Christine Fairbanks, Sutherland's education policy fellow, explains how there is already a legal landscape for opt-outs and opt-ins for students and parents who may want a more tailored education for their needs.

Nic Dunn, Sutherland's vice president of strategy and senior fellow, details how the Mahmoud v. Taylor SCOTUS case is actually an argument about who gets to decide what is taught to children.

Bill Duncan, Sutherland's constitutional law and religious freedom fellow, explains how the court case against the Utah Fits All scholarship program would cause the state to go against protections provided within the US Constitution.

Should parents have a meaningful say in what their children learn — and how they learn it? On this episode of Defending Ideas, we examine two pivotal legal battles shaping the future of parental rights in education: one challenging a state-level school choice program, and another headed to the U.S. Supreme Court that could restrict a parent’s ability to opt their child out of curriculum that conflicts with their religious beliefs.

Host Nic Dunn is joined by Bill Duncan, Sutherland’s Constitutional Law and Religious Freedom Fellow, and Christine Cooke Fairbanks, Sutherland’s Education Policy Fellow.

They help answer a critical question raised by these cases: How should the public education system accommodate the diverse values of American families? This conversation explores both constitutional principles and common-sense reasoning for prioritizing parental engagement, and why doing so is essential for a pluralistic, self-governing society.

Show notes:
In fight between Maryland school district and parental rights, U.S. Supreme Court should protect religious freedom — Deseret News https://sutherlandinstitute.org/in-fight-between-maryland-school-district-and-parental-rights-u-s-supreme-court-should-protect-religious-freedom/
Utah Fits All legal fight demonstrates why we need judicial reform — Sutherland Insights https://sutherlandinstitute.org/utah-fits-all-legal-fight-demonstrates-why-we-need-judicial-reform/
The Mahmoud case and ongoing education policy debates — Sutherland Insights https://sutherlandinstitute.org/the-mahmoud-case-and-ongoing-education-policy-debates/
Religious Contributions to Education: Social Benefits of Religion, Volume 3 — Sutherland Institute https://sutherlandinstitute.org/reports/religious-contributions-to-education/

Following the decline in academic achievement during the COVID pandemic, many schools are still struggling to recover, says David Hoyt, executive director of School Boards for Academic Excellence, making engagement with local school boards incredibly important.

What and how students learn on a day-to-day basis in the classroom will greatly impact their civic decision-making for the majority of their lives, says David Hoyt, executive director of School Boards for Academic Excellence.

David Hoyt, executive director of School Boards for Academic Excellence, explains why he believes school boards are the most profound version of true democracy, given their impact in developing future leaders.

Unnecessary professional development training days, like DEI training, says David Hoyt, executive director of School Boards for Academic Excellence, can be a burden to teachers and their schedules.

It’s common to see news reports about education policy debates at the federal level and in state legislatures. But what if one of the most important policy levers for education reform is much closer to home — yet gets ignored far too often?

On this episode, Sutherland’s Nic Dunn and Christine Cooke Fairbanks talk with David Hoyt, executive director of School Boards for Academic Excellence. David argues that state and local school boards are actually one of the most important entities in our system for improving education. They discuss how school board members can positively impact a range of education policies, such as elevating the parent-teacher partnership by improving parental access to curriculum.

Christine Fairbanks, Sutherland's education policy fellow, explains how there is already a legal landscape for opt-outs and opt-ins for students and parents who may want a more tailored education for their needs.

Nic Dunn, Sutherland's vice president of strategy and senior fellow, details how the Mahmoud v. Taylor SCOTUS case is actually an argument about who gets to decide what is taught to children.

Bill Duncan, Sutherland's constitutional law and religious freedom fellow, explains how the court case against the Utah Fits All scholarship program would cause the state to go against protections provided within the US Constitution.