Under Attack: The Political Assault on the Rights of LGBTQ+ Students

When former President Trump announced last year that, if reelected, he would ‘stop’ gender-affirming care for minors, which he described as ‘child abuse’ and ‘child sexual mutilation,’ he was advancing a strategic political effort to restrict the rights of transgender and nonbinary students barreling through state and federal legislatures. Initially masked as attempts to define the rights of parents to …

An Ecosystem of Manipulation and Its Devastating Impact on People of Faith 

For much of the past four years, news cycles, school board meetings, and state legislative agendas have been dominated by hostile political rhetoric surrounding identity-related topics such as teaching the history of race and racism in America, the rights of parents in directing curriculum, and bans of literature. These conversations, absent any real inquiry and often guided by a swinging …

The State of the Child Tax Credit

Since the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) of the American Rescue Plan expired in 2021, the federal government has moved slowly to extend and codify an expanded version. The credit proved to be a remarkable mechanism for providing economic relief to children and the families who raise them. These regular payments helped families afford gas, food, rent, and school expenses …

Policy Priority Area: Affirming the Profession and Dignity of Teachers

As we continue to highlight this year’s policy priority areas, we want to focus our attention on teachers. We firmly support ALL policies that affirm the profession of teaching and the dignity of teachers. When it comes to the classroom, teachers are well-suited to offer students what they need for nurture and development – and to do so in the …

Policy Priority Area: Safe, sustainable public schools in healthy communities

This month at TEP, we are focusing on our Policy Priority Areas. We want to emphasize why each area is important in realizing our goal of providing quality education for all of God’s children. This year, our main focus is on prioritizing the joy of Black and Brown children. Public schools can become spaces where every student thrives. It is …

empty classroom with books stacked on table and shelves full of school supplies

Policy Priority Area: Adequate Supplies, Facilities, and Resources for Equitable Learning

This month at TEP, we are focusing on our Policy Priority Areas. We want to emphasize why each area is important in realizing our goal of providing quality education for all of God’s children. This year, our main focus is on prioritizing the joy of Black and Brown children. A crucial element of that work involves investing in physical spaces …

Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling Undermines Equity in Higher Education

The recent Supreme Court ruling, effectively terminating affirmative action in college admissions, poses a significant threat to the progress achieved over the past two generations in achieving equal opportunities in higher education. The decision in the case of Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College will disproportionately disadvantage Black and Indigenous individuals who aspire to …

TEP Celebrates Pride

As Pride Month begins today, we at TEP are taking a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the LGBTQ+ children and advocates in our communities and the educators who support and nurture them. Because we believe in equity for all students and we are very concerned about the liberation and freedom of Black and Brown students in particular, we want to …