Funding for schools, literacy programs and special education teachers in Oregon—a state where 60% of third graders can’t read at grade level—could be jeopardized by a Republican walkout that has stalled hundreds of bills and derailed the Legislature for nearly six weeks.
The heart of much of the fighting lay in culture war issues led by Republicans, from how lessons about race and gender should be taught to what type of books students should be allowed to read.
Florida Department of Education officials in a Jan. 12 letter rejected aspects of the AP African American Studies curriculum, saying it violated state law and was "significantly" lacking in educational value.
Ron DeSantis’s war on “wokeness” has thrust educators into a legal minefield, pushing many to leave the profession entirely. One union leader says it’s all part of a GOP agenda to eradicate public schools: “This is just a part of their playbook.”
"Putting politicians in charge of the classroom is dangerous," North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said during a special address on Monday declaring a state of emergency for public education.
Some parents told the board the book is too violent and disrespects the military. The book also includes references to drugs, profanity and graphic descriptions of sex.
Nationally, parents have become increasingly worried about the GOP’s book-banning push and have cooled somewhat on the curriculum concerns that dominate Republicans’ education platform.
For instance, both librarians and teachers in Arkansas are subject to up to six years—or a $10,000 fine—if they provide what is considered to be obscene material, according to a newly enacted law that takes effect Aug. 1.
"We believe that the secretary is not adhering to the intent of Congress under Title IX," Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx told ABC News the day before the hearing. "Title IX was intended to make sure that women and girls were treated fairly when it comes to sport in particular."
