Depoliticizing the K-12 Classroom

A practical guide for parents, educators, and community members who want schools to focus on academic excellence, truthful history, and preparing students for life in a free society.

Getting Started

You don’t need a degree in education or politics to see that K-12 education has changed. Maybe your school phased out honors classes in the name of “equity.” Maybe your child’s school now uses “equitable grading practices” where students can retake tests as many times as they want, and no child ever fails. Perhaps a teacher told the class that Israel and America are “colonizers” and urged students to “take action” to dismantle the power structure. Or maybe your school organized a student walk-out to protest the day’s latest political issue. And while this is going on, you’re watching reading scores, math scores and graduation rates in your schools plummet. You’re not wrong to feel that something is deeply off in K–12 education.

If you are a parent, educator, or community member who believes that schools have lost their way and need to get back to focusing on fundamental academic subjects — including truthful history that reflects our nation’s struggles and progress, and civics to prepare them for constructive participation in our democracy — this guide will help you get oriented fast.

You're Not Alone

Across the country, parents are asking questions, getting informed, and speaking up. This toolkit is here to help you navigate what's happening in schools and work together for better outcomes for all students.

Note: We use the term "politicized" to describe the shift from academic mastery and civic preparation toward instruction that presents one ideological view of the world as settled truth and treats education as a tool for social or political change.

What's Happening in Schools?

Across the country, many schools are shifting away from academic focus and civic preparation and toward identity-based political formation. You may see:

Activities centered on race, gender, and identity rather than basic reading, writing, math, or history

Teachers presenting one side of a controversial topic as settled truth and discouraging disagreement

Policies eliminating honors classes or changing grading policies in the name of “equity”

Frequent talk of “privilege,” “lived experience,” “oppressors/oppressed,” “liberation,” “decolonization,” “disruption,” or “resistance”

Identity-based affinity groups that separate students by race, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity

Lessons or assemblies presenting only one political viewpoint on issues like race, America’s history, or the Middle East

Use This Toolkit in 3 Simple Steps

We have structured this guide into clean, linear action phases so you can step in exactly where you feel comfortable.

Recognize

Quick Guide to Recognizing Politicized Classrooms introduces the key terms and classroom examples to help you recognize a politicized classroom. Start here if you’re new to this topic or want to get up to speed quickly.

Understand

The Problem of Politicized Classrooms explains the ideas and institutional structures behind what you’re seeing. Read this when you’re ready for a deeper understanding.

Take Action

Action Steps for De-politicizing the Classroom gives you practical steps to take at home and at school, as well as tools to advocate for better school policy. Find sample emails and templates you can use right away.

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