The group's co-founder said during its annual summit in Philadelphia that Moms for Liberty will use its political action committee to engage in school board races, state board of education races and elected superintendent races.
Moms for Liberty, a "parental rights" group that has sought to take over school boards in multiple states, is looking to expand those efforts across the country and to other education posts in 2024 and beyond. The effort is setting up a clash with teachers unions and others on the left who view the group as a toxic presence in public schools.
Moms for Liberty started with three Florida moms fighting COVID-19 restrictions in 2021. It has quickly ascended as a national player in Republican politics, helped along the way by the board's political training and close relationships with high-profile GOP groups and lawmakers. The group's support for school choice and the "fundamental rights of parents" to direct their children's education has drawn allies such as Florida Gov.
Focusing on state-level candidates could give Moms for Liberty an opportunity to assert its influence on some of the positions that have more control in determining curriculum, said Jon Valant, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who has studied education policy. "The wealth of knowledge they have and the network of support and just the advocacy tips that we’re learning from the speakers today," he said. "They have good advice to give. So you kind of learn a lot about what you can improve in your messaging."
Beyond unions, Moms for Liberty is likely to face opposition from grassroots groups and voters who "just don't agree with their vision of what public education should be," Valant said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Protests erupt as controversial Moms for Liberty annual summit in Philadelphia continuesProtesters turned out in force in Center City against the controversial group Moms for Liberty as the group conducted their annual summit.
Read more »
Shame Went to Die at Moms for Liberty’s Philadelphia SummitThe group laughed off its recent “hate group” designation with a parade of anti-LGBTQ bigotry.
Read more »
Philadelphia Moms for Liberty protests fizzle, bringing out only 100 demonstratorsPHILADELPHIA — Massive protests planned across Philadelphia in opposition to the Moms for Liberty summit largely failed to live up to the hype Friday, with crowds thinning out before the end of Day Two.
Read more »
Anti-trans agenda is a focal point of Philadelphia Moms for Liberty summitDenying transgender identity was a major theme — in addition to arguing that schools shouldn’t teach about the topic.
Read more »
Moms for Liberty are fired up in PhiladelphiaThese moms call themselves joyful warriors, but they're mad -- mad at teachers, principals, and the president, and they're fighting back.
Read more »
From soccer moms to parent activists: Moms for Liberty harness a powerful political movementMoms for Liberty flexed its newfound political muscle when a series of top Republican presidential contenders made the pilgrimage to woo support at the national summit of the seedling activist group focused on parental rights.
Read more »