2025 Conference Highlights, Religious Charter Schools and More
Earlier this month, we held our 2025 Conference in Columbus.
It was an inspiring and uplifting event for public school advocates nationwide. Although the challenges we face are daunting, being with other grassroots advocates who support public schools made those in attendance more committed than ever, as they learned from the experiences of other grassroots advocacy groups.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz brought down the house with his wisdom and humor. You can watch that video by clicking on the Governor’s picture below.
To watch all of our conference keynotes, visit our website here.
Will the Supreme Court Allow Religious Charter Schools?
On April 30, the Supreme Court will hear The Oklahoma State Statewide Virtual Charter School Board v. Drummond–a case that will decide whether charter schools can be religious schools. At the heart of the case is whether charter schools are truly public schools (state actors) or contractors that provide educational services.
If the Supreme Court allows religious charters because it finds that they contract with states to provide educational services, the implications go far beyond whether they can teach religion.
I explain here why the charter lobby opposes religious charters. Spoiler alert–it has nothing to do with teaching religion.
What we are watching…
- Congress’s “Reconciliation Budget”: The present Administration and the majority party in Congress have made their hostility toward public education clear. We are watching to see whether or not the reconciliation budget contains cuts to funding for public education, along with increases for charter schools and a tax credit private school voucher program.
- Trump’s 2026 Budget: It is rumored that it will include the abolishment of the Head Start Program, which promotes the school readiness of infants, toddlers, and pre-school children from low-income families.
- State Laws that Promote Privatization: North Dakota passed a bill allowing charter schools, while its Governor vetoed the legislature’s ESA voucher bill. Despite the Herculean efforts of public school advocates, Texas passed a massive ESA voucher that will cost the state one billion dollars in year one alone. The Kansas legislature recently rejected a voucher program that would have allowed the funding of unregulated private schools. In Indiana, charter schools won and public schools lost when lawmakers passed legislation that grants property tax revenues to all charter schools in the state. As this law phases in, public schools will pay the price.
Despite the continual assault on public schools and the expansion of privatization, we will stand together and continue to advocate for our neighborhood public schools and the children who attend them. In the words of one of our inspirational conference speakers, Texas legislator Gina Hinojosa, a true public school advocate, ” We are in a moment in time. We are in a moment in history. We are at a crossroads. And it is not of our choosing, but it certainly chose us. It chose us in a big way, and we don’t have a choice but to meet that moment.”
Stay strong. Don’t be discouraged. As Diane always says, “Together we will save our schools.” We will meet the moment.