Lynchburg Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With students across Virginia’s 5th District back in school, Congressman Bob Good (VA-05) is rolling out his “Back-to-School Agenda.” These three bills would combat federal encroachment in curriculum, protect students from the harmful ideology of Critical Race Theory, and defend parents’ God-given right to educate their children.

“Parents know what is best for their students and have primary responsibility for their children’s education,” said Rep. Good. “Local school boards should represent the will of the parents, not teachers unions, the Biden Administration or DC bureaucrats. I am fighting back against the Biden Administration’s overreach into the classroom with my back-to-school agenda that empowers parents, protects students from racist curriculum, and permits children to focus on their academic pursuits.”

Earlier this year, Congressman Good reintroduced his Children Have Opportunities in Classrooms Everywhere (CHOICE) Act to provide struggling families the choice of having federal education funds follow their students to the school of their choice or deposited into a 529 savings account. Read more about the CHOICE Act here.

Group Support (3): Citizens for Renewing America, American Principles Project, Institute for Educational Reform

"Institute for Educational Reform supports Rep. Bob Good's leadership to STOP the politicization of our schools through his Back-To-School Agenda. Government teacher unions push the toxic political agenda of the Democratic party along with their radical lies through Critical Race Theory and woke ideology. With his legislation, Rep. Good looks at the needs of our kids, instead of pushing a political party agenda." – Matt Buckham, Executive Director for Institute for Educational Reform

"APP is happy to endorse 3 pro-family bills introduced by Rep. Bob Good (VA-5) that will protect educational spaces for young minds and help them to refocus their energies on teaching children rather than indoctrinating them.

The Empowering Local Curriculum Act will end funding for schools promoting divisive ideologies like Critical Race theory that separate students into opposing categories of victims vs oppressors simply based on the color of their skin. The Defending Students’ Civil Rights Act clarifies that position further by outlining how such a practice violates these children's Civil Rights, an offense actionable by law. And finally, the Empowering Parents Act ensures that these children, their rights, and their innocence are being protected, not by a distant bureaucracy that can be bought out by well-funded organizations, but by those who have their best interests at heart: their parents. With the recent rise in the intense politicization of education and the sexualization of children, APP applauds Rep. Good's efforts to protect our most vulnerable by empowering their greatest and most effective advocates, their parents. We encourage Congress to put American children first and work together to pass these bills." – Terry Schilling, President of American Principles Project

Empowering Local Curriculum Act

The Biden Administration has leveraged federal funding to push divisive and anti-American Critical Race Theory on students through mandates and regulations from the Department of Education. As a result, states and localities across the country have vigorously debated the teaching of CRT or related curriculum in schools. Rep. Good’s Empowering Local Curriculum Act clarifies that recipients of federal funds cannot be required to teach or promote CRT in schools.

Cosponsors (6): Reps. Mary Miller (R-IL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Scott Perry (R-PA), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Tom Tiffany (R-WI)

Defending Students’ Civil Rights Act

The Defending Students’ Civil Rights Act clarifies that teaching Critical Race Theory is discriminatory and a Civil Rights violation. CRT is based upon the erroneous belief that an individual’s race is the primary determinant of the outcome of his or her life.

The Biden Administration’s priorities for the Department of Education’s American History and Civics Educations programs directly encourages the propagation of CRT-related radical ideals, including the 1619 project and Ibram X. Kendi’s How to be an Anti-Racist, which directly advocates for discrimination.

In contrast, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act states: “No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” This bill would help ensure that students are not indoctrinated with false, racist ideologies in the classroom.

Cosponsors (5): Reps. Mary Miller (R-IL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Scott Perry (R-PA), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Tom Tiffany (R-WI)

Empowering Parents Act

The Empowering Parents Act creates a private right of action for parents to hold their taxpayer funded public schools accountable, if the school:

• Forces a teacher or student to adopt, affirm, adhere to, or profess critical race theory.
• Compels a student to observe or espouse obscene or sexual materials without parental consent.
• Affirms a supposed pronoun change without obtaining consent from a parent.
• Acts as the agent of the student for the purpose of providing verifiable “parental consent”, in order to permit third-party collection of student data without actual parental consent.
• Neglects to report to the appropriate law enforcement authorities any sexual assault or harassment on school property.

This bill aims to protect the God-given rights of parents, and prevent them being infringed upon by the Federal Government.

Cosponsors (2): Reps. Mary Miller (R-IL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA)

Original source can be found here.