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Call to Action- History & Social Studies SOLs
Virginia Organizations and Community Leaders call for the Virginia Board of Education to Pass the August 2022 version of the proposed...

Marianne Burke, PhD
Nov 28, 20221 min read


Strings of Lies
Before we begin, please take the following multiple choice exam: On November 17th, when the Virginia Superintendent of Schools presented...

Holly Hazard
Nov 21, 20223 min read


An Apple for this Educator
Earlier this month, representatives for 4 Public Education met with Dr. Michelle Reid, the new superintendent for Fairfax County Public...

Holly Hazard
Nov 18, 20222 min read


Not your Mother’s Sex Ed
Do you remember learning about sex ed in school when you were a teen? I do. Not only do I remember the cheesy heavy-handed after-school specials with Tiger Beat heartthrobs, but I also remember extreme mortification when I was excused from sex education class to go to the hospital to meet my brand new baby sister. In my 13 year-old mind, my sister’s birth advertised to all of my friends and classmates that my parents were having S-E-X…the horror! A million years ago, when I t

Vanessa Hall
Nov 10, 20222 min read


Vote for Democracy on Election Day
4PublicEducation.org champions public schools as the cornerstone of a healthy democracy and the right for every child to an exceptional...

4PE Team
Nov 3, 20221 min read


Statement Regarding FCPS School Board Member Karen Keys-Gamarra
4 Public Education strongly opposes ableism in all of its forms whether in the classroom or in public, which includes the use of slurs...

Jenna White
Nov 1, 20222 min read


Undermining Public Education: Efforts to Defund and Dismantle Your Public School (Part 2)
Dark money's influence on public education is not new. For decades, groups funded by billionaires have worked to push policies and proposals that pull teachers, funding, and other resources from public schools, including efforts to promote school privatization, charter schools, vouchers, and other so-called “education reform” schemes intended to defund and dismantle public education. In 2022, dark money groups are continuing these efforts to undermine and defund public edu

Vanessa Hall
Oct 26, 20224 min read


Joint Statement on the FCPS Teach Truth Resolution
October 26, 2022 4 Public Education, Fairfax Federation of Teachers, Fairfax Education Association, Stand and Deliver and FCPS Pride...

4PE Team
Oct 25, 20222 min read


Undermining Public Education: Fake Grassroots, Real Dark Money (Part 1)
Governor Glenn Youngkin and his allies used attacks on public education to win the governorship in 2021. National and local dark money groups managed to paint a fearful, failing picture of Virginia public education. Nevertheless, overwhelming support for public schools continued among most community members. It is now 2022, so why are Governor Youngkin’s allies and groups like Moms for Liberty (M4L) , Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) , and Parents Defending Education (PDE)

Vanessa Hall
Oct 20, 20223 min read


Attacks on Virginia's Public Schools: Honest Conversations (Part 2)
Part 1 of this 2-part series, introduced Governor Youngkin’s attack on public education during and after his campaign. This second part focuses on recent Honest Conversations among legislators hosted by the former Virginia Secretary of Education, Atif Qarni, that debunked the Governor’s lies. The legislators are on legislative committees that consider public education bills including: Senators Louise Lucas, Mamie Locke, and Ghazala Hashmi who serve on the Senate Education a
Marianne Burke and Atif Qarni
Oct 13, 20224 min read


Political Attacks on Virginia's Public Schools (Part 1)
As he did before the 2021 election, Governor Glenn Youngkin continues to inaccurately and unfairly disparage public schools in Virginia....

Marianne Burke, PhD
Oct 5, 20223 min read


Are you Ready? We are Ready!
Recap with photos of the Raise Your Hand 4 Education Leadership Symposium for Virginia.

Vanessa Hall
Sep 26, 20222 min read


Latest Youngkin Action to Undermine Public Education and Put Children At Risk
4 Public Education strongly condemns the recent policy directive of Governor Youngkin’s Department of Education to reverse guidelines.
Holly Hazard
Sep 18, 20222 min read


Support Title IX Like It Supported You
50 years ago, Title IX created a revolution in women's education and sports, transforming college campuses and K-12 school grounds. Today, it is impossible to count the opportunities available to women and girls who otherwise would not have seen a basketball court or attained a postgraduate degree. Nonetheless, our fight for equal rights and protections for girls and women is not finished. Inequality continues unabated in high school and college sports; however, more importa

Vanessa Hall
Sep 1, 20224 min read


Why are we allowing schools to criminalize our children?
A new law (SB36) in Virginia has many parents worried and upset, because it can give elementary students rap sheets for misdemeanors.

Marianne Burke, PhD
Aug 21, 20224 min read


Yes, Virginia, we want to teach history
Position of 4 Public Education and a Call To Action Governor Glenn Youngkin, and his Department of Education, are attempting to quietly white wash Virginia history and subvert the will of the people of Virginia to provide an honest and balanced curriculum for our public school students. His regressive agenda rejects already approved content in revised educational policies in which African American history is equitably represented in our school materials. In 2020, the Virgini

Marianne Burke, PhD
Aug 14, 20224 min read


Breaking: Americans Trust Teachers. Can Local Dialog Keep it Strong?
For those worried that American public education is in crisis, stop for a moment and consider this: the international survey firm Ipsos...

Monte Bourjaily
Aug 9, 20223 min read


Teachers need your support (now!)
“August is the Sunday night of the school year for teachers.” - Mrs. Kelly Love I’m just a parent, but that statement struck me like a Staples office supply truck. The week before the first week of school is a mess of school open houses, school supply runs, last minute playdates, and attempts to recalibrate my kids’ wakeup schedule by three or five hours. How hard must that be for teachers, many of whom are also parents? How are they able to balance their own family needs wit

Vanessa Hall
Aug 1, 20223 min read


The Truth About Co-Ed Family Life Education
Below are my comments to the FCPS School Board on July 14th, 2022. The meeting video follow at the end of this blog. See my colleagues comments at a previous meeting that also speak to co-ed FLE at this blog post . I’m a member of FLECAC, Family Life Education Curriculum Advisory Committee. I’ve heard people, most of whom are not FCPS parents, grossly misrepresent the committee and curriculum . Frankly, they seem to want to eliminate FLE altogether, thus I must address their

Vanessa Hall
Jul 14, 20222 min read


Independence, Not Indoctrination
Conservative media is portraying public schools as indoctrination camps. They pejoratively call them “government schools” while continuing their attack on civics teachers and librarians. They make so many factually incorrect statements that no one has enough time to research and contradict them all. Suffice it to say, where the right-wing critics see indoctrination camps, I see public education’s critical role in our society, which involves teaching students to think for th

Vanessa Hall
Jul 6, 20223 min read
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Relief after Years of Legislative and Executive Attacks on Education
2026 General Assembly Legislative Support for Public Education Public education remains one of the General Assembly’s most significant policy and budgetary responsibilities. With the conclusion of the Youngkin administration and the beginning of Governor Abigail Spanberger’s term last month, the legislature has continued its role in shaping education policy—particularly through direct investment, funding reform, and oversight. Strengthening State Investment in K–12 Schools In


Appreciation and Concerns Raised about the Superintendent's Budget
Explore key insights from the school board meeting on the FY 2026-27 budget. Understand diverse perspectives which include appreciation and concern over the Superintendent's school budget.


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.
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