Effective Education

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

Parents have awakened to their right to play an active role in ensuring that their children are being educated effectively, and in accordance with traditional American values. Their participation 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 advocates for effective education through the legal system and in influential publications. This also includes 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

Amicus Brief Argues That Charter Schools Are Not “State Actors”

Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond & St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond (24-394 & 24-396) (Supreme Court) (merits)

Effective Education
March 13, 2025

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 who urge that charters be given freedom to innovate programs leading to academic success. 

Efforts by unions to organize charter school teachers and other employees, although lawful, are likely to have a significant impact on the flexibility the school needs to meet its charter responsibilities, and charter leaders 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. Each book focused on certain states’ specific labor laws applicable to charters and their effect on sound teacher labor relations.

These guides were produced by Jackson Lewis P.C. (formerly LLP), a prominent national law firm whose practice is limited to representing employers in a wide variety of labor and employment law matters, and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy (Michigan).

Ever since charter schools became widely accepted quality options to conventional public schools, labor leaders have tried to organize staff and bring charter schools to the collective bargaining table, threatening the freedom and flexibility that charter schools have brought to K-12 education. 

Teachers’ unions at the local, state, and national levels have been staunchly opposed to charter school laws and policies. 

Charter school leaders, including board members and administrators, should be aware of the strategies unions may use to organize charter school employees. These leaders also need to know what they are permitted to do lawfully – and what they cannot do – to ensure that charter school teachers and employees can make fully informed decisions on union representation. 

From the Leveling the Playing Field Books:

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

There are many reasons why a charter school leader may see a union as an obstacle to achieving the school’s mission, although the choice whether to have a union belongs to employees. 

School leaders may see unions as impediments to needed change, based on their experiences in the traditional public school system. Charters often challenge the union agenda. 

Charter school leaders also may be concerned that a union would interfere with the successful and harmonious operation of the school. For example: 

  • An adversarial relationship can develop, often prompted by union leaders.
  • Unions often reduce educational flexibility. 
  • Unions can restrict communications with employees.
  • Union relationships require time, energy, and expense, which could be devoted to educating children. 
  • Union emphasis on seniority may impede 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. Our articles provide updated news and information on subjects addressed by the Leveling the Playing Field series and other matters. Learn more about our activity below, or visit our full set of news and insights about charter schools.

View All Our Charter School News Items
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