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June 2022

Dr. April Grace Should NOT Be Elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction for These Reasons

Unfortunately, Ron Arthur was a coach in the Shawnee Public School system for years while charges of sexually inappropriate behavior with students were alleged but never researched.  In addition, though April Grace will claim to be a Republican, those in the education cartel – dubbed #oklaed on social media –  back Grace.

Since July of 2021, newspaper outlets and other media sources have finally brought to light a scandal which many Shawnee parents know well – the continued employment of Coach Ron Arthur by the Shawnee Public School (SPS) system under the direction of Superintendent Dr. April Grace from 2016.

In July, 2021, an investigation into an allegation of sexual misconduct found that Coach Arthur had been admonished numerous times for inappropriate behavior.  Coach Arthur was jailed in early August and placed on paid suspension by SPS.  At that time, his attorney said he was innocent of all crimes;

“My client has cooperated and told the sheriff’s office that there was a consensual act with that particular individual but he was graduated from high school at the time,” attorney Shelley Levisay said. “So he was not a student.

The victim – who self-reported to authorities – said the incident occurred while he was 17, after graduation but while he was still participating as an athlete in school sports functions.

Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Deputy, Amber Soule, wrote, in her arrest affidavit that she had 

“located 8 admonishments and suspensions of Ronald Arthur for his vulgar and sexual comments to male students and vulgar comments about female students, allegations of having inappropriately touched a male’s buttocks, sending inappropriate text messages to students and having contact with students alone when he was not allowed to per his previous reinstatements”

August 19th, Dr. Grace wrote a statement about the arrest which was posted to the Shawnee Public Schools website.  In the letter Dr. Grace provides a timeline of action taken by the administration AFTER Coach Arthur’s arrest, and ends the letter with;

Shawnee Public Schools fully supports the legal due process afforded to anyone accused of inappropriate behavior with minors and the punishment enforced through the courts. We do not tolerate the behavior that is alleged and have acted swiftly to provide documents and full cooperation and will continue to do so throughout the investigation.

The letter makes no mention, however, of the previous complaints about Coach Arthur or what action was taken following the 8 admonishments and suspensions Deputy Soule had uncovered through her investigation of his file going back – apparently – to 2007.

September 3rd, Coach Arthur resigned SPS, charged with three sex crimes: second-degree rape, forcible sodomy and soliciting sexual contact with a minor by use of technology.

April 2022, State Senator Shane Jett (R-Shawnee) called for a multi-county grand jury to review the case of Coach Arthur after an alleged victim reported that he was targeted by Arthur in 2007.  The victim claimed he had repeatedly reported the abuse without any action forthcoming.

The first Monday in June, 2022, a former student sued Arthur for “actual and punitive damages” for the 2021 sexual encounter for which he was charged and SPS for ignoring the reports of sexual misconduct that allowed his actions to continue.

Later in June, Pottawatomie County Court dropped 2 of the three charges, but ordered Arthur to stand trial for the felony count of “solicitation of a minor”.  He will return to court in August.

Truly this is outrageous.  No person should be enabled to continue sexual relationships with children, but certainly not at the TAXPAYERS EXPENSE.  Why the Pottawattamie County authorities could find information about Arthur but Grace and the SPS Board could not makes no sense.  Why then would ANYONE within the SPS system – let alone the Superintendent – allow this on their watch?  

The lack of reasonable answer to THAT question is the reason no voter should declare a vote for  Dr. April Grace for State Superintendent. 

WHO SUPPORTS DR. APRIL GRACE?

In addition, Grace’s campaign is supported by the very people who support the SYSTEM and not parents.

According to State Ethics reports, Shawn Hime – President of the OSSBA (Oklahoma State School Boards Association) – and Ann Caine, Director of Education Leadership at OSSBA – have so far both donated $2,800 (the maximum amount an individual can give to a campaign is $2,900) to Dr. Grace’s campaign.  OSSBA is the organization that has NOT withdrawn from its parent organization NSBA (National School Boards Association) after President Biden’s Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, asked NSBA to send a letter to President Biden’s Attorney General, Merrick Garland, asking him to meet with federal and local law enforcement and state AGs toward the goal of “addressing” school board outbursts and “threats”.  Twenty-eight (28) states – Texas and Wisconsin this year – in all have left NSBA over its treatment of parents.  OSSBA HAS NOT.  

Rick Cobb – Superintendent of Mid-Del Public Schools has also given Superintendent Cobb was one of the first to denounce HB1775 – the ‘stop CRT’ bill in Oklahoma – last year.  In addition, he was a prominent member of the “teacher caucus” who, in 2016, began targeting legislators they deemed ‘against’ public education.  Teachers – backed by this group; many of whom changed their political affiliations to run – ran and won many seats in the legislature in order to forward policies favorable to public education.  He is also a proponent of using tax-payer funded email systems to send emails to community families in support of raising taxes to increase the public school budget.

Former General Leo Baxter has given the maximum amount to April Grace’s campaign.  General Baxter – who serves on the Board of OCPA, and was a State Board of Education member – fought ROPE and teachers wanting the new Oklahoma Standards to be free of Common Core.  Here are just a few of Baxter’s posts on social media during that time:

Then there was this, from Rick Cobb’s blog March 19, 2016 where he calls Dr. Sandra Stotsky – a preeminent Professor of Education and one of two members of the Common Core Validation Committee who would not sign off on the standards – an “arrogant miscreant”:

All this to say – as our parents told us – you are the company you keep.

Between Grace’s inability to prevent a sexual predator from contacting students on her campus and some of the major funders to her campaign, we can be very well assured that Dr. April Grace (who was unable to be present for our Republican State Superintendent Forum) is NOT the person we need to have in the top spot at the Oklahoma Department of Education.

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Out Of State Dark Money Ads Against SAI Cindy Byrd Tout Unlicensed Candidate With Two Bankruptcies

 
Dishonest and disingenuous mailers are suddenly being sent out state-wide against current state auditor Cindy Byrd.  According to Nolan Clay of The Oklahoman, candidate McQuillen has filed bankruptcy twice and is not a licensed accountant – unlike Byrd.  

A recent article in the Tulsa World by Randy Krehbiel did a wonderful job of summarizing the dark money being poured into the race against Cindy Byrd. 

According to Krehbiel:

An Ethics Commission filing shows that Truth PAC, based in Oklahoma City, bought $280,596.60 in television time for McQuillen earlier this week. It has reserved more than $680,000 in air time, but it is not clear whether all of that is for the auditor and inspector campaign.

Records show that Truth PAC was created June 9 with Matthew Parker as chairman and treasurer. Parker is a business partner of Fount Holland.

The filings do not show the source of the $280,000.

The mailers carry the stamp of Holland and Parker’s company, CAMP, and the name “American Values First” and a Tulsa address that is a box at an office supply store.

Who else is CAMP working for?  Chances are many of the mailers you’re getting in your mailbox have their sticker on it.  Just today I received CAMP mailers:

  • against John O’Connor
  • for Steve McQuillen
  • for Grant Green – running for Senate in District 28

If you look under the Postage Paid stamp, you’ll see CAMP – Fount Holland’s organization.

Why does it matter that CAMP would be involved in any race?  After all, they are an organization paid to do a job – promote candidates.  They’re simply doing their jobs.

In 2016, Fount Holland, Joy Hofmeister and others had charges filed against them for violating state campaign laws – conspiring to use dark money in attack ads against then-state superintendent Janet Barresi.

https://okcfox.com/news/local/two-more-accused-alongside-hofmeister-turn-themselves-in

Dark money should concern every voter.  Money being poured into races to influence voters – many of whom do not do their own due diligence by researching the candidates – puts those of us who do our civic duty and due diligence at a disadvantage by influencing voters we can’t reach.  

This is ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THE STATE AUITOR’S RACE.

In the article by Nolan Clay of the Oklahoman – a STARTLING revelation comes to light:

When Steve McQuillin last filed for bankruptcy, his attorney told the judge he was retired, had severe health problems and did not intend to return to working.

…He said his two bankruptcies – in 2002 and 2020 – should not be held against him.  He blamed the first one on a marriage that didn’t work and the second on medical expenses after being hospitalized in Texas for a kidney stone.

WHAT?  The Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector (OSAI): 

…as the chief auditor for the State, is responsible for auditing the financial accounts of all government agencies within Oklahoma. The State Auditor and Inspector also performs performance audits and special investigative audits upon request by certain state officials and upon petition by citizens.

And we’re supposed to believe that a person who has two bankruptcies in his credit history and isn’t even a licensed accountant is someone we should trust to oversee the OSAI office?

Cindy Byrd won the National Association of State Auditors Comptrollers and Treasurers (NSAA) Award for Excellence for her forensic report on EPIC Charter Schools.

Clearly, Auditor Byrd is not only doing the job she’s paid to do – protect Oklahoma’s tax dollars – but excelling in that job.

Don’t be fooled by disingenuous (the SAI cannot stop flow of immigrants across the border or stop CRT in schools as many of the mailers – no matter how much “war” McQuillin has declared “on the woke left”) and inaccurate mailers paid for by people who don’t want you to know their identities.

Auditor Byrd is completing an HISTORIC audit of the Oklahoma State Department of Education.  An audit which ROPE has asked to be accomplished for over a decade.  Byrd needs to be able to finish that job and ROPE is very much looking forward to the results of her audit.

Based upon the successes of her previous four years, Auditor Byrd should definitely be supported for another four and these dark money groups pushing someone clearly not an appropriate fit for the SAI job, should be outed for trying to do just that.

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Part 1: Jake Merrick Supported, Then Worked Against By Oklahoma Council For Public Affairs (OCPA) Dark Money Groups

Jake Merrick won a special election for now-Congresswoman Stephanie Bice’s open Senate seat last year.  Senator Merrick is a Conservative, pro-life, pro-2nd amendment, small business owner who has served Oklahoma well since his special election.  Oklahoma Council for Public Affairs (OCPA) dark money helped him in his first election.  Here’s the rub:  After voting YES in committee, he voted NO (on the Senate floor) on a bill to send public money to private schools (voucher – SB1647). This election cycle, OCPA is using many thousands of dollars to influence voters AGAINST HIM through a different dark money group.  

What is “dark money”?  Dark money is money spent on political campaigns where – since 2010 – the names of the donors to the campaign don’t have to be disclosed.  The money can come through STATE or FEDERAL sources – or both. To learn more about “dark money”, click here.

In March of 2021, an Oklahoma PAC called People for Opportunity, Inc. gave over 100 thousand dollars to an organization called WPAi – a political polling, research and analytics team – run by Chris Wilson – in support of Jake Merrick.

Who is People for Opportunity?  

According to the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office, People for Opportunity was begun in 2020 by Jonathan Small – the President of OCPA and Dave Bond – the Vice President for Advocacy at OCPA.

Trent England is the David and Ann Brown Distinguished Fellow for the Advancement of Liberty and the Executive Director of Save Our States, a project with OCPA.

OCPA has long been an organization in part dedicated to the idea of School Choice – which includes ‘vouchers’; providing parents with tax dollars to send their children to private schools.

OCPA is often funded by grants from the Walton Foundation (during campaign cycles apparently), the State Policy Network – an organization of which they are an affiliate – as well as private and other donors.  Because they are a private, non-profit organization, however, they do not have to report the source of their donations, only their expenditures.

In 2019, OCPA did make two expenditures.

One to the American Federation for Children – a school choice organization – and one to the OCPA Impact Inc organization.  

OCPA Impact Inc., also does business as OCPA Oklahoma Policy Solutions, Inc. under the same EIN (tax number).

In 2019, they reported $19,933 in revenue, but again, from where that came who knows.  Where it was spent was not recorded on their tax form either.

In fact, OCPA has LOTS of organizations registered with the OK Secretary of State’s Office.  Unfortunately, our state is not a fan of transparency as it costs a minimum of $5 to request ANY documents from the SOS office on any registered organization and upwards of $10 per document to actually see the paperwork the SOS’s office requires for filing.

Why so many organizations associated with OCPA? 

Where did the 100K come from for the donation through People for Opportunity?  

Who knows?  The only way to find out any information about these dark money groups is painstaking and not something many people are going to do.  This is sad, because people who SPEND MONEY TO ELECT or REMOVE elected officials have INFLUENCE over the candidates they help elect.

This election cycle, an organization listed as Catalyst Oklahoma recorded expenditures of $50,620 for Jake Merrick’s opponent Kristen Thompson.

Who is Catalyst Oklahoma, Inc. ?

Catalyst Inc., is a dark money subgroup of OCPA with the Principal listed as Charles Sublett – a member of OCPA’s Board.

There is no 990 filing for Catalyst Oklahoma for 2019 and above, though there’s little the form would tell us but to whom the organization has given money.

Why would OCPA work so heavily in dark money in Oklahoma?  Why have so many organizations and sub-organizations with so many different names associated?  What does OCPA have to hide?

Why spend so much money to help Senator Merrick win and then turn around and spend more money to unseat him?  If OCPA is so fired up about “empowering parents” by offering “school choice”, why not put the money being spent on elected legislators into starting new schools to help kids?  How does it ’empower parents’ to spend so much money on legislative activities?  

Dark money always leaves unanswered questions while it influences the legislative process in ways most ‘average’ Oklahomans can’t.

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More Reasons We Support Dr. John Cox

In case you’ve not seen our Facebook posts with further explanations as to why ROPE has chosen to support Dr. John Cox for Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction, I’m going to paste them into the blog where you can share them with all your smart friends who are NOT on social media!

From June 7th:

A story about Dr. John Cox and why history is important: (update at bottom)

Back in 2012 (or so), the Carter County Republicans asked me (and ROPE) to do a presentation for them about why we needed to fight Common Core. They had the meeting at a hotel near I-35. After speaking, Julia Seay and I and a few others went to Two Frogs down the road to have dinner. Dr. Cox had been to another of our presentations previously and came to dinner with the group that night.

Julia and I both wondered why on earth a Democrat was so interested in fighting Common Core, so, we grilled him – beginning with abortion. He shocked us. He said he was 100% pro life. We asked him about gun ownership and he was 100% pro-second amendment.

As we got further into our discussions, Julia and I both started laughing. Julia actually told him something like, “You’re more Republican than many Republicans we know!” He explained that he’d been brought up as a Democrat and where he lived, there weren’t any Republicans to vote for anyway. If he wasn’t a Democrat he couldn’t vote except in a general election, where he traditionally voted for Republicans.

During the Common Core fight, John consistently showed up to do what he could to push back against an initiative he knew would tie his hands as an administrator and dumb down learning for his students – WHEN FEW OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS – REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS – ANYWHERE IN OKLAHOMA DID.

Today we know that ROPE, Dr. Cox and all those who fought so hard against Common Core and federal intervention into state public education systems WERE 100% RIGHT about everything we said would happen with implementation of CC.

Since coming out with our endorsement of Dr. Cox yesterday, we have been lambasted and castigated by a prominent Christian once-supporter and had subscribers drop our email newsletter. This is all fine, as ROPE will fight to the death to allow people to express their opinions, but it is UNBELIEVABLY hurtful and frustrating.

To think – after all these years – that ROPE (or me) would support someone who supports policies I/we HAVE NEVER SUPPORTED is nonsensical. Why on earth would someone look at a label before taking the word of others who may know more about the person than they themselves – or even better – INTERVIEWING THE PERSON THEMSELVES?

Ronald Reagan was a Democrat. TRUMP was once a Democrat. One of the – hands down – most courageous, competent public servants we have in office – Cindy Byrd – was a Democrat and WE SUPPORT CINDY BYRD TOO!

I know that the devil has been seeding distrust since the beginning of time. I know he is the Father of Confusion and Lies. I know Conservatives have been through the ringer lately and trust is hard.

HOWEVER, allowing ourselves to tread water in a sea of emotion, where we all get spooled up in the back-stabbing, intrigue of ‘politics’ to make us feel as though we’re ‘doing’ something – we need to STOP AND THINK – and use discernment and reason to chart our course.

I’m not saying ANY man is perfect – only Jesus gets that label among humanity. All I’m saying is, the more we use emotion over reason and the more we desire to fight with one another, the faster we lose any chance of gaining the ground we’ve lost to the Communists – who are our REAL ENEMY and threat to individual liberty.

**I’m also going to add here – ROPE is not funded by anyone. We tried to be a PAC but it didn’t work. We have always supported this group on gas donations and out of our own pocketbooks. We don’t owe allegiance to anyone or any group. About what other advocacy group can you say that?

And from my personal Facebook page June 9th:

Yesterday, a person tagged me in a post that said they didn’t understand our stand for Dr. Cox because he has ‘never stood for parents’.

Here is the truth: Dr. Cox STOOD WITH PARENTS AGAINST COMMON CORE when only one or two other Superintendents did. But even that isn’t the issue here.

While Dr. Cox was labeled a Democrat, he STOOD WITH PARENTS against a FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF EDUCATION.

Here is the list of REPUBLICANS who stood AGAINST PARENTS and FOR FEDERAL EDUCATION: Former State Superintendent Janet Barresi, former governor Mary Fallin, former Senator Clark Jolley (who is running for state Treasurer and who wrote the bill to insert Common Core AND OTHER OBAMA EDUCATION INITIATIVES – into our state) and the state Chamber. Oklahoma Council For Public Affairs (OCPA) NEVER GOT INTO THE FIGHT FOR PARENTS AT ALL ON THIS ISSUE.

Who was right about Common Core? #ROPEWASRIGHT all it takes is a bit of internet search to find all the studies indicating just that.

As I’ve said before HISTORY IS IMPORTANT and if you choose to overlook it, you do so at your own peril.

In the end, who knows what Dr. Cox will do if elected – we can only go on our past experience with the man and the things he’s committed to us and the public. Obviously, Dr. Cox is human – as are we all.

We continue to remain friendly with Secretary Walters, but I did tell him, when I called to inform him of our endorsement, that one of the gravest concerns we have about his candidacy, other than his desire to see vouchers implemented statewide, is all the people with whom he associates.

In fact, his associates – all on ECKO’s Board of Directors – include former Policy Director for Mary Fallin, (Jake Yunker) – who, with former Secretary of Education Janet Baressi fought the repeal of Common Core – former Representative Lee Denney who fought against the repeal of Common Core and Jennifer Monies, who has worked extensively with the State Chamber who fought Common Core. This election cycle, Secretary Walters has had fundraisers thrown for him by both Jeb Bush – a Common Core and school choice proponent – and Betsy DeVos whose family runs the American Federation for Children 501(c)(4) and PAC; the (c)(4) of which reported 8 million dollars in revenues in 2019. Those names don’t inspire the idea of ‘parental rights’ to us, but the top-down, administrative, big government solutions of which we need to rid Oklahoma, not double-down.

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ROPE Endorses Dr. John Cox for State Superintendent

Every election since 2010, ROPE has announced support for a State Superintendent candidate.  We believe this position to be of paramount importance in the direction of education in our state.  This year is no different.

Four Republican candidates are vying for the State Superintendent’s chair:  Bill Crozier, April Grace, Dr. John Cox and Secretary of Education Ryan Walters.  ROPE held a candidate forum at Randall University on May 9th.  Mr. Crozier was unable to attend and April Grace backed out of her original commitment to appear.

WHY ROPE DOES NOT SUPPORT DR. APRIL GRACE

April Grace, Superintendent of Shawnee Public Schools, is under fire for allowing an alleged sexual predator to stay on the SPS staff.  In addition, her ethics filings find that her campaign is supported by American Fidelity Corp PAC, CCOSA administration, Former State Board Member Leo Baxter and Mid-Del Superintendent Rick Cobb, to name a few.  These are EXTREMELY concerning. 

Let’s not forget that American Fidelity, CCOSA and others were accused of conspiring with current Superintendent Joy Hoffmeister on a dark money PAC for her initial election.  Baxter and other State School Board members sued to stop the repeal of Common Core and, during the Oklahoma Standards re-write, spent significant time online lobbing verbal fireballs at any of us who dared to review the standards negatively.  In fact, there was an entire group of educators – including Rick Cobb – who fought any criticism of the standards during the re-write.  Anyone supported by a group of people so dedicated to the status quo and so hateful to others, need not be elected to statewide office.

BILL CROZIER

Bill is a very nice man – and a very interesting person – but, unfortunately, ROPE did not see him as a viable candidate in this race.

OUR TOP TWO CANDIDATES – Secretary Walters and Dr. Cox – WHY WE ENDORSED DR. COX

The ROPE Board interviewed both Secretary Ryan Walters and Dr. John Cox  several weeks after our Superintendent Forum.  They were very kind to take time with us – Dr. Cox via internet and Secretary Walters in person.

From our interviews and Superintendent’s forum, it’s abundantly clear both candidates love kids and are committed to pushing back against the educational status quo that so often inhibits parents from educating their children the way they see fit, but there are some divisions. 

ROPE has numerous concerns about the expansion of a voucher system in our state and fought vigorously to defeat SB1647 (2022) – the bill creating a voucher system for private schools.  Dr. Cox does not agree with implementation of a voucher system in Oklahoma.  Secretary Walters does.    

Though we also agree with Secretary Walters on many policy issues, he does not yet have the experience Dr. Cox has accumulated.  As Superintendent of Pegs School district for 28 years, Dr. Cox understands the difficulties imposed on educators – and superintendents – by unwieldy and burdensome state laws and federal programming, many of which negatively impact parental rights.

Recently, Dr. Cox stood up for the innocence of his students by telling a health official he would only give the CDC’s incredibly invasive, Youth Risk Behavioral Survey if he could send it home for parents to read.  He never received a return phone call asking the survey be administered.

History also plays a part.  Many of our Board remember Dr. Cox standing in solidarity with us and parents against Common Core – one of very few Superintendents who did.  We have witnessed him standing with parents and expect him to continue to do so. 

We appreciate Secretary Walters very much for running and we hope – no matter who wins the State Superintendent Chair – to work with both candidates in whatever capacity they find themselves.

Jenni White, ROPE President

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Parental Rights Foundation Press Release Regarding The Rights of Parents

The Parental Rights Foundation was pleased to send the following press release earlier today, featuring exciting new polling data about public support for parental rights:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE // June 1, 2022 // Purcellville, VA – The Parental Rights Foundation, working with Heart and Mind Strategies, recently asked the following question of a national audience: “In general, parents have the constitutional right to make decisions for their children without government interference unless there is proof of abuse or neglect. Do you agree or disagree with this view of parental rights?” 

Overall, 83% of Americans agree with the statement above, and 51% strongly agree, according to the survey. Only 10% disagree, with just 3% strongly disagreeing.  And only 6% are not sure.

Among Republicans, 90% support the question, with 64% strongly supportive. Among Democrats, 83% support, with 44% strongly supportive. And among Independents, 78% support, with 47% strongly supportive.

Both Trump voters (91% agree, 65% strongly agree) and Biden voters (84% agree, 44% strongly agree) are supportive.

Support is strong across ethnicity: Whites 85% agree, 53% strongly agree. Blacks 75% agree, 49% strongly agree. Asians 76% agree, 36% strongly agree. Hispanics 85% agree, 53% strongly agree. 

Support is strong across additional demographics surveyed as well, including education, religion, age, employment status, household income, and region. 

“Parental rights are truly universal,” said Will Estrada, President of the Parental Rights Foundation. “As we saw when Governor Youngkin won election in Virginia last year in a state that President Biden had won handily, as we saw this spring when parents in San Francisco voted their radical school board members out of office, and now as we see in this incredible survey, parental rights cut across party lines, ethnic lines, and gender lines.”

“Americans overwhelmingly agree that parents have the right to make decisions for their children,” said Bruce Blakeman, Senior Vice President at Heart and Mind Strategies, who conducted the survey. “It’s about as close to unanimity as you can get on an issue with Americans. These results show that any candidate who opposes parents’ rights does so at their own peril. This survey quantifies across the country what happened in the Virginia governor’s race last year.”

“Moms and dads love their children, raise their children, spend sleepless nights concerned for their children. Parental rights truly means protecting our precious children by empowering parents. That’s the heart of what this survey shows,” said Estrada.

The entire survey can be viewed online at www.ParentalRightsFoundation.org/poll2022.Thank you for standing with us in support of this vital cause. Your ongoing support enables us to stand up for children by empowering parents through protection of these important rights—rights upon which we all agree!
Sincerely,
Michael Ramey
Executive Director
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