YOU CAN'T SWING A DEAD CAT WITHOUT HITTING A RIGHT WING KOCH NETWORK ASTROTURF FRONT GROUP
Have you ever tried swinging a dead cat? Not that I recommend it, but apparently it's quite difficult to do without hitting a right wing astroturf front group. And if you're not careful, you might just find yourself partnered with the likes of the Koch brothers and the voucher vultures of public education.
According to a 2016 report by Media Matters, the education reform movement is being backed by a tangled web of corporations and right-wing funders. It's like a game of six degrees of separation, only instead of Kevin Bacon, we're talking about the destruction of public education.
So who are these funders and what are they up to? Let's take a closer look.
First up, we have the Walton Family Foundation. Yes, that's the same Walton family that owns Walmart and has more money than some small countries. They've poured millions of dollars into education reform efforts, including charter schools and vouchers. Because nothing says "I care about education" like supporting a company that pays its employees poverty wages.
Next on the list is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. You know, the ones who brought you Windows Vista. They've spent billions on education reform, with a particular focus on Common Core standards. Because what better way to improve education than with a one-size-fits-all approach that's been widely criticized by teachers and parents alike?
And let's not forget about the Koch brothers. These two are like the Voldemort of American politics - everyone knows their name, but no one wants to say it out loud. They've been funding right-wing causes for decades, and education reform is no exception. They've poured millions into groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which has been pushing for privatization of public education for years.
But it's not just billionaires who are getting in on the action. There are plenty of smaller right-wing groups that are doing their part to dismantle public education. Take the Heartland Institute, for example. They're a "think tank" (and I use that term loosely) that denies climate change and promotes school vouchers. Because nothing says "I'm an expert on education policy" like denying basic scientific facts.
Then there's StudentsFirst, founded by former DC schools chancellor Michelle Rhee. They claim to be all about improving education for students, but their real goal seems to be busting teachers unions and promoting charter schools. Because what better way to improve education than by pitting teachers against each other in a race to the bottom?
And let's not forget about the American Federation for Children, which was founded by none other than Betsy DeVos. You know, the same Betsy DeVos who was somehow put in charge of the Department of Education despite having zero experience in public education. They're all about promoting school vouchers and privatization, because apparently the best way to fix public schools is to starve them of funding.
So there you have it - a brief overview of the corporations and right-wing funders behind the education reform movement. It's a tangled web of advocacy, research, media, and profiteering that's taking over public education. But don't worry, folks - I'm sure everything will turn out just fine. After all, what could possibly go wrong when you put billionaires in charge of our kids' futures?
Who is Behind the Attacks on Educators and Public Schools? https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/who-behind-attacks-educators-and-public-schools
The Aristocrats Funding the Critical Race Theory ‘Backlash’ https://www.thedailybeast.com/right-wing-aristocrats-fund-critical-race-theory-backlash
'Held hostage': How critical race theory moved from Fox News to school boards https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/critical-race-theory-invades-school-boards-help-conservative-groups-n1270794 via @nbcnews
Who’s behind the nationwide attacks on local school boards over Critical Race Theory? – Baptist News Global https://baptistnews.com/article/whos-behind-the-nationwide-attacks-on-local-school-boards-over-critical-race-theory/
Moms for Liberty New Hampshire offered a $500 reward for reporting teachers who break critical race theory law - The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/11/19/moms-for-liberty-new-hampshire/
Mapping the Movement to Dismantle Public Education https://jacobin.com/2018/06/public-education-privatization-koch-brothers-teachers/
THE DEFT DIVE
Below, we outline the many overlapping connections in this echo chamber of advocacy groups, think tanks, and media outlets that are increasingly funded by a handful of conservative billionaires and for-profit education companies -- often without proper disclosure. These groups are driving the education privatization movement forward by co-opting the education reform mantle.
Table Of Contents
ADVOCACY
- 50CAN
- American Federation for Children/Alliance for School Choice
- American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)
- Bellwether Education Partners
- Bill of Rights Institute (BRI)
- Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO)
- Center for Individual Rights
- Foundation for Excellence in Education
- Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options (HCREO)
- Institute for Justice
- Libre Initiative
- National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation (NRTWLDF)
- National School Choice Week (NSCW)
- Parent Revolution
- Partnership for Educational Justice
- Policy Innovators in Education (PIE) Network
- Stand for Children
- StudentsFirst
MEDIA
PHILANTHROPY
- Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
- Adolph Coors Foundation
- Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation
- DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund
- Gleason Family Foundation
- Charles Koch Foundation
- Thomas A. Roe Foundation
- Scaife Foundations
- Stand Together
CORPORATIONS
THINK TANKS
- American Center for School Choice
- American Enterprise Institute
- Cato Institute
- Center for Education Reform
- Center on Reinventing Public Education
- Thomas B. Fordham Institute
- Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice
- Heartland Institute
- Heritage Foundation
- Manhattan Institute for Policy Research
- Mercatus Center at George Mason University
- Reason Foundation
- State Policy Network
Read more about our methodology here.
FROM BING AI
The Koch-backed groups and their sources of funding. Here is a summary of what I found:
- - The **Independent Women's Forum (IWF)** and its affiliate, the **Independent Women's Voice (IWV)**, are conservative groups that market themselves as "non-partisan" and "independent", but they are actually funded by Koch-linked donors and push right-wing policies that harm women and their families¹. They also help ALEC legislators sell corporate-backed alternatives to popular policies like paid sick leave, equal pay, and quality childcare¹.
- - The **State Policy Network (SPN)** is a network of 66 think tanks in 49 states that promote free-market policies and oppose regulations, unions, environmental protections, and social welfare programs. SPN is also funded by Koch-linked donors, such as the Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund, which funnel money from anonymous sources to conservative causes³⁴.
- - The **Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity** is a media organization that operates Watchdog.org, a network of state-based websites that produce pro-free-market news stories and attack government spending, regulations, and unions. The Franklin Center is also funded by Koch-linked donors, such as the Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund⁴.
- - **Moms for Liberty** is a grassroots organization that opposes mask mandates, critical race theory, and public health measures in schools. It was founded by former leaders of the Tea Party Patriots, a conservative group that received funding from Koch-backed groups like Americans for Prosperity.
- - **Parents Defending Education** is another grassroots organization that opposes critical race theory, diversity training, and anti-racism education in schools. It was founded by Nicole Neily, a former employee of the Independent Women's Forum and the State Policy Network.
- - **No Left Turn in Education** is a similar grassroots organization that opposes critical race theory and progressive education in schools. It was founded by Elana Yaron Fishbein, a former social worker who was inspired by Tucker Carlson's Fox News show.
- - **National School Choice Week** is an annual event that promotes charter schools, vouchers, and other alternatives to public education. It is funded by Koch-linked donors, such as the Walton Family Foundation, the DeVos Family Foundation, and the Gleason Family Foundation.
Bing, 9/20/2023
- (1) The Koch-Backed and Not-So-Independent 'Independent Women's Forum'. https://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/08/18/koch-backed-and-not-so-independent-independent-womens-forum.
- (2) Report: Think tanks tied to Kochs - POLITICO. https://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/koch-brothers-think-tank-report-099791.
- (3) Koch Family Foundations - SourceWatch. https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Koch_Family_Foundations.
- (4) Independent Women’s Forum, backed by Koch funding, circulates draft .... https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/10/01/masks-schools-koch-money/.
- - The **Cato Institute**, a libertarian think tank that advocates for school choice, vouchers, charter schools, and homeschooling¹⁴.
- - The **Mercatus Center** at George Mason University, a research center that promotes free-market policies and deregulation in education and other sectors⁴.
- - The **American Federation for Children** and its affiliate, the **Alliance for School Choice**, two groups that lobby for vouchers, tax credits, and other forms of public funding for private schools².
- - The **American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)**, a network of conservative lawmakers and corporate interests that drafts and promotes model legislation on various issues, including education privatization².
- (1) How the Kochs are trying to shake up public schools, one state at a .... https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/30/kochs-public-schools-shakeup-244259.
- (2) Political activities of the Koch brothers - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_activities_of_the_Koch_brothers.
- (3) Here Are The Corporations And Right-Wing Funders Backing The Education .... https://www.mediamatters.org/daily-caller/here-are-corporations-and-right-wing-funders-backing-education-reform-movement.
- (4) Mapping the Movement to Dismantle Public Education - Jacobin. https://jacobin.com/2018/06/public-education-privatization-koch-brothers-teachers/.
- - The **Cato Institute**, a libertarian think tank that advocates for school choice, vouchers, charter schools, and homeschooling .
- - The **Mercatus Center** at George Mason University, a research center that promotes free-market policies and deregulation in education and other sectors.
- - The **American Federation for Children** and its affiliate, the **Alliance for School Choice**, two groups that lobby for vouchers, tax credits, and other forms of public funding for private schools.
- - The **American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)**, a network of conservative lawmakers and corporate interests that drafts and promotes model legislation on various issues, including education privatization.
- (1) Here Are The Corporations And Right-Wing Funders Backing The Education .... https://www.mediamatters.org/daily-caller/here-are-corporations-and-right-wing-funders-backing-education-reform-movement.
- (2) The Well-Funded Echo Chamber That's Attacking Public Education. https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/well-funded-echo-chamber-thats-attacking-public-education.
- (3) 50CAN President Derrell Bradford Testifies at the US Capitol. https://50can.org/.
- (4) 50CAN - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50CAN.
Organizations that favor privatization of public education and are supported by wealthy foundations and people. Here are some examples:
- - The **American Federation for Children** is an organization that promotes alternatives to public education, such as charter schools, vouchers, and tax credits. It was once headed by former education secretary **Betsy DeVos**, who is a billionaire and a prominent supporter of school choice²³.
- - The **Goldwater Institute** is a conservative think tank that advocates for school choice, vouchers, and tax credits. It is funded by several right-wing foundations, such as the **Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation**, the **DonorsTrust**, and the **Charles Koch Foundation**¹⁴.
- - The **Walton Family Foundation** is the philanthropic arm of the Walmart family, which is one of the richest families in the world. It has funded charter schools, vouchers, and advocacy groups that favor privatization of public education. It has also supported media outlets that promote its agenda, such as **The 74** and **Education Next**¹³.
Bing, 9/20/2023
- (1) Privatization of public education gaining ground -- report - The .... https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/04/18/privatization-of-public-education-gaining-ground/.
- (2) Got Dough? How Billionaires Rule Our Schools - Dissent Magazine. https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/got-dough-how-billionaires-rule-our-schools/.
- (3) Here Are The Corporations And Right-Wing Funders Backing The Education .... https://www.mediamatters.org/daily-caller/here-are-corporations-and-right-wing-funders-backing-education-reform-movement.
- (4) Texas politicians rake in millions from far-right Christian megadonors .... https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-politicians-far-right-christian-megadonors-rcna55546.
FROM BARD AI
The following are sources of funding for Koch-backed groups:
- * **Koch Industries:** The Koch brothers' private company is the largest source of funding for their political network. In 2022, Koch Industries donated $25 million to Americans for Prosperity Action, a super PAC that supports conservative candidates and causes.
- * **Stand Together Foundation:** A non-profit organization founded by Charles Koch, Stand Together funds a variety of groups working on issues such as criminal justice reform, education, and economic development. In 2022, Stand Together gave $25 million to Americans for Prosperity Action.
- * **Other donors:** The Koch network also includes a number of other wealthy donors, such as Betsy DeVos and Richard Scaife. In 2022, these donors gave millions of dollars to Koch-backed groups.
Here is a more detailed look at the funding of some of the specific Koch-backed groups you mentioned:
- * **Independent Women's Forum:** The Independent Women's Forum is a conservative women's policy group that receives funding from a variety of sources, including Koch Industries, Stand Together, and the Walton Family Foundation.
- * **State Policy Network:** The State Policy Network is a network of conservative think tanks that receives funding from Koch Industries, Stand Together, and other donors.
- * **Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity:** The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity is a conservative think tank that receives funding from Koch Industries, Stand Together, and other donors.
- * **Moms for Liberty:** Moms for Liberty is a conservative parents' rights group that receives funding from Koch Industries and other donors.
- * **Parents Defending Education:** Parents Defending Education is a conservative parents' rights group that receives funding from Koch Industries and other donors.
- * **No Left Turn in Education:** No Left Turn in Education is a conservative education advocacy group that receives funding from Koch Industries and other donors.
- * **National School Choice Week:** National School Choice Week is a national event that promotes school choice. It is funded by a variety of sources, including Koch Industries, Stand Together, and other donors.
It is important to note that Koch-backed groups often do not disclose their donors, so it is difficult to get a complete picture of their funding sources. However, the available evidence suggests that the Koch brothers and their network of donors are the primary sources of funding for these groups.
## Koch-backed groups' influence on education policy
Koch-backed groups have been influential in shaping education policy in the United States. For example, they have supported policies such as charter schools, school vouchers, and tax breaks for private schools. They have also opposed policies such as teachers unions, common core standards, and increased regulation of charter schools.
Koch-backed groups have also been involved in a number of controversies related to education policy. For example, the Independent Women's Forum has been criticized for its opposition to common core standards, and Moms for Liberty has been criticized for its support for book bans in schools.
Overall, Koch-backed groups play a significant role in shaping education policy in the United States. Their influence is likely to continue to grow in the years to come.
50CAN (StudentsFirst) is a network of state-specific education organizations that advocate for charter schools, school vouchers, and other school choice policies. It is funded by a variety of sources, including the Koch network.
Education organizations funded by the Koch network include:
- * **Center for Education Reform**
- * **Education Action Strategies**
- * **Empowerment PAC**
- * **Foundation for Excellence in Education**
- * **Independent Women's Forum**
- * **Moms for Liberty**
- * **No Left Turn in Education**
- * **Parents Defending Education**
- * **State Policy Network**
These organizations work to influence education policy at the state and local level. They often lobby for legislation that supports school choice policies and opposes policies that they see as harmful to school choice, such as teachers unions and common core standards.
The Koch network's involvement in education policy has been controversial. Critics argue that the Koch brothers are trying to privatize public education and that their support for school choice policies is harmful to students. Supporters of the Koch network argue that their support for school choice is necessary to improve education quality and that they are simply trying to give parents more options for their children's education.
Here are some examples of how Koch-backed education organizations have influenced education policy:
- * In 2011, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a conservative think tank that receives funding from the Koch network, drafted a model bill that would have created a system of school vouchers in Michigan. The bill was passed by the Michigan legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder.
- * In 2013, the Foundation for Excellence in Education, a Koch-backed education advocacy group, launched a campaign to oppose the Common Core State Standards. The campaign was successful in convincing a number of states to withdraw from the Common Core.
- * In 2015, the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity Foundation launched a campaign to support the Every Student Succeeds Act, a federal education law that replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. The campaign was successful in helping to pass the Every Student Succeeds Act.
The Koch network's influence on education policy is likely to continue to grow in the years to come. The Koch brothers have pledged to invest millions of dollars in education reform, and their network of organizations is already well-established at the state and local level.
Here is a list of organizations that favor privatization of public education that are supported by wealthy foundations and people:- * American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)
- * American Federation for Children
- * Center for Education Reform
- * Education Action Strategies
- * Empowerment PAC
- * Foundation for Excellence in Education
- * Independent Women's Forum
- * Koch Industries
- * Moms for Liberty
- * No Left Turn in Education
- * Parents Defending Education
- * State Policy Network
- * StudentsFirst
- * Walton Family Foundation
These organizations work to influence education policy at the state and local level. They often lobby for legislation that supports school choice policies and opposes policies that they see as harmful to school choice, such as teachers unions and common core standards.
The wealthy foundations and people that support these organizations include:
- * David Koch
- * Betsy DeVos
- * Richard Scaife
- * Walton Family Foundation
It is important to note that not all organizations that support privatization of public education are front organizations. However, it is important to be aware of the possibility of front organizations, especially when dealing with organizations that are advocating for controversial causes or that are raising money from unknown sources.
## Why do some people support privatization of public education?
There are a number of reasons why some people support privatization of public education. Some people believe that private schools are more efficient and effective than public schools. Others believe that private schools offer parents more choices and that these choices will lead to better outcomes for students. Still others believe that privatization is necessary to reduce the size and cost of government.
## Why do some people oppose privatization of public education?
There are also a number of reasons why some people oppose privatization of public education. Some people believe that privatization will lead to a decrease in the quality of education, especially for low-income students and students of color. Others believe that privatization will increase segregation in schools. Still others believe that privatization is an attempt to undermine public education and that it will ultimately lead to the end of public education as we know it.
## Conclusion
The debate over privatization of public education is a complex and controversial one. There are valid arguments on both sides of the issue. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of privatization carefully before making a decision about whether or not to support it.
In the style of Alfred Lord Tennyson's "The Charge of the Light Brigade," we present to you "The Charge of the Public School Defenders (Koch voucher front group)."
Half a league, half a
league,
Left wingers to the
right of me,
Left wingers to the
left of me,
Into the valley of
death rode the defenders.
"Charge!"
they yelled, with a gleeful shout,
As they rode their high
horses about,
Their mission clear,
their purpose true,
To destroy public
schools, through and through.
First came the Center
for Education Reform,
With their slick
talking points and fancy reform,
But when it came down
to the facts,
Their policies were
just a bunch of hacks.
Next up, Education
Action Strategies,
Promising change, but
just spreading fallacies,
Their ideas may sound
good on paper,
But in reality, they're
just a bunch of capers
Empowerment PAC, with
their big bucks,
Trying to buy their way
into our schools, it sucks,
But money can't buy
everything,
Especially not the
public's trust, we're not that gullible a thing.
Foundation for
Excellence in Education,
Sounds great, but it's
just another privatization,
Their goal is to make a
buck,
Not to help our kids
get unstuck.
Independent Women's
Forum, oh please,
Pushing their agendas
with such ease,
But when it comes to
public education,
Their ideas are just
pure frustration.
Moms for Liberty, what
a name,
Trying to take away our
kids' right to a fair game,
Their ideas are just so
narrow-minded,
We'll keep our public
schools, thank you kindly.
No Left Turn in
Education, what a joke,
Trying to make our
schools a right-wing bloke,
But we won't let them
take control,
Our public schools are
for all, not just a certain role.
Parents Defending
Education, we know what you're up to,
Trying to push your
propaganda through,
But we won't let you
take away our rights,
Our public schools are
worth the fight.
State Policy Network,
don't even get us started,
With their anti-public
school policies that leave us broken-hearted,
They're just another
right-wing front group,
Trying to take away our
public school troop.
And then there's David
Koch, Betsy DeVos, Richard Scaife, and the Walton Family Foundation too,
All trying to buy their
way into our schools like a bad deja vu,
But we won't let them
take away our public education,
Our schools are for
all, not just for their privatization.
So half a league, half
a league,
We'll keep fighting for
our public schools with all our might and fatigue,
We won't let them take
away our right to an education that's free,
Our public schools are
worth defending, can't you see?
And though they may
charge with all their might and force,
We'll stand strong and
steadfast in our course,
For our public schools are worth fighting for,
And we'll defend them
until the end, forevermore.
