Can you imagine your elementary-school-aged child or grandchild going to their school’s book fair and finding pornographic material available to purchase and take home? That could be happening in a school near you, if your local school hosts Scholastic book fairs.

Scholastic Books, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, recently decided to offer a collection of books to elementary school students that covered controversial topics including pornographic LGBTQ+ material. After controversy with the Left, Scholastic buckled under pressure, possibly resulting in an even more dangerous policy regarding these books.

Join our Joseph Kohm and Amanda Banks as they take a deep dive into this controversial story and provide you with the information you need to take action and help protect kids. Tune in to our video podcast and ask your questions LIVE this morning!

TUNE IN Tuesday November 14 on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube
SoconReport or by clicking the image below
7:00am PT / 8:00am MT / 9:00am CT / 10:00am ET

You might be thinking, “I’ll watch the podcast and share it with my friends, but what can I do now?” Sign our open letter to Scholastic Books, telling them that selling sexualized, pornographic material in schools is unacceptable. You can do that here.

At Family Policy Alliance, our vision is a nation where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished. To stay up to date on the fight to protect families and learn how to take action, follow us on social media!

.  

See you in the comments section!

Emma Rarden
Communications Specialist – Producer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

Earlier this week, we alerted you to the story that iconic Scholastic Books had scrapped plans to protect elementary children from certain pornographic and sexually explicit titles appearing in their school book fairs. If you missed it, you can read more about the situation HERE.

Already, thousands of our readers have taken action by signing our open letter to Scholastic! If you have done so, thank you!

If you have not yet signed the open letter to Scholastic, please do so by clicking HERE now. (But please come back to finish reading this important message…because there is more!)

Right now, we do not know if Scholastic will do anything. That means that we need to continue to press upon them how dangerous it is to sell sexualized, pornographic content to children of any age.

Much like Target and Bud Light, some large corporations really don’t care what people think until they see their bottom line being affected. Ultimately, it’s all about the money.

But we have a plan, and you can help.

Family Policy Alliance is asking you to help in one more simple way – and this one will require just a little homework from you, but we think it will be worth it.

Because schools must invite Scholastic into their buildings to sell a single book, school board members have the power to tell Scholastic that they cannot sell books to any student. The message is that Scholastic must change their policy, or they will not be allowed back into schools.

To send that message, we must notify school board members who share our values and want to protect children. They must be informed about the harmful material Scholastic sells in schools and they must be willing to take action to stop it.

Here is where you can make a difference.

We need to know who the strong, reliable, conservative school board members are in your area so we can provide them with the background material and tools they need to protect children from harmful materials.

There are over 90,000 local school board members in 14,000 school districts across the nation, and knowing who to reach out to is a daunting task. Your help in narrowing our focus to those best positioned to take action on this issue will be immensely helpful.

Here is where your homework comes in.

For any school board member whom you feel should be involved, CLICK HERE and provide the following: Their name, an email address and the name of your school district, city and state. If you do not have all of this information, share as much as you can! If you are fortunate enough to have several good school board members, please send us contact information for all of them.

We appreciate your help in firing up elected officials at the grassroots level!

Your input here is key to activating what we hope is a national effort to stop schools and corporations from pushing pornography on schoolchildren of any age.

Again – click HERE to give us contact information for any reliable, conservative school board member(s) in your area and we will reach out right away to equip them with the tools they need to take action on this issue.

Thank you,

Robert Noland
Director, Audience Engagement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

Recently parents across the country have been taking action to eradicate pornographic material in school libraries and curricula. Such content simply has no place in our schools. Pornography is deeply destructive in a child’s life; and in a time when the average age of first exposure to pornography is between 8 and 11 years old, schools need to be sure they are not facilitating such exposure.

But can you imagine your elementary-school-aged child or grandchild going to their school’s book fair and finding that same pornographic material available to purchase and take home?

What school would allow this and ask parents to pay for such content?

Scholastic Books, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, has been iconic in the school book fair realm, having sold books to young readers for over 80 years. Scholastic is, however, not the wholesome company you might think.

Scholastic recently decided to offer a collection of books to elementary school students that covered controversial topics including LGBTQ+ material. Scholastic had proposed steps to ensure that these controversial, pornographic titles were segregated as a special category of books. Schools could even decline to sell the titles in this category outright if they wished.

The policy was short-lived when last month, Scholastic buckled under pressure from the Left to scrap the policy. They fell to outlandish (woke) claims that by protecting children, they were being discriminatory and banning books.

In fact, Scholastic apologized for their efforts to protect elementary children when they promptly reversed course.

Scholastic should not offer such content to children in the first place, but now, given this recent policy reversal, it is presumed that students of any age will eventually be able to find and preview pornographic content at Scholastic books fair without restriction. (Note: Scholastic already provides controversial, pornographic titles for sale to older children without restriction.)

What can you do?

We are asking you to sign our open letter to Scholastic Books telling them that selling sexualized, pornographic material in schools is unacceptable and asking them to stop selling pornography to children of any age.

Book fairs are usually fantastic opportunities for children to fall in love with reading, however pornography and gender politics appear to be tainting this once wholesome realm and endangering children.

Please take action by signing onto our letter to Scholastic today.

Sincerely,

Robert Noland
Director, Audience Engagement

PS Please use the buttons below to share this message on social media and with your friends and family who need to weigh in as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’ve ever asked, “How can I make a difference in the direction of my school, state, or nation?” … we have good news for you!

The first Social Conservative Academy series is now in the books, and it’s available for you today! How to Beat the Radical Left featuring All American NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, Oklahoma Congressman Josh Brecheen, The FAMiLY Leader President Bob Vander Plaats, and The Family Foundation President Victoria Cobb, will give you the know-how and tools to effectively advocate your values in the public square, organize at the grassroots level, tell your story, and work with unlikely allies.

To see a preview clip here.

You won’t want to miss the pro tips and expert strategy shared by some of the nation’s top pro-family spokespeople and advocates—all available to watch from the convenience of your home or office, on your own time! Each mini course is approximately 20 minutes long and includes summary points and key takeaways for people like you who want to understand what’s at stake and make your voice heard.

The entire four-part series is now available to social conservative citizens for $49. But for those who act quickly, How to Beat the Radical Left is yours for just $29!

The Social Conservative Academy was designed for busy moms, dads, grandparents, full-time businessmen and businesswomen, and concerned citizens of all walks of life. If you are a social conservative who wants to make a difference, the Social Conservative Academy is for you!

How to Beat the Radical Left is the first of many courses in the newly developed Social Conservative Academy from Family Policy Foundation. Stay tuned for more opportunities to understand the critical issues facing our nation, get equipped to effectively respond to them, and become a changemaker in our culture and government.

Click here to purchase How to Beat the Radical Left for just $29 for a limited time.

Sincerely,

Amanda Banks
Vice President, Education

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever wondered how you can help beat the radical left? Join us THIS THURSDAY for mini courses with two leaders who are doing just that – and want you to join them!

Learn from former NCAA All-American swimmer Riley Gaines as she shares how to use your story to make a difference. Then, stick around to hear from Bob Vander Plaats, President and CEO of The FAMiLY Leader to learn how you can work with even the unlikeliest of allies to win social conservative issues.

Best of all? The live course is completely FREE to join live! Registration is required at the link below. (Did you register for last week’s Social Conservative Academy courses? You can use the same link you received when you registered before.)

Everyone has a story—how to be a force for change by telling your story Featuring special guest Riley Gaines

Thursday, Sept. 28 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Personal stories have the power to shape political discourse and influence decision-makers. By sharing our experiences and stories, individuals can humanize complex issues, creating empathy and understanding among policymakers and the public. Personal stories have the ability to capture attention and highlight the real-world consequences or opportunities that come from policy. In this course you will learn how to use your story and craft your message so you can change your world.

This course will be taught by 12-time All-American NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, who famously was forced to compete against male swimmer Lia Thomas in the NCAA championships. She has since used her story to advocate for saving girls’ sports – and for respecting biological reality throughout our laws.

Unlikely allies make an unusual impact—how to win social conservative issues with people you never thought possible Featuring special guest Bob Vander Plaats

Thursday, Sept. 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET

This course teaches strategies and skills to foster collaboration and build partnerships with individuals or groups who may have differing perspectives or backgrounds. It emphasizes the importance of finding common ground, practicing effective communication, and leveraging shared goals to achieve common objectives. By learning how to navigate differences and build bridges, participants can broaden their impact, create stronger alliances, and navigate complex political landscapes more effectively.

Come learn from Bob Vander Plaats, CEO and President of The FAMiLY Leader. Vander Plaats has been a prominent voice in social conservative politics for years, hosting the annual FAMiLY Leadership Summit and frequently weighing in on the most pressing political matters of the day.

We hope you’ll join us Thursday for these special courses on How to Beat the Radical Left!

Sincerely,

Amanda Banks
Vice President, Education

It’s officially back to school season! But, do you really know what your child is going back to? Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or involved in another way, you may be asking “What’s happening at my child’s school?” In today’s woke culture, it’s a fair question.

Whether it’s extremely explicit books, or boys in girls’ locker rooms, or schools leaving parents in the dark about medical decisions – there are many situations to be aware of, and they could be happening at the school your child attends. In today’s podcast episode, Meridian Baldacci and Autumn Leva discuss what is happening in schools across the country, and why parents are alarmed. Most importantly, they give you practical steps you can take to protect your family.

TUNE IN Friday, Sept 22nd on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or SoConReport
Or by clicking the image below
10:00am PT / 11:00am MT / 12:00pm CT / 1:00pm ET

We’ve got you covered as your family heads back to school: meet Back to School for Parents! It’s a condensed guide for busy parents about what’s happening in your child’s school, how to identify areas of concern, and how to advocate for your child and your rights.

In the guide, you’ll learn about your rights and your child’s rights, gain suggestions about how to respectfully advocate for your child, and access links to additional helpful articles and resources.

And best of all? It’s completely free! Download your free guide here today to learn how you can start protecting your child at school.

At Family Policy Alliance, our vision is a nation where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished. To stay up to date on the fight to protect families and learn how to take action, follow us on social media!

See you in the comments section!

Emma Rarden
Communications Specialist – Producer

P.S. Have you checked out our NEW podcast? We pick the brains of newsmakers and experts to break down what’s happening now on the issues YOU care about. With new episodes weekly, you’ll be up to date on all things that affect your family. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

If you have school-aged children, odds are they’re back in class by now. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or involved in another way, you may be asking What’s happening at my child’s school? In today’s woke culture, it’s a fair question.

No need to wonder any longer! At Family Policy Alliance, we’ve done the research for you in Back to School for Parents. It’s a condensed guide for busy parents about what’s happening in your child’s school, how to identify areas of concern, and how to advocate for your child and your rights.

In the guide you’ll learn about your rights and your child’s rights, gain suggestions about how to respectfully advocate for your child, and access links to additional helpful articles and resources.

Plus, the book is helpfully organized by the area of the school where you want to protect your child, so you can easily spot tips for areas of particular concern. You’ll learn how to protect your child:

• In the classroom
• In school locker rooms and bathrooms
• On sports teams
• In school libraries
• In school health rooms, clinics, and counseling offices
• In student-run clubs
• On school internet and Wi-Fi
• By exercising school choice

And best of all? It’s completely free! Download your guide here today to learn how you can start protecting your child at school.

We can’t wait for you to access this great resource!

Sincerely,

Meridian Baldacci
Director, Strategy

Dear Friends,

Many of you may remember the heartbreaking story of Sage, a high school student at a Richmond, Virginia-area public school. The school kept her parents in the dark when Sage expressed discomfort about her sexual identity. The school encouraged her confusion and gave her online resources to talk to other transgender-identifying individuals. Sage went to meet one of those individuals who said he was 16. Tragically, he was an adult who abducted and sex-trafficked her.

Through the help of our friends at Virginia Family Foundation, Sage was eventually returned to her parents. But Sage’s story should’ve never happened.

Now, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and his Board of Education took a courageous step to ensure Sage’s story won’t be repeated in schools across Virginia. They just released new model policies for Virginia’s Public Schools. These new model policies safeguard parental rights by requiring schools to allow parents to make decisions about their child’s education and well-being and defer to the family values taught by parents. They specifically protect children from radical transgender ideology by requiring parents be notified if their children express feelings of discomfort about their God-given biological sex and give their written consent before any action is taken by the schools.

 

The model policies also protect the privacy rights of young girls in school bathrooms and locker rooms and promote fairness in girls’ sports. They require schools designate sex-segregated locations and activities by biological sex, rather than gender identity.

We are thankful to Gov. Youngkin for protecting Virginia’s children by ensuring their parents are involved and removing areas of dangerous transgender ideology from schools. Even as a purple state, Virginia has set an example for the rest of the nation in how to partner with parents at the local level to protect children. Additionally, these policies affirming parental rights and protecting children come at a crucial time, as these will be central issues in both the 2024 presidential election and the 2023 Virginia elections.

To our friends in Virginia:

Please join us and our friends at Virginia Family Foundation in contacting your local school board and encouraging them to support and comply with Gov. Youngkin’s new model policies. Some critical school districts like Virginia Beach are meeting as early as next week to vote on adopting these model policies!

You can encourage them to make the right choice by contacting your local school board members or signing up to speak at your local school board meetings.

For our children,
Joseph Kohm
Joseph Kohm III
Director, Public Policy

We are just two weeks away from the official launch of the School Board Academy—Family Policy Foundation’s newest training program for pro-family elected officials.

As we shared earlier this fall, FPF has developed a unique course to equip and empower conservative school board members to protect children from radical curriculum and dangerous policies, preserve parental rights, and honor God through their service. The School Board Academy is the first-of-its-kind national training program taught by top legal and policy experts from a biblical worldview.

In preparation for the official launch of the School Board Academy in December, we held a pilot training for a select group of school board members November 15-17. During 7.5 hours of live, online training, participants were taught by 15 expert instructors. The partnership of our national and state allies—including Alliance Defending Freedom, The Heritage Foundation, First Liberty Institute, Pennsylvania Family Institute, Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, and several others—is humbling, and empowering for our attendees.

These partners, along with senior leaders at Family Policy Alliance and Foundation, provided critical training and resources on curriculum options, controversial issues, model policies, worldview, and more. (For a complete list of instructors and the course outline, see our website.)

Melissa, a school board member from West Virginia, said the pilot training allowed her, as a “lone board member with a faith foundation, to not feel alone and to have training that aligns with the Constitution and my conservative values.”

David, a school board member from Washington, remarked, “Very, very, very highly qualified presenters have been gathered for this Academy. On behalf of the future of America, thank you!

As so many of you have supported the development and launch the School Board Academy, please accept David’s thanks and that of the entire Family Policy Foundation team. Your financial contribution and prayer support make this training program possible.

As we look expectantly toward the December 13- 15 official launch, we thank God for the opportunity to equip and empower pro-family school board members.

Gratefully,

Amanda Banks,
Vice President, Education

P.S. If you would like to help deliver impactful training to conservative school board members, click HERE to provide a student scholarship or make a donation of any amount. Thank you for your partnership!

 

 

 

 

 

Parents asked, we listened: Training changemakers in our schools

FPF to launch nation’s first biblically based school board training

It’s not hard to see that our public schools need help.

From pandemic shutdowns that allowed parents to see concerning curriculum and ideology in their children’s classrooms, to the “new normal” of boys playing on girls’ sports teams, to students being encouraged to “socially transition” their gender without parental knowledge (much less consent), we all know our schools need better leadership.

We’ve heard from anguished parents and grandparents from across the country—and even school board members themselves—all asking for help. And we’ve listened!

That’s why Family Policy Foundation is launching the School Board Academy this December – the first national training program for pro-family school board members that will be taught from a biblical worldview. The virtual program will include training in:

We have a relevant and readily applicable curriculum, plus a highly capable faculty of veteran school board members and national policy experts, but we need your help to fill the seats of our first class. The inaugural School Board Academy will meet online Dec. 13-15, 2022, from 7-9:30 p.m. ET. All pro-family school board members and candidates are welcome to apply, however, space is limited.

If you know a school board member or candidate, or if you meet that criteria yourself, please invite them to apply here. The cost of $179 per student covers 7.5 hours of training as well as membership to the School Board Exchange, which provides ongoing community and resources to those who have graduated from the School Board Academy.

If you don’t know a school board member personally, you can still get involved and help turn our schools around by providing scholarships for those who need assistance to attend. To sponsor a school board member or support the School Board Academy in another way, visit here.

Please help us spread the word by sharing the School Board Academy webpage with your family, friends, church, and neighbors. With your support, we will equip and empower school board members to honor God, protect children, and preserve parents’ rights through their service.

Thank you for partnering with us!

Amanda Banks
Vice President, Education
Family Policy Foundation