Advocacy Bites

Renee and Susan process the 2024 election.

Renee talks about how a right-wing candidate engineered a controversy at the school board to make herself a free campaign ad.

Renee and Susan discuss a variety of news/issues that have popped up, including the North Carolina legislature's determination to expand vouchers, the recovery from Hurricane Helene, the bad proposed Constitutional amendment on our ballot, and new (and, it turns out) highly orchestrated attacks on our public schools and trans kids.     For the show notes:   https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/08/us/politics/trump-republican-transgender-ads.html   https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2024/trans-sports-girls-florida-bans/

Susan and Renee discuss what it means when candidates talk about “school safety.”

Renee and Susan talk about the important of judicial races this year.

Susan and Renee discuss the Republican plan for federal education policy.

Susan and Renee look at Oklahoma and Louisiana and discuss the trend of religious instruction in public education as well as the changes in Title IX.   https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/we-fact-checked-what-oklahoma-law-says-about-teaching-the-bible-in-schools/   https://nondoc.com/2024/07/22/some-okc-metro-school-districts-spurn-ryan-walters-bible-directive-others-hesitant/   https://abcnews.go.com/US/enforcement-louisianas-ten-commandment-classroom-requirement-put-pause/story?id=112112612#:~:text=Louisiana's%20new%20law%20requiring%20all,legal%20battle%20over%20the%20policy.   https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-releases-final-title-ix-regulations-providing-vital-protections-against-sex-discrimination

Renee and Susan discuss two of the most pressing budget items waiting on approval.  While there was a little put forth for child care after the recording, the lack of a long term plan remains.     https://www.wral.com/story/nc-lawmakers-rushed-dozens-of-bills-over-the-finish-line-what-s-next-for-the-high-profile-efforts-that-failed/21501173/   https://www.wral.com/story/nc-house-lawmakers-pass-67m-in-stopgap-funding-to-stave-off-child-care-cliff/21499071/

Susan and Renee talk about non-profits and the press handling of extremists.

Renee and Susan revisit the ongoing efforts to ban books in school and local libraries.

Susan and Renee discuss how meaningful and important it is when all different kinds of people are involved in advocacy and leadership.

Renee and Susan discuss the final report of this year's Futurama Committee (spoiler alert: there's a lot of "we should think about" and almost no "we should do" in the report).   Show notes: Committee report:  86920 (ncleg.gov)

Helpful tips for neurodivergent advocates. Susan talks about her personal experiences as a neurodivergent person in education advocacy and together, Renee and Susan talk about how everyone can do something in the work.   Resources: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1S5eipnnnSSIHGbUvdTEFqIrWiETFdD_o/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111501771460639390946&rtpof=true&sd=true

Susan and Renee discuss common tropes used around public education.

Susan and Renee sound the alarm (again) over Michele Morrow, the extremist running for NC Superintendent of Public Instruction. Show notes:  https://saynotoextremistso.wixsite.com/my-site-1

Renee and Susan review the most recent developments in the Leandro case, why none of it is ok and why we're still hopeful and determined anyway.     Show notes:   Video of the February 22 rally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32uHt16uX_8   Roundup of press coverage of the Leandro hearing: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C6If03hz7vkVGZqXygZHULAgpzXB_UUxaJlJ8cMgqmg/edit

Susan and Renee talk about what to expect in the upcoming legislative short session, what happened at the most recent meeting of the Futurama Committee, and what's at stake in the primary elections. Show notes: https://www.ncleg.gov/Committees/CommitteeInfo/HouseSelect/218/Documents/17303

Susan and Renee discuss two issues in the news: the return of the Futurama Committee, and the debacle in Durham public schools.   Links to the documents considered by the Futurama Commitee: https://ncleg.gov/Committees/CommitteeInfo/HouseSelect/218/Documents/

Susan fills us in on a glimmer of hope for one type of school funding, where the legislature may actually be considering making things better.     Article that inspired this episode: https://www.wunc.org/education/2024-01-08/state-education-officials-recommend-changes-to-special-education-funding-services?fbclid=IwAR2cLQMP4vYjHAy9a-vkxz4S6Bv6zWl8QCsKnWRDjSeUAv7a1CQSCx5o7ls   Postcard event: https://www.facebook.com/events/775929144577012/?ti=ls   And don't forget to vote for us in the Maggy awards! https://www.carymagazine.com/features/vote-now-for-the-maggy-awards/

Renee and Susan talk about what's coming in 2024 and what they think voters should look out for.