No Left Turn in Education
No Left Turn in Education (NLTE) is a conservative 501(c)(3) non-profit organization who self-describes as a "national grassroots movement of common-sense parents and community members from diverse backgrounds, building generational integrity through education free from indoctrination."[1] In addition, NLTE's mission centers around "emphasizing the role of the parent as the primary custodian and authority of their child," especially in the face of perceived indoctrination and politicization in K-12 education.[1]
Media Matters for America described NLTE in 2021 as "one of the leading groups fearmongering about the teaching of critical race theory in schools," and that it frequently uses "toxic and bigoted rhetoric on social media and in right-wing media."[2] Primary targets of NLTE's opposition include critical race theory (CRT), the 1619 Project, and Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE).[1]
NLTE was founded in the spring of 2020 by Elana Yaron Fishbein, who objected to her children's elementary school teaching about racism, privilege, and justice in response to the protests following George Floyd's murder. A NBC News report notes that NLTE existed in relative obscurity until September 2020, when Fishbein appeared on Tucker Carlson's Fox News program. By the following day, NLTE's Facebook page grew from fewer than 200 followers to over 30,000.[3]
Contents
News and Controversies
Book Bans by FL Chapter President Bruce Friedman
A September 2023 article by First Coast News reports that more books have been banned in the Clay County School District in Florida than any other school district in the nation, per free expression organization PEN America. According to the district's Coordinator of Communication/Media Relations, approximately 94% of book challenges were submitted by Bruce Friedman, the Florida chapter president of NLTE.[4]
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported in October 2023 that some of the books Friedman submitted challenges to include "Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation", a children's biography of Harriet Tubman, the picture book "Arthur's Birthday," young-adult novel "The Librarian of Auschwitz," and "Slaughterhouse-Five."[5]
Opposition to the Incorporation of "Gender Identity" into Title IX
NLTE, along with 27 other organizations, submitted a letter in April 2022 to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in opposition to Title IX changes. The signatories of the letter, who are predominantly conservative parents' rights groups as well, primarily opposed the inclusion of gender identity language into Title IX regulations. They write, "Who is now male and female? Anyone can be anything they want-- an individual may simply 'identify' as one, or none, or one of an ever-expanding menu of 'gender identities' promoted by activists."[6]
Racist, Anti-LGBTQ+ Rhetoric on Social Media
Reporting published in June 2021 by Media Matters for America details the numerous instances of racist and anti-LGBTQ+ social media posts by founder Elana Yaron Fishbein and NLTE. This includes a 2020 post on Fishbein's Facebook page that complained that "black bigotry towards whites" is a "very real problem," and another on the NLTE's Facebook page that criticized an educational video on Black Lives Matter for not covering violence by black people. NLTE's Facebook page has also compared the efforts of specific educators to that of Pol Pot, Vladimir Lenin, and Adolf Hitler, as well as promoted anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric such as telling those affiliated with Planned Parenthood to go "back to 'Trans-sylvania.""[2]
Controversy Surrounding ME Chapter President Shawn McBreairty
In the summer of 2020, disgruntled parent Shawn McBreairty began accusing Maine School Administrative District 51 of trying to "indoctrinate" his children through critical race theory. McBreairty soon after became the president of the Maine chapter of NLTE, beginning a multi-year conflict with the school board that drew national attention. According to NBC News, McBreairty filed at least 54 public records requests to gain access to the school's financial statements, of which some of the associated costs were reportedly paid for by NLTE. He appeared on Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on May 27th, 2021 to discuss the ongoing controversy with the school board and the superintendent.[3]
In addition, according to the Portland Press Herald, McBreairty embarked on a months-long campaign of harassment against individual members of the school board. The targeted harassment reportedly included displaying a life-size poster of a board member outside his home, posting board members' home addresses to online community forums, and calling a family member of the board chair for information.[7]
NLTE ultimately fired McBreairty in November 2021 after he pled guilty to improperly influencing a school official by "threatening to release a recording of the deceased father of a school board member if they didn't resign," according to the Maine Beacon.[8]
Activities
State and Local Chapters
NLTE is a chapter-based organization, with both state and local chapters appearing across the county. According to a list of objectives posted to their website, NLTE seeks to establish chapters in every state to "combat indoctrination locally."[1]
In June 2021, NBC News reported that there were 30 chapters in 23 states at the time of publication.[3] In September of that same year, the Milwaukee Journal reported that there were 78 chapters in more than 25 states.[9] As of February 2024, NLTE's website only listed 17 state chapters, 3 county chapters, and 4 regional chapters.[10]
Rated Books
No Left Turn in Education, partnering with Rated Books, has developed a content-based rating system for books "found at many school libraries." Books are reviewed and given a rating out of 5, with "5" labeled as "aberrant content." Intended for use by parents, this site also hosts a list of "recommended books."[11]
Litigation
According to the Milwaukee Journal, No Left Turn in Education had secured free legal representation for parents fighting with school districts over curriculum. Most of those lawyers are affiliated with firms heavily financed by conservative foundations, including the Liberty Justice Center and the Pacific Legal Foundation.[9] The Milwaukee Journal also reported that the conservative law firm Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty sent a letter in June 2022 to the Oconomowoc Area School District on behalf of Alexandra Schweitzer, the president of the Wisconsin chapter of NLTE.[12]
According to NLTE's website, Clark v. Democracy Prep Public Schools is "the first known case against Critical Race Theory (CRT) in our nation's public schools.[13] Reporting by NBC News indicates that NLTE founder Elana Yaron Fishbein connected parent Gabrielle Clark with personal injury lawyer Jonathan O'Brien, who would represent Clark in the suit.[3] The Nevada District Court would ultimately approve Democracy Prep's request to have the claims dismissed with prejudice in November 2022.[14]
Funding
NLTE is not required to disclose its funders but major foundation supporters can be found through their IRS filings. Here are some known contributors:
- Carroll Petrie Foundation: $30,000 (2021-2022)
- Christian Community Foundation: $10,000 (2021)
- DonorsTrust: $60,000 (2021-2022)
- Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund: $101,500 (2021)
- Marcus Foundation: $100,000 (2021-2022)
- Pfizer Foundation: $50 (2022)
- Snider Foundation: $5,000 (2021)
- Underground Family Foundation: $250,000 (2021-2022)
Core Financials
2022[15]
- Total Revenue: $386,983
- Total Expenses: $507,957
- Net Assets: $264,654
2021[16]
- Total Revenue: $483,838
- Total Expenses: $97,707
- Net Assets: $385,628
Personnel
Board of Directors
As of February 2024:[17]
- Elana Yaron Fishbein, President
- Christopher Bakes, Director
- Brian Gottesman, Director
- David A. Clarke Jr., Director
- Sharon Slater, Director
Chapter Presidents
As of February 2024:[18]
- California: Midji Rovetta
- Delaware: James Ingrassia
- Georgia: Melissa Jackson
- Cobb County, GA: Christine Simon McKinnell
- Fulton County, GA: Angel Payne
- Gwinnett County, GA: Holly Terei
- Indiana: Kristin Ferklic
- Kentucky: Beanie Geoghegan
- Minnesota: Sarah Ronchak
- New Hampshire: Mike Breen
- North Carolina: Nancy Anderson
- Oregon: Michelle Walker
- Rhode Island: Laurie Barrett
- Wisconsin: Alexandra Schweitzer
Former Chapter Presidents
Contact Information
Employer Identification Number (EIN): 85-3163475
No Left Turn in Education
1318 Club House Road
Gladwyne, PA 19035
Web: www.noleftturn.us
Twitter: @NoLeftTurnUS
Facebook: No Left Turn in Education
LinkedIn: No Left Turn in Education
Articles and Resources
IRS 990 Filings
2022
2021
Related SourceWatch articles
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 No Left Turn in Education, Mission, Goals & Objectives, organizational website, accessed February 19, 2024.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Eric Hananoki, "No Left Turn in Education, a Leading Anti-Critical Race Theory Group, Frequently Pushes Toxic Rhetoric in Media", Media Matters for America, June 22, 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Tyler Kingkade, Brandy Zadrozny and Ben Collins, "Critical Race Theory Battle Invades School Boards - With Help from Conservative Groups", NBC News, June 15, 2021.
- ↑ First Coast News, "Clay County Schools Have Most Banned Books of Any District in U.S.", September 25, 2023.
- ↑ Andrew Lapin, "Meet Bruce Friedman, the Jewish Dad Who Got a Version of Anne Frank's Diary and Hundreds of Other Books Banned from His Florida School District", Jewish Telegraphic Agency, October 6, 2023.
- ↑ Parents Defending Education, Letter to Secretary Miguel Cardona, PDE, April 26, 2022.
- ↑ Rachel Ohm, "'It's Gotten Nasty': Clash Over Racial Equity Work Roils Cumberland", Portland Press Herald, November 23, 2020.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Andy O'Brien, Opinion: LePage's Hateful Plot to Undermine Public Education in Maine", Maine Beacon, August 24, 2022.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Thomas Beaumont and Stephen Groves, "Activists Going after Wisconsin School Boards Are Aided and Funded by National Conservative Groups and GOP Donors", Milwaukee Journal, September 3, 2021.
- ↑ No Left Turn in Education, Information by State, organizational website, accessed February 19, 2024.
- ↑ Rated Books, No Left Turn in Education, organizational website, accessed February 19, 2024.
- ↑ Alec Johnson, "A Parent Accused Oconomowoc Schools of Teaching Age-Inappropriate Material. The District Threatened a Defamation Lawsuit", Milwaukee Journal, June 24, 2022.
- ↑ No Left Turn in Education, Clark, organizational website, accessed February 20, 2024.
- ↑ Casetext, Clark v. Democracy Prep Public Schools, November 14, 2022.
- ↑ No Left Turn in Education, 2022 IRS form 990, organizational tax filing, October 26, 2023.
- ↑ No Left Turn in Education, 2021 IRS form 990, organizational tax filing, May 25, 2022.
- ↑ No Left Turn in Education, Board of Directors, organizational website, accessed February 16, 2024.
- ↑ No Left Turn in Education, State Information, organizational website, accessed February 16, 2024.
- ↑ LinkedIn, Yael Levin-Sheldon, accessed February 20, 2024.
