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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

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 August 1, 2022 Contact: press@campaignsharedfuture.org Heather Harding Joins Campaign for Our Shared Future As Executive Director Washington, D.C. - Today, the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF), a common ground effort committed to fighting the attack on public education across the country, announced that Heather Harding has joined the organization as its inaugural Executive Director. Harding is a lifelong educator with experience in nonprofit management and professional development. “The Campaign for Our Shared Future is bringing together families, students, teachers, administrators, and activists to fight for our kids’ rights to a quality education. I am humbled by the opportunity to help lead this effort,” said Harding. “We know that an excellent K-12 education, inclusive of and accessible to all, is the foundation of a healthy multi-racial democracy. Together we will continue the work in pursuit of a country where this opportunity is guaranteed to every child.” “At the heart of Heather’s career has been the belief that respectful collaboration between parents and teachers is an essential tool for helping kids succeed in life,” said Eliza Byard, COSF Senior Advisor and co-founder. “As a mother of two teenagers, she knows that parents play the role of a child’s first and primary teacher. This family centered leadership will be a strong driving force for COSF’s mission and efforts moving forward.” Harding will lead the charge in stopping harmful anti-education policy by working with partners in local communities. In addition, the campaign will work to successfully shift the narrative about schools away from culture wars pushed by extremist politicians and instead focus on the needs of our children. Heather’s career has prepared her to build, mobilize, and strengthen a network of national and local organizations who are ready to sustain free, inclusive, and excellent K-12 schools. “Heather is bringing decades of work from the intersection of access to high-quality education and racial equity to COSF. Her experiences as a public school teacher, education researcher, and mother have uniquely prepared her to lead our efforts to secure a more equitable and inclusive education for all students,” said Ruthanne Buck, COSF Senior Advisor and co-founder. “The campaign is stepping up to stop disinformation and represent the exhausted majority of parents who want to get back to the basics of what makes our public schools great. We are thrilled that Heather will be bringing her talents, expertise, and passion to COSF.” Harding grew up in a Black and Indigenous family, living between Michigan and Massachusetts, which allowed her to experience different cultures and communities both at home and at school. She knows firsthand how a richly diverse, inclusive education can benefit our children’s growth and development. Her experiences in public schools propelled her all the way to Northwestern University and then to Harvard University, where she studied education before beginning her career as a middle school English teacher in underserved communities. She went on to research and philanthropy work all while furthering her career mission of improving education opportunities for all children. ### 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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CO SF Facts ​ Name The Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF ) ​ Designation 501(c)3 nonprofit organization ​ Founded October 2021 ​ Sister Organizations The Campaign for Our Shared Future Action Fund (COSF-AF) dedicated to electing pro-equity candidates to school board s around the country. Location COSF operates in all 50 states addressing significant opportunites and needs. At any given time there are 10-15 states, where school stakeholders at all levels have requested additional support in their efforts to protect what is great in their schools from outside attack. ​ Mission The Campaign for Our Shared Future is a non-partisan, common ground effort fighting for the right of every child to an inclusive and high-quality education that prepares them for success in work and life and strengthens the foundation of our multiracial democracy. We combine deep expertise in K-12 education, communications, campaigns, and organizing to provide the strategic coordination and rapid-response capacity essential to defend public education from the all-out political assault now underway and gathering strength. ​ Leadership Executive Director: Heather Harding, Ed.D. Senior Advisor and Co-founder: Eliza Byard, Ph.D. ​ Programs Policy: COSF monitor's legislation moving through states and listens to the hearings and testimony from the public. Partnerships: COSF provides partners with financial support and resources such as message training and background briefings, and the organization embeds its staff in their projects. ​ Field: COSF mobilizes individuals and trains them to be advocates, and it educates voters about the issues and candidates in key elections. Communication: COSF tells stories through traditional and digital media about real families caught in the middle of bad policy and political games. ​ Educator Defense Fund: COSF provides a central rapid-response resource of support services for educators, superintendents, and school board members under attack by extremists. ​

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< Back to Newsroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 24, 2023 press@campaignsharedfuture.org ICYMI: COSF Executive Director Shares What Toni Morrison Teaches Us About School Board Races Washington, D.C . - Today, Heather Harding, Ed.D., the Executive Director of the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) released a blog post for “ The Unbiased Classroom ” focused on what Toni Morrison teaches us about school board races. Harding’s piece comes exactly two weeks ahead of Election Day for many states across the country. Read an excerpt from: “ What Toni Morrison Teaches Us About School Board Races ” “We are in the midst of a great distraction. The last Unbiased Classroom post discussed how Extremism in Education is on the Ballot . And while that is certainly true - with just two weeks until Election Day in many states across the country, I also need to warn families and voters about the threat of distraction. As a mother and lifelong educator I have long wished for education to be a top issue in our electoral politics. Yet, now with education issues front and center in many school board, gubernatorial, and presidential elections I find myself wanting to say “this is not what I meant.” In the last few years, we’ve seen extremist groups and radical politicians launch attacks on the true and complete teaching of history with disturbing changes being made to curriculum including removing any reference to race from the Rosa Parks story . Last school year there were more than 3,300 challenges to books in public school classrooms and libraries, a 33% increase over the prior year , nearly 600% more than in 2019. And about a third of states have passed restrictions on how teachers can discuss race and gender-related topics in the classroom. These vague and confusing laws have caused educators to self-sensor in order to avoid attacks that have driven celebrated teachers , librarians , and principals from their roles. And all of this turmoil ultimately hurts our students. As the great Toni Morrison once said ‘the function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language and you spend twenty years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly so you have scientists working on the fact that it is. Somebody says you have no art, so you dredge that up. Somebody says you have no kingdoms, so you dredge that up. None of this is necessary. There will always be one more thing.’ Now, while not all of these attacks are innately rooted in racism, these attacks serve the same purpose. They are intended to stoke fear and division in our communities and capitalize on frustrations that came to a head during COVID-19. Instead of focusing on the very real issues facing our schools - ensuring students can read and write, the mental health crisis, school funding, and the teacher shortage crisis - we are being distracted by politically motivated arguments. We must not let them keep us from doing our work.” 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

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School Boards Attending School Board Meetings How to Speak to Your School Board Resolutions for School Boards Historically, school boards didn't gain much attention outside of their communities. But a lot has changed in the past year. Across the country, culture wars have disrupted school board meetings and undermined healthy local control of our schools. School board members have come under attack for trying to do their jobs and run our schools well. In the short term, these outbursts are distracting, but their long-term effects are more troubling: They will change who runs for local school boards and who wins those seats—in many cases for the worse. In order to ensure that we elect school board representatives who are focused on the real needs of our children, we need to be informed voters. Oftentimes, the information you need is hard to find. Check out this guide for help on learning as much as you can before Election Day. School Boards Attending School Board Meetings As a concerned community member, you may wish to be part of the decision-making process for your local schools by attending school board meetings and supporting important proposals. If you do, there are important ways to ensure that your voice is heard. You won’t have a lot of time. Make sure that your message is succinct and powerful. Find out what the process is for speaking during the public comment period as well as how long you will have to speak. This can usually be found out by calling the main district office or looking on the school board’s website. The most powerful public comments are those that are unique and personalized. If you are speaking as part of a group, ensure that each person speaks to a different point so that the testimonies don’t sound repetitive. This also ensures that you can get multiple points across as a group even though each person only has a few minutes. A strong closer is important. Don’t just trail off at the end. Time yourself so that you ensure you can get through your closing without being cut off. Write down your remarks to ensure a polished presentation. Practice your remarks out loud. Don’t be afraid to show emotion. It’s not typical for the school board to ask or answer questions during an Open Forum. Be prepared to give your remarks without comment from the school board members. Be confident. This is your school district, and you have every right to be heard. Attending School Board Meetings How to Speak to Your School Board Step 1: Finding Your School Board’s Calendar First you will need to visit your school district’s website and then go to the calendar and identify when there are upcoming meetings. Step 2: Gathering information about your school board’s meetings Reach out to your school board member, superintendent, or principal and find out what issues the school board will be discussing. Ask when the public will be able to weigh in on these issues and how the school board will share those details with the community. Ask where and how school board meeting minutes will be available. Step 3: Registering to speak at a school board meeting You will likely need to register to speak at the meeting. Sometimes this can be listed under “participation” or a similar option. Many times school boards will have a deadline or a limit on how many speaking slots are available per meeting. Make sure you know when the sign-ups open so that you are ready to claim your spot. Step 4: Preparing your remarks You should be prepared to communicate clearly and directly and to share your story. Tell the board who you are and why you care. Some school boards have a limit on how long your remarks can be. Make sure you practice so that you don’t get cut off. How to Speak to Your School Board Resolutions for School Boards School boards are an important place for you to champion the voices of young people and families. One way to do this is through school board resolutions. Resolutions are a statement of policy or an order by the school board that a specific action be taken. What should be in your resolution? You should consider what policies your school, district, or state has in place that can be supported by your school board. You should also consider what opportunities there are to update or create new policies. The Campaign for Our Shared Future has worked to develop resolutions strengthening parents’ and students’ rights, creating a student representative position on a local school board, and opposing radical state legislation that interferes with childrens’ education. If you would like support choosing or modifying any of these resolutions, please contact: info@campaignsharedfuture.org Resolutions for School Boards