Troy Hunter’s Post

Amidst talk of "culture wars" and a tense election season, we're seeing attempts to position schools, communities, and government as opponents of parents and children. In case you missed it, our latest blog post provides guidance for combating harmful rhetoric and bolstering more productive understandings of the role that government can play in improving children's lives. Check it out: https://bit.ly/4fE2VcW

📈 May Policy News Round-Up from NCLD A new federal report highlights a significant increase in college students identifying as having disabilities, yet graduation rates continue to lag behind. Additionally, groundbreaking legislation has been introduced to support these students further, including the Expanding Disability Access to Higher Education Act and the Higher Education Grant Flexibility Act. 🔗 Dive into the full report and explore our analysis:https://ncld.co/4bYcRvi

Republican legislators have introduced a bill that would end all federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and end funding for government agencies, contractors, schools and other organizations that have their own DEI programs. Introduced Wednesday, the proposed “Dismantle DEI Act” is the latest in a cascade of challenges that have arisen over the past year to programs that give preferences to minorities and women, including a disaster aid program for minority farmers and the Minority Business Development Agency. Scores of state legislatures across the country are considering anti-DEI bills, and private-sector initiatives have been challenged in court. These challenges have arisen in the wake of the Supreme Court decision last June that struck down affirmative action in college admissions. The federal bill was introduced by Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and backed by Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (N.D.), Eric Schmitt (Mo.) and Rick Scott (Fla.), and more than a dozen Republicans in the House of Representatives. Its chances of passage seem unlikely as long as Democrats control the Senate and White House. But the bill offers a window into the pressure DEI initiatives could face if Donald Trump returns to the presidency and Republicans gain a majority in the Senate. DEI encompasses a wide range of practices that advocates describe as ways to diversify companies, schools and organizations, their ranks, and ensure equal access to opportunity. It includes efforts such as recruiting and mentorship programs geared toward underrepresented groups, anti-bias training, and employee resource groups. Critics of DEI programs say preferences based on race and gender are themselves discriminatory. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation, which would root out DEI from our federal bureaucracy by eliminating such programs and stripping funding for DEI policies anywhere it exists,” Vance said in a statement. “Americans’ tax dollars should not be co-opted to spread this radical and divisive ideology.” The bill seeks to rescind executive orders related to DEI, such as the 2021 order by President Biden that declared that “as the Nation’s largest employer, the Federal Government must be a model for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility” It also would wipe out DEI-related federal roles and offices, end trainings, and revoke all funding for DEI programming in federal agencies. 

Join the National Civic League on August 28th for their upcoming Promising Practices Webinar: Citizens’ Assemblies 101! Follow this link to register: https://lnkd.in/dddvxpPd Citizens' Assemblies (CAs) are a democratic innovation that bring together a diverse group of residents, selected randomly through a civic lottery, to deliberate on public policy issues. This practice involves several phases: learning from experts, discussing and debating different options, and ultimately making recommendations. By incorporating a representative sample of the population based on key demographics, Citizens' Assemblies offer an alternative and supplement to traditional representative democracy. They aim to counteract political polarization and elitism, providing a platform for informed, collective decision-making on important societal issues. In this introductory webinar, we’ll explore the fundamentals of Citizens' Assemblies (CAs) and their role in modern democracy. This webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of how Citizens' Assemblies work, their history, and their impact on public policy.

The Big Ambition Report One million voices: The Big Ambition calls for children’s solutions to be at the heart of election manifestos | Children's Commissioner for England (https://lnkd.in/egt__QBZ) Published by the UK Childrens Commissioner. Some Executive Summary Findings on Education: - 60% of children agreed they enjoyed school or college. Secondary-aged children were the least likely to agree that they enjoy school. Responses on behalf of 4-year olds were the most likely to be agree (93%), while 13-year-olds and adults responding on their behalf were the least likely (44%). Children with SEND (Special Education Needs) were less likely to say they enjoy school (56%) than children without (69%), however, children in state-funded special schools were more likely to agree (76%). 75% of children agreed they had great teachers who supported them. Children in schools rated ‘Outstanding’ were more likely (79%) to agree that they had great teachers who supported them than those in schools rated ‘Inadequate’ (72%). Children in schools where the majority of pupils were eligible for free school meals were also more likely to agree (83%) than children in schools where a minority of pupils were eligible for free school meals. (77%) Great to see that the majority of children have great teachers. We need great teachers to inspire the imaginations of our collective future. Big read, lots to digest but work and information that deserves our attentions.

Students can now register for this summer's Social Justice Initiative course. The focus of this course is the interplay of social and healthcare practices and impacts on marginalized creatives within and outside of Chicago. Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/3QlbK03

Say Yes to Opportunities to Uplift, Thrive, and Heal Community-based programs are at the heart of California's successful youth justice reforms. While there’s still much to be done and difficult problems to be solved, California is on the right track. Join us for YOUTH Day to rally California’s lawmakers to continue this progress. https://buff.ly/3ApqENu

Following the parliamentary event we held yesterday on behalf of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children, we’re excited to launch a series of reports that dig a little deeper into some key areas of our work – including voice, inclusive education and systems change – and set out NCB’s unique evidence and experience and suggest some of the ways that we can go further and do better to achieving our mission to build a better childhood for every child. The reports build on our five-year strategy United for a Better Childhood: Building Brighter Futures, which we published in February. For over 60 years, NCB has united individuals and organisations across every area of children and young people’s lives, combining cutting-edge research with the voices of lived experience to improve the complex, interconnected systems that support the lives of children, young people and their families. "Building Brighter Futures: Amplifying children’s voice" outlines why the voices and experiences of children and young people have been and will continue to be at the heart of our work and shines a spotlight on recent successes. The report puts a spotlight on how we are amplifying children’s voice in politics, policy-making and evidence gathering and suggests a series of recommendations on how we can go further and do better to ensure that every child can thrive. Download and read the report here: https://buff.ly/3UGl9R6

Check out my latest op-ed about the recent Texas election results and how it affects school choice and Texas families: "With runoff results, the Texas Legislature may listen to families who want choice" https://lnkd.in/g5pygN4g

Its National Single Parent Day? Here are some pieces where I've talked about single parents in the workplace (HBR), portrayals of single parents in media (Substack) and what single parents really need (Boston Globe). LINKS in the comments below. From congress.gov - Public Law 98-240, 98th Congress: Joint Resolution, Designating March 21, 1984, as "National Single Parent Day". “Whereas in the past, single parent families have not always been an accepted part of society; “Whereas single parents have struggled courageously to raise their children to a healthy maturity, with the full sense of being loved and accepted is persons, and with the same prospects for adulthood as children who mature with their two parents together; and “Whereas it is time to recognize the courage and dedication of these parents who work to maintain strong family units and to be responsible members of American society: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That March 21, 1984, is designated ‘National Single Parent Day’.”