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< Back Gaining Members Start with your small initiating group and then ask each person to invite others Share your new group on other sympathetic Facebook or Instagram pages Tag school district on FB, Twitter or Instagram posts to increase visibility Keep tone professional at all times to avoid alienating like minded community members Design a t-shirt or something that can be worn in public to attract interest/attention Have start up meetings at easy local locations or on Zoom to outline a few goals to guide the group and to make introductions. Invite local guest speakers or candidates to meetings to gain more knowledge/more attendance. Hold “public school” celebration events in local locations with guest speakers, activities for kids, voter registration etc. Previous Next

< Back Network Building One of the most important things we can do as a network of like minded people is to build out that base of support! It is one thing to identify people within your district, to support your cause, but it is quite a greater thing to have an organized network of supporters across the region. Not all of your supporters will want to be involved in actions in the same way. Some will want to lead, or organize more support. Some will want to talk to the media. Some will want to tell their stories… Some may even want to run for school board! But if you collectively have a way to train, message, and activate our network, someone will likely always show up to help! The goal here is to build your base of support to the best of your ability, and then you can join with other groups of supporters into a collective network that’s ready, willing and able to mobilize when the time is right. It’s easiest to keep a spreadsheet to track your network. Here’s a template. There are 5 pieces of an ask: ● Intro ● Issue ● Polarization/Agitation ● Vision ● Ask/Commitment The structure is the same whether you are knocking on doors, making phone calls, or meeting with an elected official. Once you’ve practiced, you’ll be able to adapt your ask to any situation. A couple of quick tips ● Grab your rolodex or address book and start there. ● Export all of your contacts in your email to a csv or excel spreadsheet and copy and paste into your spreadsheet and start asking people for their support ● Download all of your cell phone contacts ● Otherwise, just start brainstorming… Your Personal Circle : Since we are working around school districts, you should likely begin thinking about your children's friends and school. Start listing out those folks first. Then you can move on to your own personal networks. ● Immediate Family and Friends (ALL of them) ○ Spouse and their friends ○ Children ○ Parents ○ Grandparents ○ Close Friends ○ Neighbors ● People from YOUR Elementary School – think of students, favorite teachers, principals, school board members, coaches, teammates, clubs, neighbors, etc ● People from YOUR Junior High School ● People from YOUR High School ● People from YOUR Undergraduate Institution– think of students, TAs, favorite professors, clubs, advisors, coaches, teammates, roommates, etc ● Post Graduate ● Current Employer(s) and Colleagues ● Past Employers and Colleagues (Every Job) ● Current and past boards and commissions ● Current and past volunteer organizations ● Spiritual or religious communities ● Service Clubs – Rotary, Kiwanis, Lyons, Legion, etc ● Social/Hobby Clubs – Wine, Sports, Book, Food, etc ● Online Social Networks – people who aren’t captured above ○ Social media, LinkedIn ● Personal Subcontractors (Insurance Agent, CPA, Attorney, Realtor, Stylist, Investment Banker, Car Dealer, Veterinarian, Doctors, Dentists, Travel Agent, Pet Sitters, etc.) Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2023 Contact: press@campaignsharedfuture.org The Campaign for Our Shared Future Condemns Attacks on AP African American Studies during Black History Month Today, on the first day of Black History Month, the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) Executive Director Heather Harding, Ed.D. released the following statement in response to recent attacks on the new Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course: “The Campaign for Our Shared Future is enraged that the College Board is being pushed to remove key subject matter from the curriculum for its new Advanced Placement course in African American Studies, following recent political attacks by extremists like Governor DeSantis and his political allies. Governor DeSantis is using his classroom censorship bill as cover to push his ideological beliefs on our children. This is the latest example of a radical politician attempting to disrupt the teaching of African American history in our public schools. “This news comes at the start of Black History Month, a time when the country is traditionally celebrating and honoring the contributions of African Americans. If we allow politicians to decide what our children learn, what’s to stop them from restricting lessons about Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? These politicians are attempting to score political points and are causing harm to our children, educators, and families. “We can not afford to fall for this political scheme. Our children are being robbed of the ability to learn. They deserve the opportunity to be taught American history in its entirety, including Black history. “While it’s sickening that politicians like Ron DeSantis are choosing to attack the educational system and African American studies in hopes of elevating their political standings, it would be extremely disturbing if the College Board had submitted to political pressure and that any of the reported changes impede students ability to receive the inclusive education they deserve. We should be celebrating this timely addition to curricular options instead of censoring American history.” ### The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) is a non-partisan effort to support high quality K-12 education and preserve access, inclusion, and meaningful content in our schools so that every student has an opportunity to succeed and thrive. COSF is a common ground effort committed to fighting the attack on education across the country. Previous Next

< Back School Board Meetings DO Speak from your own personal experience and about local examples and local concerns Use messaging that brings in the widest tent (i.e. focus on the benefits for ALL children) Appeal to shared values (e.g. the importance of students being able to see themselves and their cultures in the books they read, etc.) and look for common ground in education Define restrictive laws in clear terms (e.g. “these laws stop teachers from teaching about race relations and inequality”) Ensure that each speaker has a clearly defined ask for the board Clearly define the impact, rather than focusing on motives. Share examples of real-world harm, specific to your school district, regarding discrimination and inequality Start by thanking the Board and acknowledging the difficult work they do on behalf of their constituents, even if you don’t agree with them DON'T Use national examples or rhetoric that isn’t actually based on the local reality and context Apologize for elevating, listening to, and advocating for students, particularly students of color or LGBTQ+ students Repeat the other side’s negative framing to address criticism Use jargon (i.e. avoid formal language and focus on making your point clearly) or zero-sum language (i.e. refer to history as “expansive” or “full” rather than “accurate”) Yell or use attacking language (e.g. refrain from calling someone racist) Get into a semantics debate on what CRT and SEL really is, and how your work is or isn’t CRT or SEL Start with anger or accusations – that doesn’t help leaders receive your message with openness Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2023 Contact: press@campaignsharedfuture.org Campaign for Our Shared Future To Launch Educator Defense Fund Help Desk Will Assist Educators Receiving Threats Amid Rage Over Education Policies AUSTIN, TX - The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) announced today at SXSW EDU plans to launch the Educator Defense Fund, a central rapid-response resource of support services for educators, superintendents, and school board members under attack by extremists. The help desk comes at a time when political agendas and the spread of misinformation are leading to more extreme views and threatening behaviors finding their way into schools, including violence based on race, religion, or gender. This peddling of misinformation and fear has led to a sharp increase in threats aimed at educators and school board officials , many of whom have been intimidated and threatened in alarming numbers across the country , outside school grounds, across social platforms, and at local school board meetings. These actions also prompted the Justice Department to develop strategies addressing threats against teachers and school officials. “Schools have become a flashpoint for politicians looking to advance their agendas, and they are using scare tactics to target teachers and school staff who are focused on preparing our students for the future,” said Heather Harding , Ed.D, Executive Director of Campaign for Our Shared Future. “These dangerous antics show radical politicians are willing to use anything to win office, including jeopardizing the safety of educators and students. COSF is uniquely positioned to connect education professionals with rapid support in response to deeply concerning developments in the field. The Educator Defense Fund will offer our educators a helping hand to oppose these attacks.” ​ The Fund could help educators like Kentucky's 2022 teacher of the year, Willie Carver, Jr., who quit his job citing homophobia and repeated harassment against him and LGBTQ students. “I’ve received verbal and online attacks, including someone posting images of me and LGBTQ students on social media with homophobic comments and slurs,” Carver said. “I did not feel supported by my district in combating these attacks, nor did they approach the LGBTQ students who were harassed to address their concerns. I am grateful for COSF’s help desk to provide educators like me an opportunity to be heard, seen, and supported.” ​ Nina Perez, National Director for Early Learning at MomsRising, added, “Florida moms are horrified that books are being banned, our history is being censored, and educators and librarians are being threatened simply for doing their jobs. Educators should not have to worry about their jobs or their safety, and we should be working together to support, rather than fend off attacks on, our public schools. Moms and parents don’t want lawmakers to instigate culture wars designed to advance their political careers. We want lawmakers to focus on kitchen table issues like making quality child care affordable and paid family and medical leave available to all of us. We support our hard-working educators and won’t bow to the bullies who want to intimidate them.” ​ Once launched, COSF’s Educator Defense Fund will be available to any educator receiving injustice resulting from politically motivated actions. It will be staffed by a team of experts offering communications, legal advice, and other resources. Working with partners in the education sector, COSF seeks to create a funded infrastructure to provide targeted individuals with services and support. ​ ### The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) is a non-partisan effort to support high quality K-12 education and preserve access, inclusion, and meaningful content in our schools so that every student has an opportunity to succeed and thrive. COSF is a common ground effort committed to fighting the attack on education across the country. Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2023 Contact: press@campaignsharedfuture.org The Campaign for Our Shared Future Signs Letter Supporting the National Association for the Education of Young Children Washington, D.C . - Today, the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) Executive Director, Heather Harding, Ed.D., released the following statement supporting the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in the face of attacks by political extremists: “We stand with the National Association for the Education of Young Children, an organization with a 100-year history of being the gold standard in ensuring our youngest children get high-quality, age-appropriate learning and care. We have joined more than 6,500 educators, child-care providers, organizations, and others from across the country in signing a letter supporting NAEYC’s work and signaling our outrage at extremist politicians trying to score political points by attacking the organization. “Let’s be very clear: the assault on NAEYC and the firing of long-time educator Dr. Barbara Cooper as Alabama’s early education chief is not about protecting children—it is political theater meant to push partisan politics into our classrooms and into thousands of small businesses that provide early learning and child care. “This is nothing more than politicians trying to score political points by frightening families into thinking child-care centers and preschool teachers don’t have the best interests of children at heart. We will not allow our kids—particularly our babies—to be used as political pawns.” ### The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) is a non-partisan effort to support high quality K-12 education and preserve access, inclusion, and meaningful content in our schools so that every student has an opportunity to succeed and thrive. COSF is a common ground effort committed to fighting the attack on education across the country. Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 11, 2023 Contact: press@campaignsharedfuture.org JULIA ROBERTS, CONNIE BRITTON, STERLING K. BROWN, SELMA BLAIR, AND MORE ISSUE CALL TO ACTION #LETAMERICAREAD The new campaign launched today during National School Library Month in response to the growing number of banned books in U.S. public schools and libraries LOS ANGELES - CAA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), in partnership with Campaign for Our Shared Future, a non-partisan effort to preserve equity and excellence in K-12 education, launched #LetAmericaRead , a new initiative designed to raise awareness of the growing danger of book bans in America. Between July 2021 and June 2022, 2,571 unique books that fairly address issues of race, gender, and culture in age-appropriate ways were at risk of being banned from classroom and library shelves by state or local officials. In response, celebrities including Chloë Grace Moretz, Julia Roberts, Connie Britton, Sterling K. Brown, Julianna Margulies, Selma Blair, Shonda Rhimes, Andy Cohen, and many other public figures are issuing a call to action - #LetAmericaRead . According to a recent report issued by the American Library Association, book bans and restrictions at school and public libraries set a record in 2022, with the vast majority targeting those focused on history, diversity, and marginalized communities. States including Florida, Arizona, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma, have proposed or passed legislation targeting reading material, with books including Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Beloved”, Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”, “The Diary of Anne Frank”, and “The 1619 Project”, a Pulitzer Prize-winning report from The New York Times on the legacy of slavery in the U.S. “History is clear: good ideas are strengthened through contest, as governments are through debate. Since time immemorial, book banning has been the refuge of leaders who fear that their arguments and writs cannot withstand scrutiny. Its violence is born of weakness. And we are not a weak people – fighting book bans is an act of patriotism and a show of strength,” stated Emmy Award-winning actress, Julianna Margulies . “I am a reader. I think all books have some value, but the life changing books that have fought for that space in the school Canon of literature, they represent what has been so vital to America. Eli Wiesel’s books and “The Diary of Anne Frank” taught me the importance of never forgetting. And to keep tragedies alive in writing teaches the resilience we have. They went through it and they wrote about it so one day we won’t have to,” stated actress Selma Blair . “This current wave of book banning in the U.S. is an issue that we all need to be deeply concerned about,’” said CAA Foundation Executive Deborah Marcus . “Librarians and teachers across the country are being targeted, threatened, and fired for putting books on shelves that are age appropriate, historically sound, and reflective of society during the time periods in which they were set. The bans and these tactics pose a direct threat to the health of our entire educational ecosystem and to our democracy. The CAA Foundation has been committed to supporting students in our nation’s public schools for over 25 years. We are proud to organize our artist community to help amplify the calls to action put forth by the grassroots organizations who are fighting this current wave of censorship.” “Books have the power to introduce us to new places, cultures, and perspectives. But right now students across the country are facing empty bookshelves in their classrooms and school libraries. Books that have been read for generations are being banned by extremists who appoint themselves judge and jury on what’s appropriate for everyone else. Our children deserve the freedom to learn about our history, diverse stories, and each other. We must all join together to defeat book bans and keep age-appropriate books in the hands of our students. We must Let America Read,” stated Campaign for Our Shared Future Executive Director, Heather Harding, Ed.D. To learn more about #LetAmericaRead , the dangers of book bans, and actions you can take, visit www.LetAmericaRead.org . ​ ### About Campaign For Our Shared Future The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) is a non-partisan effort to support high quality K-12 education and preserve access, inclusion, and meaningful content in our schools so that every student has an opportunity to succeed and thrive. COSF is a common ground effort committed to fighting the attack on education across the country. About CAA Foundation The CAA Foundation activates the power and reach of the entertainment, media, and sports industries to create systemic social change for a more equitable and optimistic future. Its efforts are focused on public education, workforce development, civic engagement, and in times of critical need, mobilizing into action through crisis relief. Since its launch in 1995, the CAA Foundation has served as the heart of the agency, investing in our communities and helping our clients achieve their humanitarian goals. Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom VOTE NO ON HOUSE BILL 103 in Ohio May 15, 2023 VOTE NO ON HOUSE BILL 103! Chair Bird, Vice-Chair Fowler-Arthur, Ranking Member Robinson, and members of the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee: At the Campaign for our Shared Future (COSF), we believe that every American needs to understand our complete and true story as we move forward. That is what sets our country apart. Unfortunately, HB 103 would ensure Ohio’s children do not learn the true and complete history of our country – both the good and the bad. HB 103 would rob Ohio’s children of a quality education. HB 103 plays political games with our kids. This bill allows politicians to decide who develops Ohio’s social studies standards. Most Ohioans are sick of the politicians using children to score political points. Age-relevant instruction on the history of our country ensures that our children have the best foundation for their future. Families and teachers should work together to support our children locally – faraway politicians should stay out of education. American Birthright standards teach students what to think, not how to think . American Birthright standards are about memorizing names, dates, and facts – rather than inquiry, analysis, and civic engagement. That’s why the National Council for the Social Studies says these standards “would have damaging and lasting effects on the civic knowledge of students and their capacity to engage in civic reasoning and deliberation.”[i] Schools should teach independent thinking so that our children can think for themselves, handle challenging topics, and become successful in this country. American Birthright standards are too extreme for Ohio. These standards omit Juneteenth – a new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Making matters worse, the New York-based politically motivated coalition Civics Alliance, which publishes the American Birthright standards, contributed to social studies standards in Virginia that explicitly omitted Martin Luther King Jr. in the early grades.[ii] This is a slippery slope. If we ban teaching slavery and Martin Luther King, Jr., will we ban Abraham Lincoln next? HB 103 is yet another attempt to ban books . It is no coincidence a district recently made the news for banning a book from an English course due to lack of “alignment” with American Birthright standards.[iii] When books are being banned, our kids aren’t learning the complete and true story of America. When libraries and schools are forced to only teach one version of America, they aren’t teaching about America at all. No other state has adopted American Birthright standards – and for good reason. Teaching history to kids is vitally important because it teaches independent thinking and respect for others, which helps us make moral progress as individuals and as a country. HB 103 would prevent students from learning from the past in order to forge a better future. That is why we urge you to heed the advice of historians, educators, students, and families, and not make Ohio’s children guinea pigs. Vote NO on HB 103. Sincerely, Heather Harding Executive Director of the Campaign for Our Shared Future [i] NCSS Statement on American Birthright: The Civics Alliance's Model K-12 Social Studies Standards, September 2022, https://www.socialstudies.org/current-events-response/ncss-statement-american-birthright-civics-alliances-model-k-12-social . [ii] “Department of Education Apologizes, Corrects Virginia’s Proposed History Education Changes Amid Backlash,” The Virginia Pilot, November 2022, https://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/vp-nw-ss-standards-mlk-juneteenth-20221117-z5zl5nzjwbfqdpwk7lsx2svpjy-story.html ; and, “List Shows Who Provided Input on Youngkin Draft History Standards,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 2022, https://richmond.com/news/local/education/list-shows-who-provided-input-on-youngkin-draft-history-standards/article_a7eb1551-ebf2-5e6a-b4a6-a1c97a8ecb39.html . [iii] “Woodland Park School District RE-2 Pulls Course Material after Critical Race Theory Complaint,” The Gazette, January 2023, https://gazette.com/premium/woodland-park-school-district-re-2-pulls-course-material-after-critical-race-theory-complaint/article_947ed1ea-a0fa-11ed-8071-27317b72a21a.html Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA 27 de septiembre de 2022 Contact: press@campaignsharedfuture.org Campaign for Our Shared Future Lanza Student Task Force Washington, D.C. - Hoy, Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF), un esfuerzo común comprometido a luchar contra el ataque a la educación pública en todo el país, anunció el lanzamiento de un Student Task Force. El grupo de estudiantes reúne a líderes estudiantiles de todo el país que se preocupan profundamente por proteger una educación K-12 de alta calidad que se centre en las necesidades de ellos y sus compañeros. “Estoy encantada de que Campaign for Our Shared Future está agregando un grupo notable de defensores estudiantiles a nuestro equipo. Estos estudiantes han liberado el camino para que los jóvenes de sus comunidades aboguen por la educación que merecen”, dijo Heather Harding Ed.D., directora ejecutiva de COSF. “Mientras que los políticos extremistas han lanzado repetidos ataques contra la educación pública, prohibiendo libros y silenciando las voces de los estudiantes, estos jóvenes activistas han estado apareciendo en las reuniones de las juntas escolares y organizando a sus compañeros de clase. Estamos encantados de asociarnos con cada uno de ellos para ayudar a detener la politización de nuestras escuelas de una vez por todas”. Cada estudiante fue atraído al Student Task Force por sus propios motivos, y cada estudiante cuenta con sus propios logros impresionantes. Un miembro, Cameron Samuels, se crió en Texas y se ha expresado en su lucha contra la discriminación y la censura en clase. “La educación debe representar y apoyar a todos los estudiantes”, dijo Cameron Samuels, miembro del Student Task Force. “Este Student Task Force me brindaría oportunidades para apoyar la política pública para fortalecer el compromiso con la Diversidad, la Equidad y la Inclusión en la educación”. A principios de este año, Samuels testificó ante el Senado de Texas para abordar el ‘white washing’ del plan de estudios de estudios sociales. También es Presidente Honorario de la Juventud de la Semana de Libros Prohibidos (Banned Books Week). Hylah Daly ha sido una voz poderosa para la diversa comunidad de Georgia donde se crió. Ella demandó a su condado por la falta de representación diversa en su junta escolar local. “Me uní al Student Task Force porque creo que es necesario que las escuelas brinden a todos los estudiantes, independientemente de su origen, una buena experiencia escolar y asuman la responsabilidad de sus acciones cuando hacen cosas que obstaculizan la seguridad o la capacidad de aprendizaje de un estudiante”, dijo Hylah Daly, miembro del Student Task Force. “La mayoría de los niños de todo el país asisten o han asistido a escuelas públicas. Quiero ver a qué se enfrentan los estudiantes de otros estados, o por qué luchan, en relación con la justicia educativa y que también podamos apoyarnos mutuamente”. Después de una búsqueda nacional, siete estudiantes fueron seleccionados para unirse al Student Task Force, reuniendo a estudiantes de Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Virginia y West Virginia. Estos jóvenes activistas se asociarán con COSF para responder a los ataques a la educación K-12 y orientar las inversiones de COSF para desarrollar el poder estudiantil. Los estudiantes del grupo de trabajo recibirán capacitación y recursos para actuar en sus propias comunidades y convertirse en poderosos defensores de la educación. ### La Campaña por Nuestro Futuro Compartido (COSF) es un esfuerzo no partidista para apoyar la educación K-12 de alta calidad y preservar el acceso, la inclusión y el contenido significativo en nuestras escuelas para que cada estudiante tenga la oportunidad de tener éxito y prosperar. COSF es un esfuerzo común comprometido a luchar contra el ataque a la educación en todo el país. Hylah local news CBS46 - ciara.cummings@cbs46.com Cobb County Courier - larry.johnson@cobbcountycourier.com AJC Cobb County Ed Reporter - cassidy.alexander@ajc.com Fox5 Atlanta - brooke.zauner@foxtv.com , joi.dukes@foxtv.com , lindsay.truman@foxtv.com WSB-TV 2 Atlanta - audrey.washington@wsbtv.com , tyisha.fernandes@wsbtv.com , kristen.holloway@wsbtv.com ​ Cameron local news Houston Chronicle - hannah.dellinger@chron.com KHOU 11 - gharris@khou.com Houston Public Media - swernst@houstonpublicmedia.org , AndrewS@houstonpublicmedia.org TexasMonthly - mhardy@texasmonthly.com , fwilder@texasmonthly.com , mmojica@texasmonthly.com ABC13 Eyewitness News - Shelley.Childers@abc.com , rosie.nguyen@abc.com , samica.knight@abc.com Jewish Herald Voice - news@jhvonline.com , jeannes@jhvonline.com Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom Re: COSF Statement on Proposed Changes to Rule 2445.40 (Instructional Materials) July 14, 2022 To: Robert Joey Wiseman, Jr., Director, Middle and Secondary Learning Services, West Virginia Department of Education The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) is writing to comment on the revision of Policy 2445.40 (Instructional Resources), issued by the West Virginia Department of Education on July 14, 2022. As a campaign dedicated to ensuring every child has access to an excellent K-12 education, inclusive of and accessible to all, we are committed to stopping harmful policy that threatens our children’s freedom to learn. The legislation underlying the proposed rule was unnecessary and will cause untold harm to West Virginia’s students. Federal law, via the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), already ensures that all parents have access to the materials used in their child's classroom—all they have to do is ask (1). The West Virginia General legislature’s ill-conceived decision to amend W. Va. Code § 18-5-27 was based on a fictional narrative that educators are teaching inappropriate concepts behind parents’ backs. The lack of clarity around implementation in the proposed rules, including the lack of safeguards for teachers in the complaint process, further exacerbates the level of potential harm to our children. We believe the proposed rules fall short of providing sufficient guidance and clarity to educators and school staff—a harmful oversight that has already resulted in needless inventories of classroom libraries and will undoubtedly continue to sow confusion, chaos, and censorship (2). As this comment will explain, the Department must propose detailed language that institutes fair and transparent complaint processes; safeguards educators from political witch hunts; and prevents the politicization of the state’s public schools. The Department must continue to function as a much-needed non-partisan policy-making body, especially amid the Legislature’s continued effort to chip away at its autonomy (3). Yet the proposed changes to Policy 2445.40 only double down on the legislature’s fictional narrative. It is our sincere hope that the Department will prioritize clarity, transparency, and stakeholder engagement in its revision and implementation of Policy 2445. To this end, in addition to the changes outlined below, a public hearing is necessary to ensure parents, young people, and educators have an opportunity to give input on the proposed rules and any additional guidance the Department develops on the matter. COSF is disappointed in the proposed language and will continue to monitor the development, implementation, and impact of this policy on the availability of high-quality education for all children. The proposed rule has no time limits on when a complaint can be dredged up. Under the current proposal, an individual can file a complaint months, if not years, after an alleged violation occurs. At a minimum, the Department ought to establish a reasonable window for accusations to be made. We recommend that complaints be filed within 10 business days of the alleged violation. This window will ensure details of an alleged violation are not forgotten and that the potential influence by outside parties is limited. Further, the proposed rules are unclear on whether a teacher is required to meet with eligible individuals within 10 business days. One reading of the rules is that teachers have 10 business days to “schedule”—that is, set a date—for the inspection, but such an inspection can take place after the 10-day window. We recommend this reading, which requires that teachers, within 10 business days, set a date for a meeting that can occur at a later time, including during regularly scheduled parent-teacher conferences. The proposed rule does nothing to protect a teacher from harassment by bad-faith actors. As written, an individual could submit dozens of complaints about a teacher⁠ over the same facts if they choose. We strongly recommend that the Department include language that expressly prohibits a complainant from filing multiple complaints based on the same facts and allegations. It is also common sense to place a limit on the number of complaints eligible individuals can submit to ensure this policy is not abused by a few bad-faith actors. Nothing in the proposed rule prevents illegitimate complaints from being submitted and reported to the legislature. The proposed rules require yearly reports to the state legislature on the number of parent complaints filed—but not the nature or resolution of complaints. Reporting only the number of complaints filed would provide an unclear picture of the problem in local schools, considering that individuals could file illegitimate allegations both knowingly and unknowingly. To alleviate this problem, the Department should propose language in the yearly report section requiring county superintendents to report on the nature and resolution of complaints filed. We also recommend that the Department require county superintendents to distinguish in their reports between substantiated and unsubstantiated complaints, with the former characterizing instances where a teacher was found to have affirmatively and intentionally broached provisions of Policy 2445.40. Additionally, we recommend the Department expressly clarify that legitimate complaints under Policy 2445.40 include failing to schedule an appointment, failing to furnish a list of required books, or failing to explain how materials align with state standards if prompted. General complaints about the age-appropriateness or content of materials are not covered under proposed changes to Policy 2445.40. In Tennessee, where a similar complaint system was instituted in 2021, rules expressly clarify that general complaints about the subject matter or age-appropriateness of materials are to be filed with the local school pursuant to the school’s locally adopted policy for addressing such complaints (4). We recommend that the Department heed this example. Finally, educators deserve assurances that the legislature will not use the yearly report to target particular schools or teachers for political reasons. We cannot allow this to happen in West Virginia. To prevent the potential for personal or dangerous attacks on our schools or educators, the Department must add a provision to Policy 2445.40 that ensures all data reported by county superintendents are anonymized to protect students, teachers, and schools. The proposed rules undermine fair investigations into complaints. Not only does the 7-day window for resolving complaints make fair investigations difficult, but it is also far from the norm. In Tennessee, superintendents are given sixty (60) calendar days after receiving a complaint to investigate and determine whether the allegation can be substantiated. At a minimum, the Department should enshrine minimum requirements for investigating complaints that call for documenting evidence and ensuring due process for teachers, including allowing teachers to appeal a resolution. The lack of exceptions could result in teachers being reprimanded for exceptional circumstances. Currently, the proposed rules do not offer exceptions to the 10-day window for teachers who are sick, who have a family emergency, or who otherwise cannot find a common time to meet with families within the 10-day allotted period. The Department should allow the timeline to be extended upon approval from the school principal if exceptional circumstances can be appropriately documented. The proposed rule does not prevent varying standards for teacher behavior county to county and school to school. The proposed rule does not articulate what constitutes a resolution of a complaint, ensuring no uniformity in the implementation of remedial actions across the state. Without guardrails, a teacher in one county could get a warning, while a teacher in the next county could get fired over similar facts. To address this, we recommend that the Department codify appropriate resolutions for substantiated complaints. We appreciate the opportunity to submit this comment. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@campaignsharedfuture.org . Sources United States Department of Education, Student Privacy Office, Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), https://www.google.com/url?q=https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/sites/default/files/resource_document/file/20-0379.PPRA_508_0.pdf&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1658417837679302&usg=AOvVaw2oP6i74ToP2entZ9BeJ6YT The Dominion Post, “Classroom libraries must be inventoried because of new law,” https://www.dominionpost.com/2022/05/26/classroom-libraries-must-be-inventoried-because-of-new-law/ House Joint Resolution 102, https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hjr102%20ENR.htm&yr=2022&sesstype=RS&i=102&houseorig=h&billtype=jr Tennessee, Rules of the Department of Education, Chapter 0520-12-04, Prohibited Concepts in Instruction, https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/0520/0520-12/0520-12-04.20211108.pdf Previous Next

< Back Model Resolutions Click the links to download templates of each resolution. Educator diversity Establishes intentional practices to recruit, retain, and support diverse groups of educators Freedom to Learn and Opposing Statehouse Gag Orders Opposes any state legislation that hinders the ability of professional educators to address the diverse needs of all students Freedom to Read Affirms the right of students to have access to age appropriate reading materials and prevents restrictions and bans imposed on school libraries without following proper procedures History & Civics Safeguards history and civics education in the face of harmful gag orders, and backs educators who teach the full scope of this country’s history and present reality Meaningful Student leadership Affirms the value of student leadership and authorizes a formal student representative position on a local school board Mental Health Creates a new task force to assess and set a plan for increasing mental health supports and resources, calls on state leaders to ensure adequate funding, and condemns harmful state legislation Opposition to Harmful Legislation Opposes harmful legislation that targets our children’s identities and discussions about our country’s history Parents’ and students rights Affirms a parent’s right to timely information about their child’s progress and well-being, and a student’s right to an inclusive learning environment and curriculum Partnering for Student Success Invests in strengthening partnerships between families, students, and community members, including identifying and removing barriers to participation for families of all backgrounds Social Emotional Learning Defines and affirms the need for SEL Previous Next