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Opportunity, Access, and Inclusion A better school for all of our children is within reach From 2021 to 2024, the Campaign for Our Shared Future existed to support equity in public education through building greater power in the field. We combatted extremist attempts to turn schools into political battlefields and we equipped partners around the country to continue the fight. This website is an archive of the resources we provided to families, grassroots organizations, and educators around the country. We encourage you to explore the site and and take advantage of lessons we have learned. How can we help you? I’m a member of the community ​ Button ​I’m an activist ​ Button I’m an educator ​ Button Our mission Every child deserves an inclusive, meaningful education that supports their health, learning, and success in life. An excellent K-12 education, inclusive of and accessible to all, is the foundation of a healthy multi-racial democracy. The Campaign for Our Shared Future fights for equitable, anti-racist programs, practices, and policies that sustain schools and ensure opportunity for every child and a brighter future for us all.

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< Back to Newsroom SENATE BILL 117 IS WRONG FOR OHIO June 5, 2023 Chair Cirino, Vice-Chair Rulli, Ranking Member Ingram, and members of the Senate Workforce and Higher Education: At the Campaign for our Shared Future (COSF), we share the General Assembly’s commitment to ensuring Ohio’s students learn to think for themselves and handle challenging topics in order to become successful in life. Unfortunately, as written, Senate Bill (SB) 117 would significantly undermine this goal and the quality of education of Ohio’s higher education institutions. SB 117 Injects Partisan Politics into Education SB 117 takes the power to make key decisions for higher education institutions out of the hands of experts and puts it into the hands of politicians by allowing them to pick and choose members of an academic council. Moreover, it funds new history curriculum, research, courses, and teachings aligned with their own political agenda. Teaching Ohio students that there is only one way to understand our history is the opposite of “intellectual diversity” – instead, it puts Ohio students at a disadvantage, ensuring they are less prepared for careers and the real world. Rather than use young people for political purposes, we must ensure they learn the true and complete history of our country, both the good and the bad. SB 117 is a Political Stunt that Takes Resources Away from Ohio Students At a time when higher education students in Ohio are struggling to endure the rising costs of getting an education, this proposal would shift money, time, and resources away from learning and toward a political stunt. SB 117 allocates $5 million dollars toward the creation of a center at Ohio State University and $3 million for one at the University of Toledo. To put this into perspective: $5 million dollars is enough to pay full in-state tuition costs for 400 students at Ohio State University for the same period (1). We need to focus resources on helping students succeed, not creating more bureaucracy and wasting tax dollars. SB 117 Encourages Extremism By failing to define “intellectual diversity,” SB 117 amounts to a slippery slope. The ambiguous provisions in this proposal open the floodgates to campus speakers and faculty who espouse racist, antisemitic, and other odious or violent beliefs. Ohio is already home to an alleged “Nazi homeschooling group” (2). The committee should be protecting Ohio students against the advancement of these hateful ideas; not giving them a platform in our schools. Racist, antisemitic, and fascist ideology must be stopped, NOT bolstered. SB 117 Brings Extremists to Ohio SB 117 could drive talented professors away from Ohio, scaring away innovation, weakening academic rigor, and making the state’s universities and colleges less competitive compared to other states. SB 117 also encourages the hiring of political extremists from outside of Ohio by reserving only three seats on an academic council for experts from Ohio. We should be listening to real experts, as well as students and parents, about how to create the best education possible — not amplifying ideologues for the sake of politics. There are important questions we must consider about how higher education institutions can teach students how to think, not what to think. However, an answer to this question cannot come in the form of legislative mandates that create confusion, division, and red tape. We ask you to say NO to SB 117 and work collaboratively with students and higher education institutions to ensure all Ohio students have access to a high-quality, competitive education. Sincerely, Heather Harding Executive Director of the Campaign for Our Shared Future “Students, professors speak against Ohio bill that would create ‘intellectual diversity’ centers,” Ohio Capital Journey , Jun 1, 2023, https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/06/01/students-professors-speak-out-against-ohio-bill-that-would-create-intellectual-diversity-centers/ “Ohio education officials investigating pro-Nazi homeschooling network,” The Hill, February 2, 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3842937-ohio-education-officials-investigating-pro-nazi-homeschooling-network/ Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 8, 2023 Contact: press@campaignsharedfuture.org The Campaign for Our Shared Future Calls the 2023 Elections a Triumph for Students: Elections Send a Clear Message for Education Democracy Washington, D.C . - Today, the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) Executive Director Heather Harding, Ed.D. released the following statement regarding the 2023 school board elections: “Yesterday, voters across the country had an opportunity to vote for the health and wellbeing of our students and democracy. And their votes sent a resounding message - we don’t like political interference when it comes to our kids. Parents fought for their children and won. “Since Day 1 of its existence, COSF has stood on the grounds of keeping politics out of classrooms and has helped parents navigate political threats entering the education system. The results of yesterday’s elections prove that when parents understand what’s at stake, they will get out to vote. In Pine Richland County Pennsylvania voter turnout increased by 53 percent, and in Loudoun County Virginia, voter turnout increased by 22 percent. “The work is just beginning. While COSF has developed resources such as its voter guide and voter playbook that local partners used to drive voter turnout in school board elections, the advocacy and work leading up to this election created a blueprint for winning for our kids. This blueprint will be pivotal in the 2024 elections. Yesterday’s results shined a spotlight on the candidates who ran for the wrong reasons, and politicians should take notice. “Given the high stakes for our students and the challenges educators and curricula have faced across the country, it is imperative that we come together in pursuit of an education system that offers every student an equitable chance to learn true history and see their own reflections in their coursework. We are responsible for engaging with and holding our school board members accountable. Let’s continue to put the right people in place for the job and fight for family and community voices to be the driving force behind transforming education.” ### The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) is a non-partisan effort to support high-quality K-12 education and preserve access, inclusion, and meaningful content in our schools so that every student has an opportunity to succeed and thrive. COSF is a common ground effort committed to fighting the attack on education across the country. Previous Next

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< Back to Newsroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 16, 2023 Contact: press@campaignsharedfuture.org The Campaign for Our Shared Future Condemns Attacks on AP African American Studies Washington, D.C . - Today, the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) Executive Director Heather Harding, Ed.D. released the following statement in response to renewed attacks on the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course: “As families and students across the country head back to school, our students are once again caught in the crosshairs of political theater that undermines their ability to learn the true and complete history of our country. The Arkansas Education Department’s decision not to allow AP African American Studies to be taught for credit—the same way other AP courses are—is the latest attack by extremists on the teaching of African American history in our public schools. “The history of our country and the history of Black Americans is not partisan and is not indoctrination. I applaud the College Board for their promise to continue the important work of educating our students and for refusing to bow to political pressure.” ### The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) is a non-partisan effort to support high quality K-12 education and preserve access, inclusion, and meaningful content in our schools so that every student has an opportunity to succeed and thrive. COSF is a common ground effort committed to fighting the attack on education across the country. Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 12, 2023 press@campaignsharedfuture.org ICYMI: Campaign for Our Shared Future Blog Explores Struggles Faced by Black Educators Washington, D.C . - Today, Sharif El-Mekki the Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development was featured on the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) blog “The Unbiased Classroom.” In his piece, El-Mekki discusses his experience as a teacher in the classroom and what research teaches us when we tell Black teachers “We need you, but don’t be Black while you’re here.” Students across the country are back in school and El-Mekki argues that all students, including our Black and brown students, are best served when Black educators are able to bring their history and experiences into the classroom. Something that is currently challenged through politically motivated censorship efforts sweeping the country. Read an excerpt from: “Unveiling the Silent Struggles: Challenges Faced by Black Educators in Today's Classrooms” We know that our students benefit from teachers with different backgrounds including Black educators precisely because of the lived experiences, their cultural fluency, and their personal qualities. The partisan politics of the moment seek to sever those characteristics, skills, and understandings. The result is a diluted or erased Blackness methodically disempowered from being the positive force for students that it can and should be. Reflecting on my own teaching career, I know the power of empowerment as a Black educator. The reason I was able to be so effective as a teacher, why my colleagues could teach Black children and all children so excellently, was because the school as an organization allowed me to be my full Black self. I was able to enhance the curriculum with content that I knew, from lived experiences and research, would help my students learn and engage. My feedback and input on curriculum and teaching was not just permitted, but welcomed, fostered, and incorporated into how we educated students. Our school leaders, our system leaders, knew that in order for the school to perform at optimal levels in serving its primarily Black and brown student population, they had to listen to their teachers and heed their insights. But none of that is possible in an environment where Black teachers are effectively told, “ We need you, but don’t be Black while you’re here”. You can read the full post here . ## The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) is a non-partisan effort to support high-quality K-12 education and preserve access, inclusion, and meaningful content in our schools so that every student has an opportunity to succeed and thrive. COSF is a common ground effort committed to fighting the attack on education across the country. Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 2023 press@campaignsharedfuture.org Campaign for Our Shared Future Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting Students Right to Read During Banned Books Month Washington, D.C. - Today, the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) Executive Director Heather Harding, Ed.D. released the following statement during Banned Books Week and in recognition of COSF’s decision to spend the month of October commemorating Banned Book Month: “As we celebrate the freedom to read and the right of every student to explore diverse perspectives, Banned Books Week is a reminder of the challenges we face in our efforts to preserve these freedoms. “In this time marked by damaging attacks on schools across the nation, books are being censored, challenged, and even banned because they explore uncomfortable truths, challenge the status quo, or provide insights into the lives of those whose stories are often marginalized. Censoring or banning books not only infringes upon our children's right to explore ideas and cultures different from their own but also leads to an inaccurate telling of history and encourages the censorship of K-12 curriculum in ways that erase some American stories. “With many states across the country poised to elect new school board members next month, we must stand together to protect the right to read. Our decision at the ballot box helps ensure we have local leaders that protect students’ rights to explore, learn, and grow through the pages of books that may challenge, inspire, or resonate with their own experiences.” The decision to recognize October as Banned Book Month comes just weeks after new studies were published highlighting the mounting pressure to censor and a record surge of book challenges in the first eight months of 2023. ## The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) is a non-partisan effort to support high-quality K-12 education and preserve access, inclusion, and meaningful content in our schools so that every student has an opportunity to succeed and thrive. COSF is a common ground effort committed to fighting the attack on education across the country. Previous Next

The Movement Playbook provides messaging, a glossary of commonly used terms, resources for talking with potential voters, and other tips to guide planning before, during and after elections. Whether your group is big or small, this playbook outlines all the essential information needed to elect all-star school board representatives. Download Playbook PDF

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< Back to Newsroom Re: Say no to Senate Bill 83 April 18, 2023 Re: Say no to Senate Bill 83 Chair Cirino, Vice-Chair Rulli, Ranking Member Ingram, and members of the Workforce and Higher Education Committee: At the Campaign for our Shared Future (COSF), we believe all young people should learn to think independently–and to face the real world. Senate Bill (SB) 83 would undermine this goal, which is my we strongly urge you to vote no on this proposal. Education should introduce our children to our functioning society, teach them to live within it, and continue to make it more perfect. That is what sets Ohio—and our country—apart. SB 83 Bolsters Extremists and Political Games We must not let students become political pawns. SB 83 opens the floodgates to campus speakers who espouse racist, antisemitic, and other odious or violent beliefs. Ohio is already home to an alleged “Nazi homeschooling group.” Does this committee want Ohio to be the home of Nazi curriculum and speakers in higher education in the name of so-called “intellectual diversity” that is actually harmful to Ohio’s future? Racist, antisemitic, and fascist ideology must be stopped, NOT bolstered. SB 83 Censors Age-Relevant Education There is a widely expressed concern that our country is being harmed by new generations of college students that demand to be sheltered from hearing concepts they do not like. Yet, this bill does exactly that by trying to “rescue” college students, master’s students, Ph.D. candidates, and public servants of all ages from DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) training. We must teach students to lean into discomfort and difficult conversations, not run away from them. SB 83’s Targeting of “Diversity and Inclusion” is un-American The American Dream stands upon the notion that we are all equal. Young people learn to put that into practice in schools and in higher education. Yet SB 83 targets programming that teaches students and faculty how to create safe and inclusive learning spaces for ALL students. This leads us down a slippery slope. If we ban teaching about inclusion, will we ban teaching about Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and other civil rights leaders who fought for inclusion to make our country stronger? We need to learn from the past to forge a better future. Look at what we overcame to get to where we are today. This is what makes this country exceptional. SB 83 Impacts ALL Students This proposal puts historically Black, Latinx, and multicultural fraternities and sororities on the chopping block. Programming for low-income students, first-generation college students, disabled students, students who are parents, and veterans, and “any group identity” could also be affected. Targeted supports and programming are NOT a zero-sum game. ALL students deserve unique support that aligns with their circumstances and needs. Civil Rights Laws Alone are Not Enough The sponsor of SB 83 says that civil rights laws sufficiently protect students from discrimination, yet DEI programs help institutions abide by these laws. We need more inclusive learning, not less. Indeed, the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights logged an alarming increase in the number of civil rights complaints during the last fiscal year. The office received nearly 19,000 complaints between Oct. 1, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2022, more than double the previous year and breaking the record of 16,000 filed in fiscal year 2016, according to figures provided by the department.[i] It’s clear that laws alone do not deter discrimination or ensure ALL students have access to safe and inclusive learning environments. SB 83 Will Sow Division and Hatred DEI programming and diversity statements have nothing to do with political views and everything to do with fostering a safe and inclusive atmosphere for ALL groups of people, regardless of their gender, race and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, religions, cultures, ages, sexual orientations. Fear mongering about innocuous and necessary programs will sow division, confusion, and turmoil for Ohio’s college students . Our universities and colleges are much more than helping students with personal achievement; they are about preparing people to work together to advance not just themselves but society. SB 83 Encourages Witch Hunts By requiring public reviews of faculty “bias,” SB 83 encourages witch hunts into the private and personal opinions of faculty, neither of which impact their expertise or instruction in the classroom. SB 83 will drive talented professors away from Ohio, scaring away innovation and making the state’s universities and colleges less competitive than those around the country. Let’s talk about the best education for our children instead of scoring political points. SB 83 Is Bad for Business Diversity is increasingly a core value and commitment that companies prioritize. Companies understand that having diverse viewpoints at all levels of an organization improves financial results, organizational and team performance, innovation and other areas of the business.[ii] By policing classroom speech on a wide range of topics labeled “controversial,” and targeting inclusion programming, SB 83 takes away students’ opportunity to develop key life skills and become the future of Ohio’s workforce. SB 83 Creates Red Tape This proposal would shift money, time, and resources away from students and toward red tape. Rather than creating more bureaucracy and wasting tax dollars, we need to focus resources on helping students succeed. [i] Strife in the Schools: Education Dept. Logs Record Number of Discrimination Complaints, The New York Times, Jan 1, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/01/us/politics/education-discrimination.html [ii] Diversity wins: How inclusion matters, McKinsey & Company, 2020, https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-wins-how-inclusion-matters Previous Next

< Back Tabling Tabling List Items Eye-catching signage To draw people to the table, it's important to use eye-catching signs and banners that clearly communicate the purpose of the table. The signage should be clear and easy to read from a distance, and should include key messages about the importance of voting in school board elections. Tablecloth Table & Chairs (confirm tables needed with event sponsor/location) Tent Cover (depending on the weather for an outdoor event) Computer or Tablet (to collect information, register people to vote) Print Collateral/ Flyers SWAG items Branded items and merchandise Activities for children Coloring pages, crayons, games, etc. Cleaning items Clorox wipes, trash bags, gloves and hand sanitizer Set Up & Strategy Identify the right locations. To maximize the impact of tabling, it's important to set up in locations where people are likely to be. This might include community centers, libraries, shopping centers, or other areas where people gather. Use social media to promote the event, including the date, time, and location of the table. You should also use social media to share photos and videos of the event and to encourage others to get involved in voter registration and civic engagement. Have enough materials to last the whole event and take extra just in case. Prepare informational materials to distribute to those who stop by the table. This might include brochures, flyers, or other materials that provide information about school board elections, voter registration, and the importance of civic engagement. Be engaging! Cell phones and devices not being used for tabling purposes should be away from the table unless in case of an emergency. Make eye contact with community members and don’t be afraid to start a conversation. Stand in front of the table instead of sitting behind it. This shows a willingness to engage and tell community members about upcoming board elections in your community. When people stop by the table, partners and advocates should engage with them in a friendly and welcoming manner. This might involve asking them about their concerns or questions related to school board elections, providing them with information about the election process, or simply encouraging them to register to vote. Create interactive activities to engage people and make the table more memorable, setting up interactive activities such as a photo booth or an activity to develop a voting plan in preparation for school board elections. Organize your table. Be sure items are plentiful and are presented on your table in an organized manner. Keep your table neat. Throw away trash and replace wipes/hand sanitizer in between conversations. Be sure to follow up. After the event, follow up with those who stopped by the table to thank them for their participation and to encourage them to stay engaged in the election process. Previous Next