Emails Show Biden’s Education Department Coordinated With Activist Groups on Parent Council

Internal communications detail how federal officials selected aligned organizations for advisory role before legal challenges forced its dissolution.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Newly disclosed communications show that the U.S. Department of Education under former President Joe Biden worked with outside organizations in 2022 to assemble a parent advisory body that included a range of advocacy groups but excluded conservative representation.

According to records first detailed in a Daily Caller News Foundation report, department officials coordinated with selected organizations while forming what became known as the National Parents and Families Engagement Council. The initiative was publicly described as a collaboration intended to support student recovery and strengthen engagement between families and schools.

Archived materials show the department created the council as a forum for families, educators, and community leaders. However, documents later obtained through litigation by advocacy groups indicate the participants were chosen from organizations aligned on issues such as race, gender, and immigration policy, with no conservative parent groups included.

Internal correspondence obtained by Defending Education outlines how officials invited specific organizations and sought input on shaping the council’s structure and mission. A departmental document sent to prospective members described the council as “an opportunity to listen, learn and engage families,” emphasizing the goal of incorporating parental perspectives into post-pandemic recovery efforts.

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Organizations invited to participate included national advocacy and labor groups such as the American Federation of Teachers, the National Action Network, the NAACP, PFLAG, and Unidos. Many respondents encouraged the department to emphasize demographic diversity and broader inclusion criteria when selecting representatives.

One organization, the National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement, recommended that the council reflect a wide range of family experiences, including variations in race, language, geography, and family structure. It also suggested the body could serve as a platform for distributing organizational resources to schools and families.

Other groups made similar recommendations. The United Parent Leaders Action Network emphasized representation for families often absent from education decision-making processes, including immigrant and non-English-speaking households, while highlighting the importance of equity and cultural awareness in education policy.

Additional correspondence shows the National Parent-Teacher Association raised questions about language accessibility, including translation and interpretation services. Girls Inc. proposed that the council address issues such as school discipline practices, the role of law enforcement in schools, and access to educational opportunities for underrepresented groups.

One participating organization recommended modifying terminology used in council documents, suggesting “caregiver” as a broader alternative to “parent,” a change that appeared in subsequent drafts.

The American Federation of Teachers also proposed additional groups for inclusion, including Red Wine and Blue, an organization that promotes civic engagement initiatives and advocacy campaigns, including anti-racism efforts, community organizing activities such as book discussions, and policy advocacy related to reproductive issues. Financial disclosures cited in the records indicate the union provided funding to several organizations involved in the council.

In later communications, the department clarified that the council was “not a Federal Advisory Committee,” stating it did not have formal authority to provide advice on federal programs across a broad scope.

The council operated for less than six months before being disbanded following legal challenges brought by advocacy groups. According to a press release, the lawsuit argued the initiative violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which requires advisory bodies to maintain balanced viewpoints and adhere to transparency standards. Additional legal filings are detailed in related court actions and subsequent litigation seeking records tied to the council’s formation.

Statements included in the records from advocacy groups involved in the legal challenge allege the council was structured in a way that favored aligned organizations and did not reflect a full spectrum of parental viewpoints. The Department of Education ultimately discontinued the initiative amid the ongoing dispute.