Four ways Project 2025 puts our kids’ right to a supportive classroom at risk: 

We Believe 2024 Voting Guide

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Education is on the ballot in the November general election. From school board seats to funding measures to candidates for state legislature with different ideas about how our education system should work, the decisions we make when we cast our votes on Nov. 5 will affect our children’s education and their future. It’s important for all parents to understand how the election outcome impacts our children’s freedom to learn, regardless of our political ideals or affiliations. All our kids should have the opportunity to thrive in a supportive and fully funded education system, and we can help make that happen with our votes.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to vote </h2>
Before you head to the polls, it’s essential to understand the candidates and issues that will impact school systems nationally and in your community. Visit  <a href="https://www.vote411.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VOTE411</a> to check your voter registration, find your polling place, and learn what’s on the ballot. You can find local resources through your county or state elections office, too. Most candidates share their plans for education on their websites or in local voter guides. These plans can include important things like curriculum, student safety, mental health, or school funding. 
Additionally, you can check your ballot for any local initiatives like bonds or levies that fund your local schools. These often fund school repairs or help school districts pay for programs like music or reading support, so it’s important to learn about them and make your choice. Make sure you note down all of these and keep them in mind while you are at the polls. 
There are three main areas to watch in this election cycle, all of which have the potential to shape the future of education in the United States and your community: 
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">School Safety: Children learn best when their schools are safe, secure, and supportive. Many jurisdictions have ballot measures up for a vote this year that address school safety issues like increased funding for mental health, security infrastructure, and campus crisis preparedness. School board elections also determine who makes your school district’s policies on student safety and school emergency response.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">School Funding: Funding for every child’s school should be based on the students’ needs, not the neighborhood it’s in. Depending on the outcome of the upcoming election, there are plans to either increase or decrease funding for public school systems throughout the nation. School bonds and taxes could potentially fund facility renovations, classroom improvements, increased teacher pay, and more. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Inclusive Education: Parents like us want schools that provide an inclusive curriculum, where every child is valued and set up for success regardless of who they are. Many races for elected office offer a choice between book bans and curriculum censorship, or fostering learning environments based on truth, collaboration between parents and teachers, and respect for all students.</li>
</ol>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Spread the Word</h2>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Follow WeBelieve and ParentsTogether on social media</h2>
Join our movement of parents and families and spread the word about what you believe on social media.
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WE BELIEVE X PARENTSTOGETHER  National Education Issue Guide

<h3><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-551 alignnone" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/09/ef2bb43c-wb_bbw_banner.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="533" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/09/ef2bb43c-wb_bbw_banner.webp 1600w, https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/09/ef2bb43c-wb_bbw_banner-300x100.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/09/ef2bb43c-wb_bbw_banner-1024x341.webp 1024w, https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/09/ef2bb43c-wb_bbw_banner-768x256.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/09/ef2bb43c-wb_bbw_banner-1536x512.webp 1536w, https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/09/ef2bb43c-wb_bbw_banner-600x200.webp 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /></h3>
Banned Books Week is upon us, and this year, the stakes feel higher than ever. With extremist politicians and special interest groups actively working to silence diverse voices and restrict access to knowledge, it’s become crucial for all of us to stand up for our children’s right to read and learn freely.
At the forefront of this battle, we’re proud to be partnering with <a href="https://pen.org/book-bans/">PEN America</a>, <a href="https://www.everylibrary.org/">EveryLibrary</a>, and a coalition of 23 other organizations. Together, we’re committed to safeguarding students&#8217; access to stories that represent the full spectrum of human experience. 
But we need your help to make a real impact.
<h3>How You Can Help</h3>
Here’s how you can get involved in this vital cause:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Send a Message: We’ve created a <a href="https://pen.org/book-bans/book-bans-open-letter-we-believe-in-the-freedom-to-read/?utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz--dzIY1Zrwk-YjLo69zbGiTA0srkRvGOFA95Q6Tk7sr1kYg1OAFtzsn4yjWGBeZ9lEGY3OLAifkWXQmFUMSgKkHDUmoPg&amp;_hsmi=2&amp;utm_content=2&amp;utm_source=hs_email">Banned Books Week Open Letter </a>to state leaders, urging them to protect the freedom to read. By sending this letter, you’re advocating for students&#8217; access to books that reflect the richness and diversity of the world we live in.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Stay Informed: Keep yourself updated with the latest from PEN America. Their<a href="https://pen.org/memo-on-school-book-bans-2023-2024-school-year/?utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9-xUk3QIceVocTpnwY6lzVkO2r_WgiFwfViUJ84ANmDeIswDrDgtwrFqTnKJ_E7n4n0MA4ZS8HRZNk2HsbgNh9WC4shA&amp;_hsmi=2&amp;utm_content=2&amp;utm_source=hs_email"> Memo on School Book Bans</a> offers preliminary findings from the 2023-2024 school year, helping you stay informed about the current state of book bans and their impact.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why It Matters</h3>
When children are exposed to a wide range of ideas, stories, and experiences, they grow into more empathetic, informed, and curious individuals. By joining this movement, you’re helping ensure that every child has access to books that open their minds, ignite their imagination, and foster a love of learning.
Thank you for standing with us in this important fight. Together, we can ensure that every student’s right to read is protected, and that our libraries and schools remain spaces of knowledge, inclusion, and freedom.
Let’s make a difference, one book at a time!

Banned Books Week: Why Your Voice Matters More Than Ever

When students have trusted adults at school like teachers and guidance counselors, amazing things happen. Their mental health improves, they feel safer in the classroom, and they develop a sense of belonging that leads to better academic outcomes.
As a Good Morning America panel discussed recently, the role of parents in collaborating with teachers to make this a reality can’t be overstated. The panel featured leaders in education policy and advocacy including actor Matthew McConaughey, whose <a href="https://www.greenlightsgrantinitiative.org/">Greenlights Grant Initiative</a> is helping school districts improve students’ mental health and safety by providing free grant writing services. The panelists answered parents’ questions to explore how the collaboration between parents and teachers can help students develop relationships with trusted adults and make a real difference in the child’s life.
Check out the full episode below and see how parents like us can support our students and the freedom to learn, wherever they are.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/video/embed/113544163" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/video/embed/113547723" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/video/embed/113547988" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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Advocating for Students on Good Morning America

<h4><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-523 aligncenter" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/08/e33bfb1b-project2025_resized_2560x460.png" alt="" width="2560" height="640" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/08/e33bfb1b-project2025_resized_2560x460.png 2560w, https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/08/e33bfb1b-project2025_resized_2560x460-300x75.png 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/08/e33bfb1b-project2025_resized_2560x460-1024x256.png 1024w, https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/08/e33bfb1b-project2025_resized_2560x460-768x192.png 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/08/e33bfb1b-project2025_resized_2560x460-1536x384.png 1536w, https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/08/e33bfb1b-project2025_resized_2560x460-2048x512.png 2048w, https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/08/e33bfb1b-project2025_resized_2560x460-600x150.png 600w, https://storage.googleapis.com/webelieve-wordpress-assets/2024/08/e33bfb1b-project2025_resized_2560x460-1600x400.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></h4>
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<h4>As parents, we all want the best for our children&#8217;s future. Public schools should be safe places for our kids to learn and grow — not political battlefields. Here are four ways Project 2025 puts our kids’ right to a supportive classroom at risk:</h4>
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<img decoding="async" src="https://a.slack-edge.com/production-standard-emoji-assets/14.0/apple-medium/1f3eb.png" alt=":school:" aria-label="school emoji" data-stringify-type="emoji" data-stringify-emoji=":school:" />  Project 2025 aims to eliminate the Head Start program, which promotes early development and school readiness for kids from low income families.
<img decoding="async" src="https://a.slack-edge.com/production-standard-emoji-assets/14.0/apple-medium/1f4da.png" alt=":books:" aria-label="books emoji" data-stringify-type="emoji" data-stringify-emoji=":books:" />  Project 2025 calls for censoring books and curriculum related to “sexual orientation and gender identity” as well as “diversity, equity and inclusion” and more. It calls for the imprisonment of teachers and librarians who don’t comply with book bans.
<img decoding="async" src="https://a.slack-edge.com/production-standard-emoji-assets/14.0/apple-medium/1f96a.png" alt=":sandwich:" />  Under Project 2025,  students who rely on free and reduced lunch would no longer be eligible.
<img decoding="async" src="https://a.slack-edge.com/production-standard-emoji-assets/14.0/apple-medium/1f3f3-fe0f-200d-1f308.png" alt=":rainbow-flag:" />  Project 2025 says federal law should require teachers to out LGBTQ students to their parents, and no school staff should be allowed to address a student by anything other than the name on their birth certificate without parental approval.
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We Believe, a Project of ParentsTogether 
<a href="https://parents-together.org/">ParentsTogether</a> is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization providing independent reporting and commentary on issues that affect kids and families. We cover the latest research, policies, and trends so that busy parents have the information they need to help their families thrive. In both our reporting and our commentary, we value accuracy, present facts fairly, and aim to provide news coverage that is reflective of and relevant to our audience. 
<a href="https://www.webelieveineducation.org/">We Believe</a> is a movement of parents and families fighting for our children’s freedom to learn.
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Unpacking Project 2025

Black History Month Book Recommendations by Age Level

New Ipsos poll for We Believe finds a strong majority of Americans want K-12 public schools to teach students about cultures, identities, and perspectives different from their own
WASHINGTON, D.C. — <a href="https://bannedbooksweek.org/">Banned Books Week</a> (October 1-7) has taken on new urgency and meaning in the past several years as books <a href="https://pen.org/report/book-bans-pressure-to-censor/">continue to be removed</a> from our children’s library and classroom shelves. Against this backdrop, <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/we-believe-education-poll-2023">a new Ipsos poll</a> for <a href="https://www.webelieveineducation.org/">We Believe</a>, a project of <a href="https://parents-together.org/">ParentsTogether</a>, finds that most Americans, including parents of school-aged children, trust educators to teach age-appropriate curriculum and oppose restrictions on what books and curriculum are taught in K-12 public schools. As we look ahead to the upcoming election year, the poll also finds that seventy-eight percent (78%) of Americans say they are less likely to support a political candidate in the 2024 elections who favors book bans. 
By contrast, the results reveal that about half of Americans and parents would support a state law that prohibits book banning. Furthermore, eighty percent (80%) of Americans believe K-12 public schools should teach students about cultures, identities, and perspectives that may be different from their own.
While the right wing has pursued a strategy of politicizing classrooms and learning, the poll makes clear that these priorities do not align with the values or desires of most Americans and parents when it comes to K-12 education, which <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/11/10/education-candidates-election-crt-indoctrination/">recent elections</a> have similarly borne out.
“The numbers don’t lie,” said Ailen Arreaza, Executive Director at ParentsTogether. “Despite what extremist politicians carrying the mantle of ‘parents’ rights’ would have us believe, parents generally do not want extremists banning books, censoring curriculum, removing AP classes from course lists, and canceling theatrical productions. Parents want our children to be safe, supported, and successful, and that starts with classrooms where they can learn and grow without interference from extremist politicians and activists,” Arreaza continued. 
The poll shows that parents across the board want their children to learn a range of perspectives and be introduced to age-appropriate lessons on a variety of topics — even challenging ones. While Democrats are more likely than Republicans to oppose book bans and curriculum restrictions, most Republicans still say they would be less likely to support a candidate in 2024 who is in favor of book bans or adding age requirements for library cards. More than half of Republicans also say teachers should at least be able to answer students’ questions about race, gender, and sexual orientation. 
Rather than supporting the restriction of classroom discussions or content, the poll shows that Americans and parents largely support school districts offering new courses focused on African-American History or ethnic studies (64% and 60% respectively), results that stand in stark contrast with political rhetoric endorsing classroom censorship and education intimidation tactics.
“The findings of this survey mirror trends we’re seeing across the board,” explained Chris Jackson, Senior Vice President at Ipsos. “The recent culture wars in education—whether around books, curriculum, or library cards—do not resonate with the American public at large,” Jackson continued.
The poll also finds:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Roughly seven in ten Americans say they would be less likely to support a candidate who supports statewide policies limiting what can be taught in public schools (71%) or supports curriculum restrictions around race, gender, and sexual orientation (66%).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Only seven percent (7%) of parents believe K-12 public schools should allow books or classroom materials to be removed at the objection of an individual parent.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">About three in five Americans either say they oppose a state banning high school AP curriculum that mentions topics such as structural racism or gender identity (60%) or say they oppose a high school canceling a student theater production because the script includes LGBTQ characters (61%).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A supermajority of Americans says teachers (83%), curriculum experts (73%), or parents (69%) should have a great deal or a fair amount of input on K-12 public school curriculum. Few say the same about elected officials or political groups.</li>
</ul>
Ipsos interviewed a sample of 1,115 adults age 18+—with an oversample of parents of school-aged children— from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. The survey was conducted August 18-21, 2023, on behalf of We Believe, a project of ParentsTogether. The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level for all respondents.
<a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/we-believe-education-poll-2023">View the results</a> to learn more.
In addition, Ipsos conducted a series of six (6) in-depth, ethnographic, interviews among parents of school-aged children living in Texas, Michigan, Ohio, and Georgia. <a href="https://youtu.be/rHgxYXtd_YY">Watch the film</a> to hear what parents really want for their children’s education. 
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We Believe, a Project of ParentsTogether 
<a href="https://parents-together.org/">ParentsTogether</a> is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization providing independent reporting and commentary on issues that affect kids and families. We cover the latest research, policies, and trends so that busy parents have the information they need to help their families thrive. In both our reporting and our commentary, we value accuracy, present facts fairly, and aim to provide news coverage that is reflective of and relevant to our audience. 
<a href="https://www.webelieveineducation.org/">We Believe</a> is a movement of parents and families fighting for our children’s freedom to learn.
Ipsos 
<a href="http://www.ipsos.com">Ipsos</a> is one of the largest market research and polling companies globally, operating in 90 markets and employing over 18,000 people.
Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 solutions are based on primary data from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques.
Our tagline “Game Changers” sums up our ambition to help our 5,000 customers move confidently through a rapidly changing world. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has been listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and Mid-60 indices and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD). ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP www.ipsos.com

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