DRAFT *Effective Education*

Advocating For and Supporting Effective Education for America’s Children and Families

Parents have awakened. Their right to play an active role in ensuring that their children are being educated effectively, and in accordance with traditional American values, is now more important than ever.

Effective education, including acquiring English-language reading and writing skills, learning history, civics, math, science, and the arts, without “woke” indoctrination, and participating in physical education and team sports consistent with a student’s biological gender, is a critical part of our nation’s foundation and future. The right to choose a public, charter, private, or parochial school that best suits a student’s needs and a family’s values also is essential for effective education.

Atlantic Legal Foundation is dedicated to advocating for effective education through the legal system and in influential publications. This includes legal advocacy and guidance for the nation’s charter schools and their leaders. Read more about ALF’s activity on behalf of charter schools here.

Amicus Briefs Supporting Effective Education

ALF Urges Supreme Court To Uphold Parents’ Rights

Parents Protecting Our Children, UA v. Eau Claire Area School District, Wisconsin (Supreme Court) (petition)

Effective Education, Individual Liberty
June 26, 2024

Supreme Court Should Review Foreign-Student Guest Worker Case

Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, No. 22-1071 (Supreme Court) (petition stage)

Effective Education, Free Enterprise, Separation of Powers
May 11, 2023

ALF Amicus Brief Argues That School District’s Transgender Student Policy Violates Parental Rights

Parents Defending Education v. Linn-Mar Community School District, No. 22-2927 (8th Cir.)

Effective Education, Individual Liberty
November 9, 2022

ALF Advocates For School Choice In Supreme Court

Carson v. Makin, No. 20-1088 (Supreme Court) (merits stage)

Effective Education, Individual Liberty
September 9, 2021
graphic image depicting green amicus briefs for Atlantic Legal Foundation Amicus Brief Summary

Yoga For Exercise Is Not Religious

Sedlock v. Baird, No. D064888 (Court of Appeal of the State of California Fourth Appellate District, Division One)

Effective Education, Individual Liberty
October 16, 2014
graphic image depicting green amicus briefs for Atlantic Legal Foundation Amicus Brief Summary

Is a Government Entity’s Rule That Impedes the Flow of Essential and Accurate Information From School Officials to Parents Constitutional?

Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association v. Brentwood Academy, (Supreme Court) (merits stage)

Effective Education
March 8, 2007
graphic image depicting green amicus briefs for Atlantic Legal Foundation Amicus Brief Summary

Public School Blames Problems on Charter School

In the Matter of Grant of Renewal Application of The Red Bank Charter School, (Sup. Ct. N.J.)

Effective Education
April 15, 2003

Charter School Advocacy

The Atlantic Legal Foundation has been proud to represent charter school advocates, contending that charters should be given freedom to permit innovative programs leading to academic success. 

Efforts to organize charter school teachers and other employees, altogether lawful, are likely to have a significant impact on the flexibility the school needs to meet its charter responsibilities, and charter administrators need to know how to react when the union seeks to represent employees.

Leveling the Playing Field: Practical Guides for Charter Schools Facing Union Organizing Activity

ALF’s Leveling the Playing Field book series has served as a practical guide to what charter schools need to know about their rights and responsibilities regarding union issues. These guides were produced by Jackson Lewis LLP, a prominent national law firm whose practice is limited to representing employers in a wide variety of employment law matters. In particular, we are grateful to Jackson Lewis partners Thomas V. Walsh, Esq., Roger S. Kaplan, Esq., and Howard M. Bloom, Esq. for their work on this series.

Ever since charter schools became widely accepted quality options to the conventional public school system, labor leaders have tried to interfere by focusing on bringing charter school teachers and employees to the collective bargaining table. These actions have threatened the freedom that many charter schools were formed to enjoy. 

The fact is that teachers’ unions at the local, state, and national levels have been staunchly active in their opposition to charter school laws and policies. 

Charter school leaders, including board members and administrators, should be aware of the strategies that unions may use to organize charter school employees. These leaders also need to know what they are legal permitted to do – and what they cannot do – to ensure that charter school teachers and employees have the knowledge to make fully informed decisions in the face of attempted union organization. 

From the Leveling the Playing Field Books:

Why Many Charter School Leaders Do Not Want to Have a Union

While a charter school leader may have an opinion as to whether a union is desirable, the choice belongs to the employees. Having said that, there are many reasons why a school administrator may see a union as an obstacle to achieving its mission. 

Schools may see unions as obstacles to progressive change, based on their experiences in the traditional public school system. All evidence suggests that charters challenge the union agenda. 

Besides these charter school-specific reasons, administrators may well be concerned that a union would interfere with the successful and harmonious operation of the enterprise. For example: 

  • An “us versus them” atmosphere can develop, often prompted by union leaders.
  • Unions often reduce flexibility. 
  • Unions can restrict direct communications with employees.
  • Union relationships require much time, energy, and extra costs, all better spent on educating children. 
  • An over-emphasis on seniority may hurt a merit-based system. 
  • Risk of labor strife may increase, and with it a loss of community.

Charter School-Related News & Insights

Atlantic Legal Foundation has long supported the charter school movement. This support has included the publication of a series of books discussing labor relations in charter schools. Entitled Leveling the Playing Field, each book focused on certain states’ specific labor laws applicable to charters and their effect on sound teacher labor relations. Learn more about our activity below, or visit our full set of news and insights about charter schools here.

View All Our Charter School News Items
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