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< Back School Leaders Toolkit An Introduction to Our Shared Materials Resources for District and School Leaders Seeking to Defend Public Education and Fulfill their Commitment to All Students American education and schools are at a pivotal turning point in a highly politicized environment. As school and district leaders, you are facing challenges daily as you navigate how race and gender shape the individual and collective identities of your students, school communities and society. You are being asked to speak on divisive topics of vital importance to deeply invested audiences. One way or another, you are all being affected by the current culture wars: Some of you are focused on building community and dialogue to avoid the potential conflicts that are happening in so many places; some of you are in the middle of crisis, seeking ways to decrease tensions, continue your diversity initiatives, and find a productive path forward; and others of you may be on the other side of the most intense clashes and working to rebuild trust and understanding in their school communities. You are seeking ways to better understand the concerns of your community members, keep the doors of civil and productive dialogue open, and articulate your decisions and values to your school community. Despite the conflict and confrontation, you are committed to preserving the crucial institution of public education, and upholding your charge to provide safe schools and high quality learning for all your students. It can be hard to know what to say, what to do, and what information to trust. Our resources are designed to help you navigate complicated circumstances in your school communities in a way that will help you stay the course, engage your community members in brave and honest conversation, and articulate the purpose, reasoning and values that drive your decisions. They will be updated regularly to reflect up-to-date research and public understanding. We cannot give up the righteous work of providing young people with high quality public education that gives them well-rounded, safe and engaging educational experiences and helps them grow into empathetic, responsible community members. We’re with you. We’re listening. Please let us know what else might be helpful for you and your peers as you continue the fundamental work of advocating for our students. Thank you for everything that you do. Download a PDF version Toolkit Table of Contents For Leaders Trying to Prevent a Crisis Guidance and Talking Points Frequently Asked Questions For Leaders In the Middle of a Crisis Guidance and Talking Points Frequently Asked Questions Strategies for Tough Conversations and Techniques for De-Escalation For All Leaders Benefits of Student-Centered Educational Practices Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom Public comment on U.S. Department of Education's proposed Title IX rule on sex-related eligibility criteria for athletic teams May 15, 2023 The Honorable Miguel Cardona Secretary U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue SW Washington DC, 20202 The Honorable Catherine Lhamon Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue SW Washington DC, 20202 Re: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance: Sex-Related Eligibility Criteria for Male and Female Athletic Teams (Federal Register 88, no. 71); ED-2022-OCR-0143 The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) writes in response to the proposed rulemaking by the U.S. Department of Education (“the Department”) for Title IX §106.41, addressing nondiscrimination in school sports where separate-sex teams are lawfully permitted. If implemented effectively, the proposed rule represents a step forward toward ensuring the ability of every child to participate in school, free from discrimination, and to creating healthier learning environments that promote individual student well-being and success. COSF believes that every child deserves an inclusive, meaningful education that supports their health, learning, and success in life. COSF fights for equitable, anti-racist programs, practices, and policies that sustain schools and ensure opportunity for every child. COSF’s work is grounded in deep experience and knowledge of the education sector, and of the school-based interventions that benefit all members of a learning community. It is clear that securing the civil rights of every single student, no matter who they are, in every single public school, is both the foundation of true individual opportunity and an essential part of education in a healthy multi-racial democracy. Background At this moment in U.S. history, one of the most urgent threats to public education, equal opportunity, and the health of our democracy is an attack on students–particularly on transgender, nonbinary, and intersex students. States across the country are attempting to legislate these students out of academic, social, and especially athletic opportunities. The 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions saw a record-breaking 151 and 162 state bills, respectively, introduced that aimed to curtail the rights of LGBTQ+ students and young people. So far in 2023, 222 bills restricting K12 education have been introduced, with 21 states implementing a categorical ban on trans students athletics participation. Though many of these hateful legislative proposals failed, the impact of their introduction cannot be overlooked. The mere consideration of such discriminatory policies creates an unwelcoming climate for LGBTQ+ people by normalizing differential treatment and furthering poor mental health, internalized stigma, and expectations for adverse treatment. Even prior to the current attacks, transgender, nonbinary, and intersex young people faced substantial barriers to equal opportunity in school sports, including being prevented or discouraged from playing sports by school staff or coaches and being forced to use locker rooms that do not correspond with their gender identity (which has been found to be associated with a decreased likelihood of participation in school sports). CDC data show that transgender students are significantly less likely to report having played on a school sports team in the past year than their cisgender peers. Transgender students who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) experience compounded marginalization in school sports. For example, Black transgender youth were significantly less likely to report having played on a school sports team in the past year than both non-Black transgender students and Black cisgender students. Another recent study of CDC data found that transgender girls of color were significantly less likely to report participating in school sports than other girls. GLSEN’s 2021 National School Climate Survey (NSCS) of LGBTQ+ students found that nearly half (46.0%) of transgender secondary students, including those who identify as nonbinary, were prevented from playing on a school sports team consistent with gender identity. More than one in four (27.7%) of nonbinary students reported the same. Between 2019 and 2021, the percentage of transgender and nonbinary students reporting that they had been barred from school sports more than doubled. These trends are, in part, due to the intentional and coordinated spread of disinformation about the impacts of allowing transgender students to participate fully in athletics. A recent analysis of CDC data found that there was no negative impact on the participation of girls and women in school sports in states that had implemented trans-inclusive state athletics policies. In fact, early evidence from California and Connecticut suggests that trans-inclusive policies are correlated with increased participation of girls in school sports. In contrast, where states enacted trans-exclusionary policies, girls’ overall participation in high school sports declined. Restricting students’ ability to participate in school sports consistent with their gender identity mandates a system of gender policing that creates a hostile environment for transgender and cisgender students alike. Conversely, a safe and supportive school environment for all students creates a healthy school culture. All students deserve access to the benefits of school sports participation and the Department should do everything it can to ensure this access. Recommendations The proposed rule makes participation consistent with gender identity the only approach to sex-separated school sports teams that does not risk a covered entity violating Title IX. For a covered entity who nonetheless seeks to adopt or apply exclusionary eligibility criteria, the proposed rule requires that “for each sport, level of competition, and grade or education level,” the restriction be “substantially related to achievement of an important educational objective” and “minimize harm.” Through guidance accompanying the regulatory text (“the preamble”), the Department makes clear that policies that categorically ban transgender students from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity would not satisfy this test, and thus such policies violate Title IX. In addition, the Department expressly names transphobic myths as unacceptable grounds for any restriction targeting transgender, nonbinary, and intersex youth in schools, meaning that policies that rely on such myths will likewise fail the test. If properly interpreted and robustly enforced , the proposed rule represents a significant and important step towards ensuring equal educational opportunity by severely limiting restrictions on participation in school sports consistent with gender identity. The Department states that categorical bans on participation consistent with gender identity are impermissible; The regulatory text should explicitly include this prohibition. The preamble makes clear that “categorical” bans, such as those that “exclude all transgender girls and women from participating on any female athletic teams would not satisfy the proposed regulation because, in taking a one-size-fits-all approach, they rely on overbroad generalizations that do not account for the nature of particular sports, the level of competition at issue, and the grade or education level of students to which they apply.” We commend the Department for making clear that the bans enacted in states at the time of this submission violate Title IX. To support strong implementation, the Department should include language expressly prohibiting categorical bans in §106.41. The Department should also provide additional examples of categorical bans in the preamble. For example, where youth are unable to access gender-affirming medication, a restriction requiring such medication is a de facto categorical ban. Finally, the Department should provide guidance for administrators implementing the rule, including those in states that have enacted categorical bans. The Department should clarify that restrictions cannot be justified in the context of K-12 and college intramural and club sports. The proposed rule states: “the Department currently believes that there would be few, if any, sex- related eligibility criteria applicable to students in elementary school that could comply with the proposed regulation, and that it would be particularly difficult for a recipient to comply with the proposed regulation by excluding students immediately following elementary school from participating on male or female teams consistent with their gender identity. The Department welcomes comments on whether any sex-related eligibility criteria can comply with this proposed regulation when applied to students in these earlier grades and, if so, the types of criteria that may comply with the proposed regulation.” Title IX’s applicability to school sports depends on the premise that athletics programs are an educational opportunity and so school athletics are valued for, above all else, the educational benefits they provide. The purpose of permitting sex-separated school sports teams under Title IX is to foster the equal participation of girls and women in school sports in a context where they have been systematically excluded and denied. Congress additionally recognized that the principles of equal opportunity may operate differently with regard to certain “intercollegiate athletic activities ... considering the nature of particular sports.” There is no evidence that restrictions on participation consistent with gender identity are necessary to ensure fairness in elite sports contexts or entry to such sports via K-12. Imposing restrictions on participation consistent with gender identity is particularly egregious in K-12 contexts since playing K-12 school sports, at best, complements pathways to elite and professional competition. Organizations governing elite, non-school youth sports should allow for the participation of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex youth; some have already adopted trans-inclusive policies. However, the content of such policies—or their absence—does not set the bar for rules governing the participation of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex students in the Title IX-covered setting of school sports. The Department should prohibit “sex testing.” The preamble explains that any criteria, including physical examinations, medical testing, or treatment, must minimize harm, but it does not rule out particular criteria that are deeply invasive and harmful. The Department should explicitly state that requiring visual inspections of anatomy or medical examinations of student-athletes would violate Title IX because they inherently cause significant harm to students and are never necessary to advance an important educational objective. In many states, intrusive examinations remain on the table, even in middle and high school sports as well as college club and intramural sports. These kinds of restrictions invade students’ privacy and bodily autonomy, are often applied arbitrarily based on prejudice against protected groups, and send deeply stigmatizing and damaging messages to young people that are antithetical to a supportive, nondiscriminatory educational environment. Recognizing the deep harm of current athletics restrictions, the American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted a policy opposing “[m]andatory testing, medical treatment or surgery for transgender athletes and athletes with [intersex traits] and affirm[ing] that these athletes be permitted to compete in alignment with their identity,” opposing the “use of specific hormonal guidelines to determine gender classification for athletic competitions,” and opposing the satisfaction of “third- party requirements to certify or confirm an athlete’s gender through physician participation.” The department should state explicitly that “sex testing” violates Title IX and is never necessary to advance an important educational objective because of the serious harm it causes to students. Conclusion For years, proponents of exclusionary restrictions on school sports participation consistent with gender identity have relied on deeply problematic evidence to justify exclusion. Clear guidance on unacceptable evidence is critical to supporting strong implementation and advancing equal educational opportunity. The Campaign for Our Shared Future thanks the Department for its commitment to ensuring that all students, including those who are LGBTQ+, have equal opportunity to succeed and fulfill their potential in school. We appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback and input on the proposed rule and look forward to the Department’s release of the final Title IX rule. If you have questions or would like to discuss the contents of this comment, please contact the Campaign at at info@campaignsharedfuture.org . Sincerely, Heather Harding, Ed.D. Executive Director, Campaign for Our Shared Future Previous Next

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< Back Nonpartisan Strategy: COSF Reflection Background As misinformation has become an effective political tactic, extremist groups have been able to control the narrative around public schools with pointed attacks on equity policies and practices. In turning schools into political battlegrounds, it has created a binary “us against them” mentality that never existed before. Education policy historically was the common ground issue that did not divide elected officials along party lines. In fact, most school boards are nonpartisan bodies because every voter—regardless of whether they had kids in public schools—agrees that education is above politics. Because extremist rhetoric tends to push people into one direction or another, many school districts find themselves caught in the middle of a political debate between two opposing viewpoints that don’t reflect the needs or desires of the community. Additionally, these debates fixate on topics that don’t address the most pressing needs in the school community. Our children will only be able to receive the education that they deserve if we reestablish a shared consensus in support of great schools for every child. We must support and activate the broad and vital center that will help our children and their school communities get back to the business of learning, and support our schools’ efforts to improve, rather than punish them for their current shortcomings. Challenge There must be a common ground atmosphere to debate substance. COSF recognized the need to bring together people of goodwill from all points along the ideological spectrum to support high-quality public education that is truly accessible and effective for every child who walks through the schoolhouse doors. The argument over equity-based policies and practices does not have to be partisan. The recent spate of legislative and political action runs afoul of fundamental American and conservative values such as free speech, local control, government overreach and liberty embedded in family choice. Approach The common ground imperative drove a crucial stream of COSF’s work and shaped our strategy from the beginning. Our Advisory Board was ideologically diverse, and we encouraged a healthy dialogue among our internal staff and external consultants. We also operated with the understanding that education is a supremely local issue and that all of our work must be tailored to the states and communities in which we operated. Conservative Outreach Our work in this arena was rooted in our partnership with an independent public affairs firm and leading conservative figures in the education world who shared our commitment to childrens’ access to a free, high-quality K-12 education. Our work broke down into two categories: Stop anti-equity policies: We identified and lifted up core conservative principles regarding school governance and oversight, such as high-quality educational opportunities and academic freedom, student achievement and life success, and business competitiveness and workforce development. These arguments were especially effective in Arizona and Ohio, with different local conservative groups raising objections to bills in those states. Our tactics included Drafting and placing op-eds by conservative influencers in conservative outlets addressing how anti-equity legislation is out of sync with conservative values. Strategically engaging conservatives as messengers to lobby other conservatives to prevent the passage or implementation of bills in key states and to work to shift the media narrative around those that have passed. Coordinating with organizations to amplify conservative objections to harmful legislation/policy Convening center-left and conservative advocates to articulate common ground in defense of equity in public education Limit anti-equity policies: Since our founding in October 2021, COSF engaged in Republican-led outreach grounded in core conservative principles in ten states: Arkansas, Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Our primary goal for this phase of work was to reduce the harm caused by the current politicized firestorm around our schools, amplifying conservative objections to ill-considered legislative proposals and championing less harmful bills and approaches to implementation. We also worked closely with school leaders to ensure that they fully understood what new laws do and do not say, and how best to connect with their stakeholders to forestall community turmoil. Tactics included Analyzing previous, existing, and proposed legislation, executive action, and attorney general opinions in key states Developing and refining alternatives and key messaging Researching to understand the concerns, interests, and opinions of center-right and conservative parents and other school stakeholders Progressive Outreach Our role among progressive organizations was mainly advisory. We counseled politically-focused organizations on the nuance of education policy and polItics. COSF occasionally took a more public stance when other education organizations were not in a position to speak out. Messaging training Based on extensive polling, we developed messaging guidelines for broad-based education topics as well as specific culture war issues. These messaging strategies and talking points were common ground and helped progressive organizations explain their points of view in a language that made sense to general audiences. We distributed these knowledge through Regular training sessions and tailored workshops based on the needs of specific partners A shared research archive with peer organizations Rapid response messages to partners Regular consultation and review of partner messaging Field and organizing Working on the ground in Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, West Virginia, we developed coalitions of local grassroots organizations and individuals to fight against anti-equity policies. With the help of embedded local organizers, we Convened coalitions across regions within each state to share resources and compare notes Provided trainings on a broad range of topics to equip individuals with the community organizing skills to keep the momentum of the work going Collected stories of the harmful consequences of anti-equity policies and worked with progressive organizations to distribute them within the communities Mobilized a public response hearings by state and district school boards and drafted public testimony Results COSF’s efforts within states and nationally have resulted in stronger public will and amplified partner efforts to defeat negative attacks against equity. Indicators of impact include Presented messaging and legislative research and talking points to House Dems and their staff so that they could push back against HR5–the ‘so-called’ Parents Bill of Rights Act, and HR 734, The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Both passed but Democrats shifted their language to be more inclusive of the parental rights frame and mounted an aggressive defensive effort. In partnership with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), COSF launched the #LetAmericaRead campaign, an initiative to spread awareness about book bans across the country. Celebrities are using their platforms to share their favorite banned books and the importance of fighting back against proposed bans. In just seven days, the Let America Read Instagram account accumulated more than 4,000 followers and the social media posts from partners have amassed more than 3.8 million impressions. Drafted and placed op-eds by conservative influencers in conservative outlets addressing how anti-equity legislation is out of sync with conservative values. Provided extensive crisis management & response for The Teaching Lab, a professional learning organization, when they were ambushed by conservative news outlet Project Veritas . COSF team provided coaching, connections to legal and security professionals to support Teaching Lab’s response and intervention to thwart the impact of the expose. We utilized this experience to develop and deliver preventative training for other professional learning organizations who have been targeted. Previous Next

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< Back to Newsroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2023 press@campaignsharedfuture.org On Tuesday, Voters Rejected Moms for Liberty and Its Agenda of Cruelty and Hate Washington, D.C. - In red, blue, and purple states, voters across the country sent a clear and convincing message Tuesday rejecting an extremist education agenda, which censors our history, bans books, harms our students, stigmatizes trans students, LGBTQIA+ students, and educators, and students with LGBTQIA+ parents, and would give future generations fewer rights than their parents had. Across the country, voters supported candidates running to strengthen public schools, get our students the support and resources they need, address educator shortages, ensure our children don’t have fewer rights than we did, and keep students safe from gun violence. This election should fully and permanently retire the myth that rightwing hate groups like Moms for Liberty represent this country’s moms or parents, or that we want the candidates they support to run our school systems or our schools. We do not. And we, together, representing tens of millions of voters, intend to continue fighting back until our schools are strong and secure for all students. “This week, voters across the country had an opportunity to vote for the health and wellbeing of our students and democracy. And their votes sent a resounding message - we don’t like political interference when it comes to our kids. Parents fought for their children and won. Tuesday’s results shined a spotlight on the candidates who ran for the wrong reasons, and politicians should take notice. Let’s continue to put the right people in place for the job and fight for family and community voices to be the driving force behind transforming education.” - Heather Harding, Ed.D, Executive Director of the Campaign for Our Shared Future "This week, voters sent a clear message that they value candidates who are working hard to provide families with the tools and opportunities they need to build a good life. Across the country, voters rejected candidates up and down the ballot who were determined to take away rights and freedoms and instead embraced candidates who will fight for what families really need. This week’s results mean that families and kids across the country are better off, full stop." – Sondra Goldschein, Executive Director of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy PAC “Lawmakers aren’t afraid of mothers as voters, but they will be. Last night’s victories should sound an alarm that women and mothers are paying attention and voting according to interest. As we say at the Chamber of Mothers: moms brought every lawmaker into this world, and we can vote them out.” - Erin Erenberg CEO Chamber of Mothers “Last night’s victories send a clear message: extremism may win attention, but equality and freedom win elections. As they have time and again, voters once again made clear that politicians hellbent on stripping away our freedoms and basic civil rights will fail. HRC was proud to endorse pro-equality champions across the country and have staff and volunteers on the ground to mobilize Equality Voters in Virginia and Ohio. Make no mistake – equality won at the ballot box.” - Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson “In yesterday’s election, voters across the country stood up for kids and repudiated Moms for Liberty and its bigoted agenda of book bans, discrimination, and taking away our choices. Let’s be clear: Moms for Liberty has never represented America’s mothers and families – and its effort to ‘mom-wash’ an agenda of hate is failing. Moms want to ensure future generations won't have fewer rights than we did. Moms want thriving schools that welcome all children, teach accurate history, and reject censorship, book bans, and attacks on students and educators. Moms want real investments in their families. We want an agenda that creates more affordable, high-quality child care and expands paid family and medical leave. At MomsRising, an organization of over a million members, with members in every state, we saw mom voters fired up to vote; we ran a direct mail, texting and phone program to let Ohio moms who are infrequent voters know when and where to vote – and they responded! America’s moms are fired up to protect our children and communities from hate and harm.” - Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, MomsRising “The conservative extremists who’ve been hijacking local school board elections failed to make the grade in this election--candidates endorsed by Moms for Liberty and the 1776 Project lost 8 out of 10 races on Tuesday. These results show when we center kids, voters will turn out to protect kids. NOW congratulates the grassroots activists and dedicated educators who are leading the charge to make education safe, equitable, and honest.”- Christian F. Nunes, National Organization for Women (NOW) “Across America most of us want the same thing, thriving communities with good jobs and strong public schools where all students – across race, place, and background - have the resources and opportunities to grow into their full brilliance. In yesterday’s elections, across red states and blue states and in urban, suburban and rural communities, parents and grandparents turned out in large numbers to support pro-public education candidates up and down the ballot. Voters rewarded candidates who articulated a clear, positive message about public education. They supported leaders who have focused on investing in our schools, partnering with educators and parents to help all students, and supporting working families. Conversely, parents and voters explicitly rejected extreme politicians who engaged in the politics of division, politicizing our classrooms, banning books, dragging their culture wars into our public schools, and pushing failed privatization schemes,” - National Education Association President Becky Pringle “This week, voters showed up to demand freedom, inclusion, and the right to make their own decisions and control their own lives. They rejected divisive attacks on LGBTQI+ children and adults. They refused to accept efforts to turn local school boards into weapons of hate and misinformation. And they reminded us yet again that protecting abortion is a winning issue. This was a gender justice election and a demonstration of our collective power to come together to build something better.” - Fatima Goss Graves, president of the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund “On Election Day, we saw the GOP’s strategy on full display: target parent voters with a false narrative about ‘parental rights’ that hinges on a manufactured sense of distrust, chaos, and loss of control that Republicans themselves have created to stoke fear in parents - and we saw that agenda fail. From Ohio to Virginia to Kentucky and beyond, voters saw the GOP’s emphasis on education and parental rights as exactly what it is: an attempt to distract from their extreme and unpopular agenda.” - Alien Arreaza, ParentsTogether Action “Red Wine & Blue’s local mom-led team organized with moms on the ground to stop 131 extremist school board candidates from taking over key school boards across our target states, including 25 in Ohio, 14 in Pennsylvania, and 7 in Virginia. We successfully defeated 73% of school board extremists in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Ballots are still being counted in Virginia, but extremists have lost 75% of the races that have already been called. Don’t mess with mainstream moms - when we organize, we win and we’re not going anywhere. We see through the “parental rights” BS and we are the majority.” - Katie Paris, Red Wine & Blue Founder “These results underline what families have been telling us for the last two years: They don’t want culture wars; they want safe and welcoming public schools where their kids can recover and thrive. Where extremists peddled fear, voters wanted hope. Where extremists tried to smear and divide, voters demanded real solutions. Voters want government to support them, not ban books, censor history or limit their reproductive choices. They want public schools strengthened. They want good jobs, higher wages, lower costs and investments in transport and infrastructure. They reject division and want to seize the future together. Voters saw the extremists for who they were, despite the massive investment from Betsy DeVos, Glenn Youngkin and other deep-pocketed donors. From Virginia, to Pennsylvania, to Kentucky, to Wichita, Kansas, and beyond, we supported candidates with a vision to tackle learning loss, loneliness and literacy, boost critical thinking, teach honest history and hone practical skills.The reality is that the culture war agenda is toxic and hurtful, and that voters agree that the path to a brighter future for kids and families runs through the nation’s communities and public schools. That’s the message from last night. Now it’s time to get to work and provide real solutions for kids and communities to help our kids and families thrive, not smears, divisiveness and fear.” - American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten “Voters in Virginia sent a clear message opposing classroom censorship and discrimination by electing school board members who will stop banning books and ensure all students have the right to learn. Schools should embrace the value of diversity which is why we will continue to fight to protect LGBTQ students and prevent curriculum censorship.” - Deirdre Schifeling, chief political and advocacy officer, American Civil Liberties Union “There are days when it feels like the loudest voices are those who want to attack education. The results of Tuesday’s election, however, make it overwhelmingly clear that oppressive groups like Moms for Liberty only represent a small minority and do not reflect the views of parents across the country. Voters rejected book bans, attacks on our teachers, and dangerous policies that threaten our children's autonomy and very right to exist as they are. Parents want our kids to learn in a supportive environment that allows them to have a bright future and to thrive. Extremists have shown time and again that they do not act in the best interest of our kids, and they are paying the price at the ballot box. Vote Mama is proud to have supported winning candidates in Ohio and Pennsylvania that ran on platforms of acceptance and decency. These victories against Moms for Liberty candidates confirm that our movement is strong, and that there is no stopping moms who are fighting for the education that our kids deserve.” — Liuba Grechen Shirley, Vote Mama Founder and CEO ### 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 November 9, 2022 Contact: press@campaignsharedfuture.org The Campaign for Our Shared Future’s Statement: Midterm Election’s Impact on Public Education Washington, D.C. - Today, Campaign for Our Shared Future Executive Director Heather Harding released the following statement celebrating voter turnout during pivotal election for public schools: “This election marked a pivotal moment for public schools around the country. And while we wait for every vote to be counted, what’s become clear is that we had record numbers of voters in many states. “As a mother of two children, I am encouraged by the number of voters who went to the polls and cast their ballot, including in local school board races. It is my sincere hope that those elected will uphold the values of the communities they represent. That they will prioritize the partnership between parents and teachers, preserve access to an inclusive age-appropriate curriculum, and provide our schools with the resources students need to succeed. “One thing is for certain: all eyes are on these newly elected officials. As they begin their new tenure, we must continue to hold them accountable and ensure they put the interests of our students ahead of political gamesmanship. With the futures of our children on the line, the stakes could not be higher.” ### 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 September 12, 2023 press@campaignsharedfuture.org We’re Preparing for the Biggest Game of the Season: School Board Elections COSF releases an action guide to defending public education this school board election season Washington, D.C. - Today, the Campaign for Our Shared Future unveiled The Movement Playbook , an action guide to defend public education and prepare school board elections. The rise of curriculum censorship, book bans, and political meddling in K-12 education along with more than 30,000 school board races across the country this year means it’s the year of the school board and the stakes are high. “In classrooms and school districts across the country there have been some disturbing shifts in the way extremist politicians are meddling in our students' education. Instead of focusing on the things our children need to succeed they are sowing misinformation and division to try and gain political power and win elections," said Heather Harding Ed.D., COSF Executive Director. “We created The Movement Playbook to give families, students, and community members the tools to take back control of their schools. Our students are best served when families and educators work together and decisions are made in conjunction with school board members who understand the unique needs of the community.” The Movement Playbook provides messaging, a glossary of commonly used terms, resources for talking with potential voters, and other tips to guide planning before, during and after elections. Whether your group is big or small, this playbook outlines all the essential information needed to elect all-star school board representatives. In addition to the playbook COSF is also hosting a training series led by staff dedicated to grassroots organizing. With these resources, community advocates will have the tools to positively contribute to our children’s education one election at a time. ### 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 Engaging Young People Use creative and visually appealing methods to convey information Young voters are often bombarded with information, so making your messaging stand out is essential. Use humor, animation, or memes to make your messaging more engaging. Consider creating eye-catching graphics, videos, or social media posts that explain complex issues clearly and concisely. The Campaign for Our Shared Future voter guide is a great tool to leverage to help young voters stay informed. This resource provides essential information about registration, participation, and guidance for staying current on current community issues. Youth Ambassadors Recruit young people to become ambassadors for the local school board elections. These ambassadors can help spread the word about the elections and encourage their peers to get involved. Host events that are relevant and appealing to young voters Consider organizing events geared towards the interests of young voters. For example, you could host a concert, poetry slam, or art exhibit focusing on education equity issues. These events help create a sense of community and camaraderie among young voters, which helps increase engagement. Collaborate with influencers Partner with local celebrities, social media influencers, or other high-profile individuals who can help spread your message to a broader audience. These individuals often have large followings on social media and can help generate buzz and excitement around your cause. Collaborate with Youth Organizations Partner with youth organizations and other community groups targeted at high school and college students to help promote the elections. These groups can provide a platform for outreach to a wider audience. Provide incentives for voting Consider offering small incentives such as free snacks, stickers, or other merchandise to young people who show up to vote. This can motivate young voters who may not feel particularly invested in the election's outcome. Highlight the election's impact on future generations Emphasize the long-term impact that elections can have on the future of education and the opportunities available to young people. Encourage young voters to think about the kind of world they want to create for themselves and their peers, and to vote accordingly. Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : October 13, 2022 Contact: press@campaignsharedfuture.org Campaign for Our Shared Future Announces a $300,000 Ad Buy In Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Missouri Washington, D.C. - The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF), a common ground effort committed to fighting the attack on public education across the country, has announced a $300,000 ad buy in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Missouri, condemning divisive anti-education efforts. The Ohio ad criticizes state lawmakers’ dangerous genital inspection bill targeting youth sports . The bill would give public access to young girls’’ private parts by requiring any female student athlete to have a full external and internal genital inspection if accused or suspected of being transgender. This ad campaign launched the same week that the Ohio State Board of Education voted on a resolution that attempted to invalidate protections for LGBTQ+ children. COSF is encouraging parents to tell Ohio lawmakers to keep their hands off their children. In Pennsylvania, the ad highlights recent attacks on school libraries , which have led to one school district leading the nation with the most banned books. COSF is calling on parents to protect their children’s rights to learn about Rosa Parks, Anne Frank, and Martin Luther King Jr. The Missouri ad calls on parents to condemn hateful rhetoric used by Rockwood Missouri school board member Jessica Clark. Instead of focusing on the needs of all children, Clark mocks students with disabilities and pushes divisive issues in order to appeal to an extremist base. “Across the country, families and students are being failed by extremist politicians who care more about pushing divisive culture wars than providing a high quality age-appropriate education. Students and parents care deeply about that mission but don’t always know about what’s getting in the way or what to do about it,” says Heather Harding Ed.D., COSF executive director. “These ads will draw attention to these important issues and remind families of the consequences of allowing our children to be used as political pawns.” You can view the Ohio ads here and here , the Pennsylvania ad here , and the Missouri ad here . ### 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 Movement Playbook: COSF Reflection Background There are nearly 14,000 public school districts in the United States. That means that in any given year nearly 30,000 school board elections are taking place around the country. These elections will determine the future of our kids’ education. School boards have the power to create welcoming, inclusive learning environments for our students to discover the world around them and reach their highest potential. But on the flip side, there are candidates in every state running for school board with the intention of banning books, silencing LGBTQ+ and minority voices, and injecting extremist politics into the classroom. Challenge The volume and size of school board elections make it difficult to look at past campaigns for a best practice guide. Dozens of votes can decide most races, and most individuals and organizations with relevant experience have not worked on such a hyperlocal level before. Approach As with all advocacy campaigns, if we’re willing to organize properly and have a gameplan, we can win. That’s why COSF created The Movement Playbook . This digital resource contains all the tools and knowledge needed to turn out a community for school board elections (and win!). It provides messaging, a glossary of commonly used terms, resources for talking with potential voters, and other tips to guide planning before, during and after elections. The playbook outlines all the essential information needed to elect all-star school board representatives. The playbook includes an interactive course with tasks and checklists as well as a PDF version for easy review. The course breaks campaigns down into work done before, after, and during school board elections. Additionally, COSF hosted a training series led by staff dedicated to grassroots organizing. With these resources, community advocates received the tools to positively contribute to our children’s education one election at a time. Results After it first became publicly available in September 2023, The Movement Playbook was viewed more than 1,300 times by more than 750 unique visitors during the November 2023 school board elections. It continues to be the most visited page on COSF’s website. 21 national organizations attended a live playbook training session and agreed to distribute within their networks. Examples of The Movement Playbook in action Central Bucks, Pennsylvania COSF worked closely with grassroots advocacy groups to create a GOTV phone banking program. We helped draft scripts and create a targeted phone list as well as create virtual phone banks. Additionally we conducted the initial training for the group to answer any questions and make any needed adjustments or edits prior to letting them run the program on their own. We remained a resource for technology platforms and any other technical assistance they needed and let them run their program. Connecticut COSF provided voter resources to 7 statewide groups that were launching GOTV efforts around school board elections. Those groups filtered information to local organizations in districts all over the state. Rockingham County, Virginia Through emails, calls, and texts, COSF built a robust coalition of 127 people in a rural part of the state. 50 of those people became active volunteers making calls and participating in in-person events. The deep canvassing program led to 40 hours of conversations with thousands of Rockingham voters. Lessons When more groups on the ground have access to year round training and technical assistance, it is easier to transition seamlessly to electoral organizing when school board races occur in the community. Many best practices from organizing apply, but the organizers need to understand the nuance of a school board race means that personal contact is necessary. School board members usually represent the smallest constituency of any elected office in the community, so voters have the ability to become personally invested in the elections. Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to identifying and training leaders in the community. The small electorate means that districts don’t necessarily need large coalitions to succeed. Proper technology is important regardless of the size of the electorate. It is ideal to be able to track voter file, door knocking, text banking, and phone banking efforts in one centralized system that either runs everything or connects to different platforms. Previous Next

< Back Movement Playbook Click here if you are not redirected to the Movement Playbook Previous Next