 3 Parents backed antisemitism bias training for faculty and staff on college campuses. James Keivom Advertisement 3 The Trump administration has taken action against states such as Maine that allow transgender athletes to compete against biological women. AP Asked about institutions that have graduation ceremonies that are only open to students of a particular race, 57% said they are opposed to that. Across the board on many culture war issues, parents appeared uneasy with some of the politically fraught practices in colleges and universities across the country, the survey indicated. Over the past two years, anti-Israel protests have swept campuses across the country amid the Israel-Hamas war, leading to fierce debates over how administrators should respond. Advertisement Sixty-seven percent of parents believe colleges and universities should implement antisemitism bias training for faculty and staff. They also backed higher education institutions that discipline students for disrupting campus activities, 69% to 25%. Parents also generally expressed support for increased transparency in higher education. An overwhelming 82% want colleges to divulge foreign funding. A hefty 79% said that colleges and universities should prioritize American applicants over foreign ones in the admission process. Advertisement 3 Parents generally appeared to express an unease with diversity, equity and inclusion policies on campuses. Getty Images Most of the parents surveyed either have or plan on having their children enroll in college. Only 11% said their children won't attend college and 7% were unsure. The survey was taken between May 9–15 and sampled over 1,000 parents with children between the ages of 15 and 21. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Of parents surveyed, 43% considered themselves Republicans, 21% Independents and 34% Democrats.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Colorado parent groups sue state over controversial new transgender law enforcing 'compelled speech'
Colorado potentially faces a major lawsuit regarding a new law on transgender protections and how it could violate free speech and parental rights. On Friday, Gov. Jared Polis signed into law the Kelly Loving Act, a bill that expands state anti-discrimination protections for transgender individuals by allowing a person's "chosen name" to qualify as a form of "gender expression" that is protected under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). Now that the bill has passed, the group Defending Education (DE) has sued the state on behalf of the Do No Harm, The Colorado Parent Advocacy Network and Protect Kids Colorado groups out of concerns that the law could violate their free speech rights. "The Act's new definition of 'gender expression' is unconstitutionally overbroad," the lawsuit provided to Fox News Digital reads. "Because it covers any treatment based on the use of a 'chosen name' or other forms of preferred 'address,' it punishes many forms of constitutionally protected speech." Colorado's 'Totalitarian' Transgenderism Bill Sparks Concerns From Parents It continued, "When speakers refer to transgender-identifying individuals using biologically accurate terms, they advance a viewpoint about a hot-button political issue: gender ideology. That kind of speech lies at the core of the First Amendment. But the Act's definition of 'gender expression' makes all such speech discriminatory and unlawful." Read On The Fox News App The lawsuit added that since CADA prohibits the "publishing of discriminative matter," the new act could prohibit and potentially penalize individuals, including parents, for publicly disapproving of changing one's name and gender. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Sarah Parshall Perry, Vice President of Defending Education, said the law "muzzles" parents and doctors to protect the state's "preferred gender orthodoxy." "Colorado can't seem to stop losing at the Supreme Court on constitutional challenges to its anti-discrimination laws. And yet, Governor Polis has nevertheless signed another patently unconstitutional iteration of its Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act—something that can only be described as an exercise of remarkable hubris," Perry said. DE is seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction on enforcing this new definition as a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments for using "unconstitutionally overbroad" language and enforcing "compelled speech." "Do No Harm is proud to challenge Colorado's absurd so-called anti-discrimination act. Abridging American's constitutional right to freedom of expression in the name of radical gender ideology is wrong. We expect the court to reaffirm that the Constitution trumps progressive dogma," said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, Chairman of Do No Harm. Fox News Digital reached out to the governor's office for comment. The Kelly Loving Act has come under fire by conservatives and Colorado parents since it was introduced in March. Among the protections in the original bill included a ruling that "deadnaming, misgendering, or threatening to publish material related to an individual's gender-affirming health-care services" could be considered forms of "coercive control" that could affect a parent's custody over children. After facing backlash, Colorado lawmakers eventually removed language regarding "deadnaming" and child custody, although opponents still criticized elements of the bill for broad language. Colorado Parents Unload On Liberal Lawmakers, Prompting Changes To Controversial Gender Bill Colorado has been at the center of several high-profile cases based on its anti-discrimination laws over the past few years. Most infamously, Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips has been sued multiple times over his refusal to bake a cake celebrating a same-sex wedding or a gender transition. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against the state, finding that Colorado's anti-discrimination laws could not force a graphic designer to create wedding websites for same-sex weddings in violation of her article source: Colorado parent groups sue state over controversial new transgender law enforcing 'compelled speech'
Fox News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Colorado parent groups sue state over controversial new transgender law enforcing 'compelled speech'
Colorado potentially faces a major lawsuit regarding a new law on transgender protections and how it could violate free speech and parental rights. On Friday, Gov. Jared Polis signed into law the Kelly Loving Act, a bill that expands state anti-discrimination protections for transgender individuals by allowing a person's "chosen name" to qualify as a form of "gender expression" that is protected under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). Now that the bill has passed, the group Defending Education (DE) has sued the state on behalf of the Do No Harm, The Colorado Parent Advocacy Network and Protect Kids Colorado groups out of concerns that the law could violate their free speech rights. "The Act's new definition of 'gender expression' is unconstitutionally overbroad," the lawsuit provided to Fox News Digital reads. "Because it covers any treatment based on the use of a 'chosen name' or other forms of preferred 'address,' it punishes many forms of constitutionally protected speech." It continued, "When speakers refer to transgender-identifying individuals using biologically accurate terms, they advance a viewpoint about a hot-button political issue: gender ideology. That kind of speech lies at the core of the First Amendment. But the Act's definition of 'gender expression' makes all such speech discriminatory and unlawful." The lawsuit added that since CADA prohibits the "publishing of discriminative matter," the new act could prohibit and potentially penalize individuals, including parents, for publicly disapproving of changing one's name and gender. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Sarah Parshall Perry, Vice President of Defending Education, said the law "muzzles" parents and doctors to protect the state's "preferred gender orthodoxy." "Colorado can't seem to stop losing at the Supreme Court on constitutional challenges to its anti-discrimination laws. And yet, Governor Polis has nevertheless signed another patently unconstitutional iteration of its Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act—something that can only be described as an exercise of remarkable hubris," Perry said. DE is seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction on enforcing this new definition as a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments for using "unconstitutionally overbroad" language and enforcing "compelled speech." "Do No Harm is proud to challenging Colorado's absurd so-called anti-discrimination act. Abridging American's constitutional right to freedom of expression in the name of radical gender ideology is wrong. We expect the court to reaffirm that the Constitution trumps progressive dogma," said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, Chairman of Do No Harm. Fox News Digital reached out to the governor's office for comment. The Kelly Loving Act has come under fire by conservatives and Colorado parents since it was introduced in March. Among the protections in the original bill included a ruling that "deadnaming, misgendering, or threatening to publish material related to an individual's gender-affirming health-care services" could be considered forms of "coercive control" that could affect a parent's custody over children. After facing backlash, Colorado lawmakers eventually removed language regarding "deadnaming" and child custody, although opponents still criticized elements of the bill for broad language. Colorado has been at the center of several high-profile cases based on its anti-discrimination laws over the past few years. Most infamously, Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips has been sued multiple times over his refusal to bake a cake celebrating a same-sex wedding or a gender transition. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against the state, finding that Colorado's anti-discrimination laws could not force a graphic designer to create wedding websites for same-sex weddings in violation of her beliefs.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Education Department opens investigation into Chicago Public Schools
The U.S. Education Department is investigating Chicago Public Schools amid allegations that a new program designed to improve academic success and retention among Black students and educators violates federal law. The investigation announced Tuesday is based on a February complaint by the nonprofit Parents Defending Education, now known as Defending Education, which alleged the school system's academic-achievement initiative for Black students racially discriminates against students, violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The investigation appears to be the first time since President Donald Trump took office in January that the department has investigated a public school system for instituting a racially based program. The school district is the fourth-largest in the nation with 321,000 students, of which 35% were Black in the 2023-2024 academic school year. Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said Chicago Public Schools sought through the Black Student Success Plan to allocate resources favoring students based on race. 'Chicago Public Schools have a record of academic failure, leaving students from all backgrounds and races struggling and ill-prepared to meet the challenges and enjoy the rewards of contemporary American life,' Trainor said in a statement. Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin in education programs receiving federal funding. Schools found in violation of the act can lose federal funds, the department said. 'Chicago Public Schools does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation,' the school system said Wednesday. School officials said the Black Student Success Plan was designed to ensure students had an equitable learning experience. The school system announced the Black Student Success Plan during Black History Month in February, saying it aimed to improve academic achievement and to recruit and retain educators and leaders. 'The District is committed to removing these obstacles and calls upon the community to support efforts to better serve Black students,' Chicago Public Schools Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova said when the initiative was made public. Defending Education said in its complaint that "members oppose discrimination on the basis of race and political indoctrination in America's schools" and called the plan "racially exclusive." The organization could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The plan was scheduled to start this spring with the goal of shortening education gaps and fostering engagement with Black students and families, school officials said. Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates said the investigation was an attempt to hinder progress in the school system. 'Rather than using the Department to create opportunities for students, Trump and (Education Secretary Linda E.) McMahon appear determined to transform it into a debt collection agency and a vehicle to dismantle the civil rights protections that support students and their families,' she said in a statement. This article was originally published on
