By Shawn Hyland
On Saturday, January 31, school board members from across New Jersey gathered in Colts Neck for the New Jersey Family Policy Center’s Statewide School Board Summit. The focus of the event was strengthening parent–school partnerships and equipping local leaders for the challenges ahead. I had the privilege of working alongside current board members and organizational leaders throughout the morning as we networked, shared strategies, and encouraged one another in our shared commitment to keeping families first in our local districts
The Summit brought together these volunteer elected officials who routinely face harassment and misleading attacks from outside activist groups. Yet the atmosphere was anything but discouraging. There were constant applause, timely laughter, and prayer.
A key portion of the program featured local parents who currently serve on the Colts Neck Township Board of Education, speaking in their capacity as private citizens. They offered firsthand insight into the development and passage of the district’s Parental Bill of Rights, approved late last year.
Contrary to some public claims, the Colts Neck Board did not create new policies or expand parental authority beyond existing law. Instead, they consolidated the district’s current policies—already grounded in federal and state law—into a single, accessible document. By organizing these policies into a clear, easy‑to‑read format, Colts Neck provided a model that other districts are now studying closely.
The goal for the Summit was simple: to help school board members educate parents to know what their rights are, how to exercise them, and what they can expect from their school district. Not a big deal, right? Who could possibly oppose that?
Needless to say, the backlash was immediate. Activist groups aligned with the political Left, and backed by the NJEA, have erupted online with anger and alarm. Their messaging has leaned heavily on fear‑based narratives aimed at convincing their supporters that increased parental involvement is somehow a threat that will undermine public trust in educational institutions. Wait… What?
The intensity of their reaction points to a deeper concern that shouldn’t be overlooked. In their view, well‑informed and engaged moms and dads pose a threat to the status quo. The idea that parents might reclaim their rightful place in their children’s education is something they believe must be resisted at all costs.
Few things provoke a louder meltdown among these groups than the prospect of strong families who understand their rights and refuse to surrender their role to the expanding power of the State.
Because of the overwhelmingly positive feedback from those who attended, and the unhinged backlash from anti‑parent voices, what was originally planned as a one‑time Summit will now continue meeting regularly. Parents, children, and families are not political talking points for campaigns. New Jersey Family Policy Center is committed to ensuring their voices remain front and center.
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Shawn Hyland is Director of Advcacy for the NJ Family Policy Center.
