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Virginia School Privatizers are Fibbing with Figures
Data Busting Project 2025's Daily Signal When 4 Public Education began, we knew that one major effort would be dispelling disinformation, but we had no idea how much disinformation would be churned by those whose interests were aligned with school privatization and/or who were intent on undermining the reputation of one of the best school districts in the nation, Fairfax County. But here we are. The latest of thousands of disinformation pieces about Fairfax County is one by S

Marianne Burke (PhD) and Vanessa Hall
5 days ago5 min read


Trump’s “Patriotic Education” Edict Causes Harm and Citizens Should Object
Discover how Virginia's resistance to Trump's "patriotic education" edict sets a precedent for the nation. Learn why citizens should object to Trump's harmful edict, which attempts to rewrite American history.

Marianne Burke (PhD) and Vanessa Hall
Mar 64 min read


Celebrate Black History Month like Tomorrow May not Come
Celebrate Black History Month with insightful recipes and cultural highlights. We may be celebrating a little late, but we come bearing food and joy, despite the uncertain times.

Vanessa Hall
Mar 53 min read


Restore Mental Health Professionals to our Schools
Vanessa Hall shares a personal story highlighting how important mental health professionals are in our schools and why the Superintendent should reinstate positions cut last year.

Vanessa Hall
Feb 102 min read


Ringing the School Bell of Freedom and Opportunity
Four of the earliest school houses in Colonial America, (clockwise from top left) The Bray school of Williamsburg taught enslaved and free black children, The St. Augustine Oldest Wooden School House, the Boston Latin School, and the Staten Island Voorlezer's House. All these schools were in operation decades, some even more than a century before 1776, and some were operated with local tax dollars. When John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson were writing the Decl

Cheryl Binkley
Jul 4, 20252 min read


Take Action: Make your Voice Heard by Virginia DOE by September 25th
Disruption is NOT Accountability The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) created disruptive accountability measures that will harm...

Vanessa Hall
Sep 13, 20243 min read


Fast Facts About Theatre Programs
Courtesy of Cappies NCA Why Schools Should have a full-time dedicated Theatre Arts teacher in every K-12 school Spring Productions are underway! Let me detail why a Theatre arts program is one of the most important elements in a school's repertoire of offerings. In the Theatre all are welcome and students learn to be accepting of the wide array of humanity and their beauty. It has always been and will remain a safe place for all our unique, commonplace, variedly able, a

Cheryl Binkley
Mar 21, 20242 min read


Update: Active Priority Education Bills in the General Assembly
This is an update from the report on priority education bills that was published on February 14, 2024 and is current as of Wednesday, February 28, 2024. The following five bills have passed both chambers and will go to Governor Youngkin for consideration. He will decide whether he will sign, veto, or amend each bill or allow it to become law by not addressing it. If the Governor vetoes or amends any bill it will go back to the General Assembly for further consideration. Th

Marianne Burke, PhD
Feb 28, 20241 min read


Trans-Exclusionary Policies are Bullying Kids to Death
The following is a letter posted by 4 Public Education Board Member Robert Rigby to Loudoun County Public Schools in response to their...

Robert Rigby
Feb 21, 20244 min read


A Closer Look: Our Public School Budget for FY 2025
The 2025 FCPS budget is worth reading. This 211 page document is extraordinary for its length, surely, but really for its fully integrated structure that includes the strategic plan, quality standards, and performance benchmarks. It provides details on every aspect of where the funds come from and how the money will be spent and basically how each dollar will forward the goals for our children. Most families may not have the time to read this hefty tome, so FCPS also created

Rick Clayton
Feb 21, 20244 min read


Standing in Memphis
Reflections on Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday 2024 This past September, I attended the PEER conference in Memphis Tennessee for groups and activists advocating for equitable public school funding. The trip was more of a pilgrimage than I expected. The hotel where I stayed was very near the Lorraine Hotel where Rev. King was assassinated. We toured the Lorraine Hotel, now a civil rights museum, and during the stay we stopped at the Masonic Temple where Rev. King gave his last

Cheryl Binkley
Jan 18, 20242 min read


Frustrating Financial Aid: A Family Guide to the New FAFSA
Like many parents of high school seniors, my family has been knee deep in college applications since October. My son managed to meet all of the deadlines to request transcripts, request recommendations, and apply to colleges, but now we are in the next step: submitting financial aid forms. In fact, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA ) was the first thing on my list for 2024…and then my pen stopped working, which I’m hoping isn’t an omen. Applying for merit-

Vanessa Hall
Jan 10, 20245 min read


New Year, New Leadership at 4PE
2023 was a busy year for 4 Public Education. In addition to our presence at school board meetings, key education events, and a robust...

Cheryl Binkley and Vanessa Hall
Jan 5, 20244 min read


Anniversary of an Expensive Manufactured Crisis
If you care about public education, then you have noticed that school districts across the country have been under fire for the last...

Vanessa Hall
Dec 20, 20232 min read


Happiest of Holidays
Although most of us think of Christmas when we talk about the December holidays, there are eleven cultural and religious holidays...

Marianne Burke, PhD
Dec 20, 20232 min read


Many Thanks for our Public Schools
“The best thing for being sad is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your...

Cheryl Binkley
Nov 21, 20232 min read


School Board Matters: Blue Skies and Smiles Shining So Bright
November 9, 2023 School Board meetings have become ground zero for the culture wars, so 4 Public Education is introducing a new blog...

Vanessa Hall
Nov 15, 20238 min read


Reading the Tea Leaves this Election
Election analysis from 4 PE Leadership continues with Public Testimony at the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) School Board meeting on Thursday, November 9th. Read the remarks and watch the video clip below: Good evening, I am Rick Clayton on behalf of 4 Public Education. I don’t need to be a fortune-teller to interpret the results of this week’s election . I can read the tea leaves. Chaos, transphobia, anti-CRT and lack of civility were trounced by the voters, by the p

Rick Clayton
Nov 10, 20232 min read


Op-ed: Northern Virginia in the Crosshairs
Even before he was elected, Virginia Gov. [Glenn] Youngkin focused his attention on harmful, fabricated fibs about public education. He...

Marianne Burke (PhD) and Vanessa Hall
Oct 30, 20234 min read


School Board to Vote on Renaming Woodson Tonight!
On October 10, 2023, 4 Public Education co-founder Vanessa Hall spoke at a hearing in support of the proposal to rename W. T. Woodson...

Marianne Burke, PhD
Oct 12, 20232 min read
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Virginia School Privatizers are Fibbing with Figures
Data Busting Project 2025's Daily Signal When 4 Public Education began, we knew that one major effort would be dispelling disinformation, but we had no idea how much disinformation would be churned by those whose interests were aligned with school privatization and/or who were intent on undermining the reputation of one of the best school districts in the nation, Fairfax County. But here we are. The latest of thousands of disinformation pieces about Fairfax County is one by S


Facts Get in the Way of Gloomy Gaslighting about Fairfax County Public Schools
Uncover the truth when Facts get in the Way of Gaslighting by Project 2025. Explore the truth of FCPS student test scores versus gaslighting by Project 2025 rags and how this impacts public schools and funding.


Bias Busting–Know Your Disinformation Source: The “Independent” Women’s Forum
Uncover the truth with our Bias Busting Guide on disinformation sources like the Independent Women's Forum. Delve into the tactics of IWF, and find answer to how "Independent" they really are.
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