Safeguarding Public Education and Securing Democracy: Education Future Fund Webinar Series

Public education is currently facing unprecedented challenges, from book bans to curriculum restrictions and attempts to divert public funds to private schools. However, effective strategies are emerging to counter these threats. To address these critical issues, the Education Future Fund is hosting a three-part webinar series. This series will showcase effective strategies for defending public education against current threats and explore innovative approaches that education leaders are implementing to transform our public school system into one that ensures equitable outcomes for all students.

Session 1:  The Power of Strategic and Coordinated Communications -  September 19 at 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT 

Featuring: 

• Jonathan Voss, Partners, Lake Research Partners 
• Kaitlin Funaro, Principal, RALLY 
• Nadine Smith, Executive Director, Equity Florida
• Sandra Miller, Advocacy Coordinator, Pennsylvanians for Welcoming and Inclusive Schools 

Unlocking the power of coordination,  the Free to Learn, Free to Be communications hub is a centralized platform that enables collaborative development, sharing, and dissemination of strategic messaging and communication resources and is making a difference. Hear directly from national and state-level leaders about how this approach is enabling quick sharing and rapid response to counter attempts to undermine public education and democracy.

Session 2: Federal Fuel on the Fire: Potential Risks, Opportunities, and Responses - September 26 at 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT 

Featuring: 

• Rapid Response Desk for Educational Equity - Augustus Mays, The Education Trust, Vice President of Partnerships and Engagement
• Skye Perryman, President and CEO, Democracy Forward 

Much of the risk to equity and public education has been driven by state leaders, but that is all poised to change. This election will have significant implications for education by potentially taking the attacks to a new national level and/or providing new opportunities for a next-generation vision to transform public education. This session will unpack the unprecedented threats posed by Project 2025 and the possibility of an Administration that is hostile to equity and committed to privatizing education, as well as the potential opportunity to define a new federal education agenda. Most importantly, we will learn about the infrastructures in place to prepare for different scenarios. 

Session 3:  The Stakes in the States - October 24 at 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT 

State legislative sessions in 2025 will have far-reaching consequences for public education. This session focuses on the stakes for public education based on state actions that are in play and the proactive strategies that organizers and advocates are deploying to protect and advance educational equity. Hear directly from state-level field leaders about what they see ahead and how they plan to seize opportunities and address challenges in state education policy.

These webinars will provide funders with valuable knowledge and insights about what is happening in the field and how funders can best engage to support the work to advance educational equity for all young people to thrive.