Triumph for Central Bucks, Pennridge, and Council Rock Students!

Voters reject fear, intolerance, and division to send a resounding message about education: Our children should all have the freedom to learn, to pursue their dreams, and to access a quality education that prepares them for success in a changing world.

In Tuesday’s election, voters in Bucks County had an opportunity to vote for our students and our neighborhood schools. Bucks’ voters sent a clear message—We will not turn our schools into political battlegrounds. We will not allow fear and misinformation to deny civil rights and equal opportunity to LGBTQ kids, to any kids, we will not deprive a rising generation of the freedom to read, and we will not suppress honest and accurate learning in our classrooms.

Our community fought for ALL kids and won.

Over the past two years we’ve seen a dangerous escalation in harmful rhetoric that takes aim at teachers and vulnerable students and seeks to divide our community. Since that time, Advocates for Inclusive Education, together with parents, students, teachers, librarians, and community members, has fought for principled deliberation, research-based decision making, and a commitment to the best interest of each and every child. We have fought a number of anti-inclusion efforts including censorship tactics in a library policy that intentionally ignores the literary merit and critical acclaim of age-relevant books, the attempted removal of 60+ books, vague and overly broad restrictions on teaching and advocacy, harmful and inaccurate labeling of a person’s LGBTQ identity as “political” as a barrier to learning, and the discrimination of transgender athletes.

The results of yesterday’s elections prove that when parents and community members understand what’s at stake, they will get out to vote. Central Bucks voters showed up in record numbers, 26% more than the rest of Bucks county. Based on unofficial results posted by the Board of Elections, we reached a historical high of 53% voter turnout.

The work of our neighborhood schools to teach ALL the kids is just beginning. The work to foster an inclusive, tolerant environment, free from discrimination, bias, or prejudice for some of our most vulnerable populations of students—those facing any number of different, personal challenges or working to overcome traditional societal barriers—is paramount and will be challenging. This work will inevitably mean that some students will meet ideas with which their families disagree. They will meet friends from other backgrounds. They will meet classmates with other political beliefs. They will find things out about our nation and our history that challenge and discomfort them. And all those different experiences will shape them for the better, by widening their view of the world they live in. We want our schools to teach independent thinking so that our children can think for themselves, handle challenging topics, and become successful in this country.

America’s greatness and prosperity grow out of public schools that prepare kids for a world of future possibilities. In a pluralistic society, we must make clear that ALL families are welcome in our schools: all faith traditions, all races, all ethnicities, all abilities, all genders, and all identities of every kind. Our schools do not choose which kids are more welcome than others, they welcome them all. Our differences are beautiful, vibrant, healthy, and a source of strength.

We won’t always agree. Our views, hopes and values might not always align. However, Tuesday reminded us that when it comes to our children, we will unite to ensure that politics don’t get in the way of their education. Let’s remember that as we continue to do the work of securing equal opportunities for all children, implementing safe and welcoming school environments for them, and delivering an honest, robust curriculum that includes and prepares our kids for citizenship in our multiracial democratic society.

Voters on Tuesday proved we can turn away from fear and division and come together, to face the problems and issues together, to find solutions that work for ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

That is the prize: vibrant, challenging, supportive schools for all children, no matter what, no exceptions. 

And we will keep on working until we get there. Together.
E pluribus Unum.

Call to Action! CBSD School Board Meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 14 @ 7 pm @ 16 Welden Drive

Stand up for our transgender kids and equitable opportunities for all kids to participate safely in sports. Say NO to Policy 123.3.

Young people learn many important life lessons in sports: leadership, confidence, self-respect, self-discipline, what it means to be part of a team, and much more. Sports and athletics are an important part of education—something no child should be denied simply because of who they are. Transgender kids, like all kids, deserve to be treated fairly. When we tell transgender girls that they can’t play girls’ sports—or transgender boys that they can’t play boys’ sports—they miss out on this important childhood experience and all the lessons it teaches.

See you in the boardroom!