NEA files amicus brief with U.S. Supreme Court to ensure inclusive education for all students

 WASHINGTON — Today, the National Education Association filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case in which the Court will rule on parents’ religious objections to inclusive education that reflects the diversity of identities in our public schools and communities. At issue in Mahmoud is whether parents have a constitutional right to force public schools to provide advance notice, opt-out procedures, and alternative learning arrangements to deny their children access to books with LGBTQ+ characters or any other content that may offend their religious beliefs. NEA’s brief argues that doing so would hamstring efforts to provide students with a full, engaging and inclusive education.   

The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Becky Pringle: 

“An inclusive education is fundamental to public education no matter where students live, who they are, or the language they speak. Public education is founded on the core educational principle of engaging students on a broad range of ideas will bring together disparate elements in our society, prepare them for citizenship, and allow them to become productive members of an increasingly interconnected world. 

“Students deserve nothing less than to feel supported and valued on that journey. Denying them exposure to diverse perspectives robs them of the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation, develop empathy, and understand the lived experiences of others. Schools should be a place where students connect, collaborate, and expand their worldview. When that's taken away, we only limit their creativity, ability to grow, and discover who they are.  

“The Mahmoud case is looking to ignore the expertise of trained professionals in the classrooms and have federal courts insert themselves into day-to-day educational decisions about what students can learn and what educators can teach. This would have a chilling effect on public education. As a result, educators will self-censor, face book bans, and, more importantly, prevent some students from being seen and acknowledged.”  

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case on April 22. 

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.