Search Results

< 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 GOTV Letter to the Editor Download the template Previous Next

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.

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. Click for Interactive Course Download Playbook PDF

< Back to Newsroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 6, 2023 Contact: press@campaignsharedfuture.org The Campaign for Our Shared Future Announces Voter Education Campaign and Guide Washington, DC - Today, the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) Executive Director, Heather Harding, Ed.D. released the following statement celebrating the launch of a 2023 voter education campaign focused on school board races across the country: "Elections are about the future, and school boards do important work close to home. In 2023, more than 30,000 school board elections will help make decisions about curriculum and funding for children and teachers nationwide. The people we elect to serve on our school boards will have a greater effect on our children's futures than who we elect as president. "Our schools should reflect the values and priorities of our communities. Voting in school board elections is the best way of protecting local control and family involvement. We must ensure that our school board members represent the interests of all our students and families, and aren’t simply trying to advance their own political careers. Those we elect must work collaboratively with educators, parents, and community members to create a learning environment that supports our children’s academic needs and enables their personal growth and success. "Selecting the best candidates will require education. This month, the Campaign For our Shared Future will launch a voter education campaign to prepare voters for civic participation. To support this effort, we’ve developed a voter guide filled with essential information people can use to prepare for the elections in their communities. We hope that by providing this information, voters will have the tools to help them identify and consider candidates aligned with their values and priorities. Together, we can ensure our children have the best possible chance to succeed and thrive in school and life." ​ ### 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 26, 2023 press@campaignsharedfuture.org ICYMI: Campaign for Our Shared Future Blog Features Librarian's Journey From Educator to Advocate Ahead of Banned Book Month Washington, D.C . - Today, Carolyn Foote a Texas Librarian and Co-founder of the FReadom Fighters was featured on the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) blog “The Unbiased Classroom.” Through her personal experiences, Foote emphasizes the dangers that book bans pose to our children’s education and how librarians, families, and advocates can fight back against the increase in censorship across the country. Last week, two new reports provided new data that proves the freedom to read is still under assault with over 3,000 instances of book bans in US public classrooms last school year. In the last two years, many districts have received hundreds of book challenges with a recent report citing that 92% of book challenges target more than one title . Foote issues a call to action saying “only when the majority of Americans who oppose book bans engage in this fight will it come to an end.” Read an excerpt from: How my library job turned into a fight for freedom The best job in the school, I used to say. As a school librarian, I spent 29 years on high school campuses, supported by and collaborating with families to help our students be successful, whether it was helping them find resources for a paper or helping them find books they loved. Fast forward to 2023, now librarians like myself find themselves at the center of politically motivated controversies, harassment, and unprecedented censorship attempts. But all of the disruption shifts our focus from what really matters - getting our students and their families excited about reading. … I worry for all students whose learning is at the center of this whirlwind. When we ban books we signal certain ideas and identities aren’t welcome in our classroom. By extension we are telling our students that if they see themselves reflected in those texts, they aren’t welcome in our schools. Our students’ right to a high-quality age-relevant education is under threat by extremists who fail to treat them with respect. For many Americans, busy with their everyday lives, there’s a lack of awareness of the widespread nature of book bans and the impacts on students, librarians and teachers. That’s why campaigns like Let America Read and Unite Against Book Bans which highlight the challenges are important. And despite the appearance created by legislative actions and political rhetoric, a large majority of Americans oppose book bans; this holds across party lines. So what can you do to get involved during Banned Book Week, a traditional observance of the freedom to read in October? Take time to thank a librarian or school board member for defending student access to age relevant content. Engage on social media with those fighting against book bans like @oif , @campaignfuture , @everylibrary , @letamericaread , and @freadomfighters . Speak up at a school board meeting for an inclusive curriculum and contact organizations like Campaign for Our Shared Future for help . Research your local school board candidates. Check your voter registration status using Let America Read’s “I am a Voter'' campaign by texting READ to 26797 . Only when the majority of Americans who oppose book bans engage in this fight will it come to an end. We need your voices and more importantly, so do our students. 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 Re: The Dangerous Consequences of House Bill 454 November 16, 2022 THE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES OF HOUSE BILL 454 Testimony by Campaign for Our Shared Future November 16, 2022 Chair Manchester, Vice-Chair Cutrona, Ranking Member Denson, and members of the House Families, Aging, and Human Services Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony on behalf of the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF). COSF is committed to stopping dangerous policies that threaten children’s freedom to learn, which is why we strongly urge you to oppose H.B. 454. We believe this dangerous proposal would not only restrict transgender young people’s access to compassionate and fact-based health care but also further deprive them of educational access. Transgender kids deserve an opportunity to succeed like every other student, yet schools are not often safe learning environments for them. A Trevor Project survey from 2021 found that 52% of transgender middle or high schools reported being bullied either in person or electronically in the previous year. An earlier survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality focusing on young Ohioans found that 80% of those who were out or perceived as transgender experienced some form of mistreatment, with 57% experiencing verbal harassment, 27% experiencing physical attacks, and 15% experiencing sexual assaults at some point between kindergarten and twelfth grade. The same survey found that 20% of these young people who faced severe mistreatment were forced to leave school. Think about the impact of a child forced to leave school due to mistreatment because of who they are. That is devastating for a student individually, as well as for their future as an Ohioan. If they recover from this mistreatment, will they stay in Ohio? Or will they leave the state and take their talents elsewhere? In addition, H.B. 454 does nothing to address the real problems that make Ohio schools unsafe for a share of children. Instead, this proposal—which requires the outing of young people’s identities to parents on top of taking away their access to gender-affirming care—stands to exacerbate discrimination and bullying. In fact, a study by researchers at Cornell University found that the mere consideration of discriminatory policies creates an unwelcoming climate for LGBTQ+ people by normalizing differential treatment and furthering poor mental health, internalized stigma, and expectations for adverse treatment. And that’s not all. H.B. 454 requires that schools violate a student’s privacy rights by outing their gender identity, which could put them at higher risk of rejection, violence from parents, depression, suicide, and homelessness. In fact, seven in 10 trans and nonbinary youth do not feel safe being themselves at home and around family members, according to a study by the Human Rights Campaign. And 85% of transgender adolescents reported seriously considering suicide in a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Given how high the stakes are, why should the state play a role in determining when a young person comes out to their family? Another consequence of requiring trusted nurses, counselors, teachers, principals, and school staff to report on a student’s gender identity, is that transgender students will be less inclined to report harassment and mental health needs to these educators and staff. Making matters worse, the bill’s provision on staff reporting is exceedingly vague and does not expressly require that educators, counselors, and nurses report only on a student’s own, first-hand accounts of their gender identity. Faced with confusion around reporting, school staff may rely on overbroad stereotypes about transgender youth and determine who to report by scrutinizing a young person’s clothing, body, or behavior. This would put any student who does not conform to society’s expectations of gender in harm’s way. In other words, H.B. 454 would hurt all children and require that they hide who they are in school. All Ohio students deserve the protections afforded to them by federal law. Nearly 50 years ago, Congress enacted Title IX to prohibit all forms of sex discrimination in education programs and activities. The Biden-Harris administration made clear that it intends to enforce Title IX's prohibition on discrimination on the basis of sex to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and discrimination based on gender identity consistent with the Supreme Court’s holding in Bostock v. Clayton County , Georgia . The U.S. Department of Education has also clarified that the Title IX rule is essential to protecting LGBTQ+ students’ equal access to educational programs and activities. However, COSF believes Ohio schools should go far beyond complying with federal law and implement LGBTQ+ inclusive policies that have been shown to benefit all students. LGBTQ+ students with supportive educators in their lives report higher levels of self-esteem, lower levels of depression, and a lower likelihood of having seriously considered suicide in the past year. Parents know—and research affirms—that a sense of safety and belonging is required for any child to learn. H.B. 454 would discourage and prevent schools from implementing research-backed best practices. Like all students, students who are transgender deserve educational opportunities that are free from discrimination and prepare them for their futures. We urge you to vote no on H.B. 454. Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom VOTE NO ON HOUSE BILL 103 in Ohio May 15, 2023 VOTE NO ON HOUSE BILL 103! Chair Bird, Vice-Chair Fowler-Arthur, Ranking Member Robinson, and members of the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee: At the Campaign for our Shared Future (COSF), we believe that every American needs to understand our complete and true story as we move forward. That is what sets our country apart. Unfortunately, HB 103 would ensure Ohio’s children do not learn the true and complete history of our country – both the good and the bad. HB 103 would rob Ohio’s children of a quality education. HB 103 plays political games with our kids. This bill allows politicians to decide who develops Ohio’s social studies standards. Most Ohioans are sick of the politicians using children to score political points. Age-relevant instruction on the history of our country ensures that our children have the best foundation for their future. Families and teachers should work together to support our children locally – faraway politicians should stay out of education. American Birthright standards teach students what to think, not how to think . American Birthright standards are about memorizing names, dates, and facts – rather than inquiry, analysis, and civic engagement. That’s why the National Council for the Social Studies says these standards “would have damaging and lasting effects on the civic knowledge of students and their capacity to engage in civic reasoning and deliberation.”[i] Schools should teach independent thinking so that our children can think for themselves, handle challenging topics, and become successful in this country. American Birthright standards are too extreme for Ohio. These standards omit Juneteenth – a new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Making matters worse, the New York-based politically motivated coalition Civics Alliance, which publishes the American Birthright standards, contributed to social studies standards in Virginia that explicitly omitted Martin Luther King Jr. in the early grades.[ii] This is a slippery slope. If we ban teaching slavery and Martin Luther King, Jr., will we ban Abraham Lincoln next? HB 103 is yet another attempt to ban books . It is no coincidence a district recently made the news for banning a book from an English course due to lack of “alignment” with American Birthright standards.[iii] When books are being banned, our kids aren’t learning the complete and true story of America. When libraries and schools are forced to only teach one version of America, they aren’t teaching about America at all. No other state has adopted American Birthright standards – and for good reason. Teaching history to kids is vitally important because it teaches independent thinking and respect for others, which helps us make moral progress as individuals and as a country. HB 103 would prevent students from learning from the past in order to forge a better future. That is why we urge you to heed the advice of historians, educators, students, and families, and not make Ohio’s children guinea pigs. Vote NO on HB 103. Sincerely, Heather Harding Executive Director of the Campaign for Our Shared Future [i] NCSS Statement on American Birthright: The Civics Alliance's Model K-12 Social Studies Standards, September 2022, https://www.socialstudies.org/current-events-response/ncss-statement-american-birthright-civics-alliances-model-k-12-social . [ii] “Department of Education Apologizes, Corrects Virginia’s Proposed History Education Changes Amid Backlash,” The Virginia Pilot, November 2022, https://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/vp-nw-ss-standards-mlk-juneteenth-20221117-z5zl5nzjwbfqdpwk7lsx2svpjy-story.html ; and, “List Shows Who Provided Input on Youngkin Draft History Standards,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 2022, https://richmond.com/news/local/education/list-shows-who-provided-input-on-youngkin-draft-history-standards/article_a7eb1551-ebf2-5e6a-b4a6-a1c97a8ecb39.html . [iii] “Woodland Park School District RE-2 Pulls Course Material after Critical Race Theory Complaint,” The Gazette, January 2023, https://gazette.com/premium/woodland-park-school-district-re-2-pulls-course-material-after-critical-race-theory-complaint/article_947ed1ea-a0fa-11ed-8071-27317b72a21a.html Previous Next

< Back Partnerships: COSF Reflection Background The current culture war around schools is not a passing argument on any specific topic or practice. It is a coordinated attack designed to politicize the classroom and create doubt about the effectiveness of public education including every single actor or function within the public school system. To that end, every education organization should consider itself at the center of the political debate—whether it’s obvious or not. Likewise, every school, every educator, and every administrator has been forced to view their work through the political lens. And political organizations, which used to largely ignore education policy because it didn’t usually have a direct impact on elections, had to learn quickly about the nuance and context of a whole new environment. Challenge COSF set out to bring together like-minded organizations to work toward a great education for every child. One of our organizational objectives was to “educate and organize partners from across industries, sectors, and communities to support high-quality, inclusive K-12 education.” Recognizing that education is above politics, we intended to create a network of partners that span an ideologically diverse range of stakeholders across the country who seek to build common ground. Approach Acting as a bridge between education and politics, COSF made it clear that our goal was to fill in gaps for partners. Those gaps could be resources, knowledge, and sometimes funding. In some situations, COSF signed a formal memorandum of understanding with a partner, and in others, it maintained a loose relationship. Oftentimes, COSF acted as a convener that either brought people to the table who don’t frequently interact with each other or helped existing tables facilitate a focused conversation on the ongoing threats. Partners received immediate access to all of COSF’s resources and services. Commonly partnership offerings were framed around key segments of COSF’s work: Strategic Communications We told stories through traditional and digital media about real families caught in the middle of bad policy and political games. Policy Analysis/Products We tracked proposed legislation, suggested replacement language and school board resolutions, and provided analysis of legislative impact and sponsors. Organizing Efforts We mobilized individuals and train them to be advocates. Voter Education We educated voters about the issues and candidates in key elections. Resources & Collateral We monitored legislation moving through states and listened to the hearings and testimony from the public. Results Strategic Communications Increased public awareness by forging early and robust partnerships with organizations such as PEN America, Red, Wine & Blue, and Our Turn Prepared leadership of 550 school districts across 30 states in strategic communications and crisis management to avoid or de-escalate crisis Provided proactive common-ground messaging training to more than 1,000 grassroots and national education advocates through in-person and virtual sessions Organizing Efforts Trained local leaders to organize for sustained power in 30 districts across 9 states and hosted 8 national workshops for allied organizations Organized local stakeholders to defeat anti-LGBTQ+ school board proposals in key districts Supported a nascent parents’ organization to pass a COSF model school board policy in support of LGBTQ+ youth Organized parents, librarians, students, and community members to block proposed book bans Blocked or modified destructive legislative and executive-branch actions in 8 states Voter Education Rallied community leaders to get out the vote for school board elections in 18 districts across 8 states Held 9 national trainings with attendees from 14 states, sharing GOTV resources and best practices and voter education practices materials Developed the field-leading school board election information program for local stakeholders Increased voter awareness and engagement in local school board elections through phone and text banks in key districts Mobilized voters in two of one key state’s most conservative districts to support public education funding in a state ballot initiative fight Resources & Collateral Our foundational school leaders toolkit for superintendents, designed to help them avoid and de-escalate crises The Movement Playbook , an election guide for organizers that outlines all the essential information needed to elect pro-equity school board representatives Our bank of model school board resolutions that defend and center equity in schools Messaging trainings with up-to-date research and talking points, and Train The Trainer sessions that introduce the basics of organizing for change in your community Tested lists of supporters and leaders in our key states and organizational partners aligned to our mission Previous Next

< Back to Newsroom PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA 27 de septiembre de 2022 Contact: press@campaignsharedfuture.org Campaign for Our Shared Future Lanza Student Task Force Washington, D.C. - Hoy, Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF), un esfuerzo común comprometido a luchar contra el ataque a la educación pública en todo el país, anunció el lanzamiento de un Student Task Force. El grupo de estudiantes reúne a líderes estudiantiles de todo el país que se preocupan profundamente por proteger una educación K-12 de alta calidad que se centre en las necesidades de ellos y sus compañeros. “Estoy encantada de que Campaign for Our Shared Future está agregando un grupo notable de defensores estudiantiles a nuestro equipo. Estos estudiantes han liberado el camino para que los jóvenes de sus comunidades aboguen por la educación que merecen”, dijo Heather Harding Ed.D., directora ejecutiva de COSF. “Mientras que los políticos extremistas han lanzado repetidos ataques contra la educación pública, prohibiendo libros y silenciando las voces de los estudiantes, estos jóvenes activistas han estado apareciendo en las reuniones de las juntas escolares y organizando a sus compañeros de clase. Estamos encantados de asociarnos con cada uno de ellos para ayudar a detener la politización de nuestras escuelas de una vez por todas”. Cada estudiante fue atraído al Student Task Force por sus propios motivos, y cada estudiante cuenta con sus propios logros impresionantes. Un miembro, Cameron Samuels, se crió en Texas y se ha expresado en su lucha contra la discriminación y la censura en clase. “La educación debe representar y apoyar a todos los estudiantes”, dijo Cameron Samuels, miembro del Student Task Force. “Este Student Task Force me brindaría oportunidades para apoyar la política pública para fortalecer el compromiso con la Diversidad, la Equidad y la Inclusión en la educación”. A principios de este año, Samuels testificó ante el Senado de Texas para abordar el ‘white washing’ del plan de estudios de estudios sociales. También es Presidente Honorario de la Juventud de la Semana de Libros Prohibidos (Banned Books Week). Hylah Daly ha sido una voz poderosa para la diversa comunidad de Georgia donde se crió. Ella demandó a su condado por la falta de representación diversa en su junta escolar local. “Me uní al Student Task Force porque creo que es necesario que las escuelas brinden a todos los estudiantes, independientemente de su origen, una buena experiencia escolar y asuman la responsabilidad de sus acciones cuando hacen cosas que obstaculizan la seguridad o la capacidad de aprendizaje de un estudiante”, dijo Hylah Daly, miembro del Student Task Force. “La mayoría de los niños de todo el país asisten o han asistido a escuelas públicas. Quiero ver a qué se enfrentan los estudiantes de otros estados, o por qué luchan, en relación con la justicia educativa y que también podamos apoyarnos mutuamente”. Después de una búsqueda nacional, siete estudiantes fueron seleccionados para unirse al Student Task Force, reuniendo a estudiantes de Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Virginia y West Virginia. Estos jóvenes activistas se asociarán con COSF para responder a los ataques a la educación K-12 y orientar las inversiones de COSF para desarrollar el poder estudiantil. Los estudiantes del grupo de trabajo recibirán capacitación y recursos para actuar en sus propias comunidades y convertirse en poderosos defensores de la educación. ### La Campaña por Nuestro Futuro Compartido (COSF) es un esfuerzo no partidista para apoyar la educación K-12 de alta calidad y preservar el acceso, la inclusión y el contenido significativo en nuestras escuelas para que cada estudiante tenga la oportunidad de tener éxito y prosperar. COSF es un esfuerzo común comprometido a luchar contra el ataque a la educación en todo el país. Hylah local news CBS46 - ciara.cummings@cbs46.com Cobb County Courier - larry.johnson@cobbcountycourier.com AJC Cobb County Ed Reporter - cassidy.alexander@ajc.com Fox5 Atlanta - brooke.zauner@foxtv.com , joi.dukes@foxtv.com , lindsay.truman@foxtv.com WSB-TV 2 Atlanta - audrey.washington@wsbtv.com , tyisha.fernandes@wsbtv.com , kristen.holloway@wsbtv.com ​ Cameron local news Houston Chronicle - hannah.dellinger@chron.com KHOU 11 - gharris@khou.com Houston Public Media - swernst@houstonpublicmedia.org , AndrewS@houstonpublicmedia.org TexasMonthly - mhardy@texasmonthly.com , fwilder@texasmonthly.com , mmojica@texasmonthly.com ABC13 Eyewitness News - Shelley.Childers@abc.com , rosie.nguyen@abc.com , samica.knight@abc.com Jewish Herald Voice - news@jhvonline.com , jeannes@jhvonline.com 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

< Back Intro to Organizing Training Download the training Previous Next