1. Democracy in Action
READ: Presidential inaugurations have historically offered students an opportunity to watch democracy happen in real-time, but more educators say they’ll skip the topic this year due to concerns about political sensitivities and polarization. Emma Humphries, chief education officer at iCivics, argues that doing so denies students the chance to explore history, analyze political rhetoric, and engage across divides:
“Something we say a lot about civics is that the classroom is the laboratory for democracy. The same way you learn science in a science lab, you learn about civics and democracy in a social studies class. And if we’re removing the controversy, we’re removing the current, we’re removing the relevancy, then we’re removing the opportunity for students to really engage across differences. They’re not getting that practice.”
Read more from Erika Meltzer in Chalkbeat here.
2. How to Disaster-Proof Rural Education
READ: Lee Ann Rawlins Williams took to the pages of The 74 to reflect on the impact of Hurricane Helene, which closed schools in rural North Carolina for a month this fall. Williams explored the unique challenges rural schools face during disasters, from damaged roads to limited internet access and inadequate funding. She advocated for more districts to invest in disaster preparation tactics like incorporating mobile technology:
When internet access is unavailable, schools can use mobile learning hubs. These are vehicles equipped with Wi-Fi, computers and other educational tools. These mobile hubs can travel to rural areas to provide students with access to digital resources. They serve as temporary classrooms or internet access points, bringing education directly to students.
Read more here.
3. SCOTUS to Weigh Parental Rights
READ: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case on whether public school parents have a constitutional right to excuse their children from classroom discussions featuring LGBTQ-themed books. Parents say that Maryland County Public Schools decision to discuss the books without notifying families or permitting opt-out options violates the First Amendment:
Among the storybooks were “Pride Puppy,” an alphabet primer about a family whose puppy gets lost at a Pride parade; “My Rainbow,” about a mother who creates a colorful wig for her transgender daughter; and “Love, Violet,” a story about a girl who develops a crush on her female classmate.
Read more from Adam Liptak in The New York Times here.
4. The Future of Care?
READ: Emily Tate Sullivan took a closer look at intergenerational care centers, like Tiny Images in Nebraska, where early learning programs and assisted living facilities are housed under one roof and intentionally brought together through shared space and activities. The programs have been found to combat loneliness for seniors and foster empathy in kids. They also reduce costs, lowering the barrier to quality care:
One allure of these arrangements is that many early learning programs are getting to rent the space for nothing — or next to nothing — which is a huge cost savings for a field whose providers are nearly always trying to make the math work to balance their budgets.
But there are other cost efficiencies too. Many co-located programs will share a kitchen and food service staff — at Tiny Images, lunch is prepared and delivered by nursing home staff. They’ll often use the same maintenance staff, and occasionally they’ll do mealtime together, even if it’s just for snacks.
Read more in The 19th here.
5. Church vs. University: Who Decides?
READ: Southern Methodist University is in a legal dispute with the United Methodist Church over its attempt to sever ties, citing misalignment over modern non-discrimination values. The Dallas-based university argues that state law allows it to revise its bylaws for independence, while the church contends that its historical connection remains binding. The Texas Supreme Court’s decision could set a precedent for the balance of power between religious institutions and affiliated universities:
In a brief filed on behalf of the church, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty argued that if the court were to allow the university to unilaterally separate itself from the church, it would violate the legal principle of church autonomy, overriding church-written bylaws and essentially letting the government interfere in ecclesiastical affairs.
Read more from Ruth Graham in The New York Times here.
6. NIL Payments Face Title IX Scrutiny
READ: The U.S. Department of Education released a memo this week stating that college athletic departments’ plans to distribute NIL payments primarily to revenue-generating male sports could violate Title IX. The pending payments will be classified as athletic financial assistance, thereby triggering the Title IX requirement that payments be proportional to the gender composition of athletes. The memo also highlights ongoing disparities in promotion between men’s and women’s teams:
ESPN reported a little over a year ago that 55 athletic departments -- or 84% of the then-Power 5 -- mentioned men's teams more often than women's teams on their main accounts on what was then Twitter, and women's teams were more likely to have to share social media managers with other teams.
While it’s unclear if the Department of Education will interpret Title IX in the same way once the incoming Trump administration takes office, the memo could still disrupt the pending $20.5 million antitrust settlement. Read more from Paula Lavigne and Dan Murphy in ESPN here.
7. Empowering Families Through Choice
READ: Adam Peshek took to the pages of The 74 to share more about what drives his advocacy for diverse educational options for students with disabilities. Peshek argues that programs offering vouchers for students with disabilities have demonstrated high satisfaction rates, minimized bureaucratic barriers they face when advocating for their children, and enabled families to choose what works best for their children:
I have a son with autism. I’m motivated to find him a school where he’s welcomed, supported, understood, and loved. I want him to grow academically, socially, and cognitively. I hope he’ll make friends and be able to share highlights of his day. These basic human needs are obvious to any parent, yet they’re rarely mentioned in debates about regulations and government processes.
With over 55 million schoolchildren in the United States, why dismiss choice and alternatives because they are not bound by a federal regulatory apparatus? That is often the very reason parents seek alternatives. Expanding options empowers families to find solutions that work for them—solutions that no one can dictate better than a parent.
Read more in The 74 here.
Heads up! Next week’s Imbroglio will go out on Sunday, January 26.