For more information or to schedule a presentation, contact
Teri Sorey (Chair) and Billie Joe Wright (Vice Chair) - sopeoc@gmail.com
NEWS ARTICLES
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Update (Fullerton Observer)
'Giant mistake': GOP voter helps remove conservative school board officials (CNN)
SOURCES
History and Evolution of Public Education in the US (Center on Education Policy (CEP) at the George Washington University)
For the Common Good: Recommitting to Public Education in a Time of Crisis (Center on Education Policy (CEP) at the George Washington University)
Project 2025 (Rightwing Extremist Agenda - Policy Book)
Project 2025: (Rightwing Extremist Education Agenda)
Our Schools USA is dedicated to empowering parents, students, and community members to protect quality public education for all students.
Visit Our Schools USA Podcasts to listen to their five part series that breaks down the Project 2025 rightwing extremist plan for public education - see episode descriptions at the bottom of this page!
Head of the Class Podcast - A weekly conversation between the founders of Our Schools USA, covering the latest headlines and hot topics in public education.
Hosted by Christina Gagnier, a former school board member, and Kristi Hirst, a former teacher and current public school parent.
You listen to the podcast on your favorite streaming service or catch the video version on YouTube.
The Far-Right Plan for 2025: Part I: Looks Can Be Deceiving
DEC 06, 2023 SEASON 1 EPISODE 22
Our Schools USA
In this episode, Kristi & Christina dig into Project 2025, an initiative coordinated by The Heritage Foundation, specifically focusing on proposals that would dismantle the federal Department of Education as we know it.
And no, we are not exaggerating. The first line of the first paragraph of the Education chapter reads, "Federal education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated."
This is the first in a series of four podcasts breaking down the far-right's plan to undermine public schools.
The Far Right Plan for 2025: Part II: "Hard-Earned" Rights
DEC 13, 2023 SEASON 1 EPISODE 23
Our Schools USA
In this episode, Kristi & Christina dig into Project 2025, an initiative coordinated by The Heritage Foundation, specifically focusing on proposals that would dismantle the federal Department of Education as we know it.
Far-right extremists want rollback civil rights protections that were put in place by the Biden Administration, taking away protections put in place to shield some of the most targeted students from discrimination and harassment.
This is the second in a series of four (eh, probably five) podcasts breaking down the far-right's plan to undermine public schools.
The Far Right Plan for 2025: Part III: Special Education, Free Lunch & Radical Ideology
DEC 13, 2023 SEASON 1 EPISODE 24
Our Schools USA
In this episode, Kristi & Christina dig into Project 2025, an initiative coordinated by The Heritage Foundation, specifically focusing on proposals that would dismantle the federal Department of Education as we know it.
In the media, and supported by this document, far-right extremists have the federal free lunch program (as well as the state-level universal free lunch programs) in their crosshairs. The surprise, to boot, is their target of special education.
This is the third in a series of four (eh, probably five) podcasts breaking down the far-right's plan to undermine public schools.
The Far Right Plan for 2025: Part IV: Teachers' Unions and Parents' Rights
JAN 09, 2024 SEASON 1 EPISODE 27
Our Schools USA
In this episode, Kristi & Christina continue to dig into Project 2025, an initiative coordinated by The Heritage Foundation, specifically focusing on proposals that would dismantle the federal Department of Education as we know it.
The far-right has created this anti-teacher union narrative, reflected in Project 2025. They have further tried to create this contentious dichotomy of teachers versus parents, which is eroding the trust and collaboration relationship that is imperative for students and families in our public schools.
Also, they included this hot take: “There is no conclusive evidence that taxpayer spending on schools improves student outcomes.”
Hmmm....
This is the fourth in a series of five (yes, we ended up deciding five) podcasts breaking down the far-right's plan to undermine public schools.
The Far Right Plan for 2025: Part V: Defund It All
JAN 16, 2024 SEASON 1 EPISODE 28
Our Schools USA
In this episode, Kristi & Christina continue to dig into Project 2025, an initiative coordinated by The Heritage Foundation, specifically focusing on proposals that would dismantle the federal Department of Education as we know it.
School privatization is the topic of conversation, and the far-right wants to not only take taxpayer dollars away from public schools, but, ultimately, not fund education at all.
This is the fifth and final podcast in this series breaking down the far-right's plan to undermine public schools.