conservative

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the powerful influence of teacher unions in public education. As a result, teacher unions are facing greater scrutiny from the public and policymakers. But is this scrutiny warranted? The legal scholars and experienced litigators on this panel will attempt to answer the basic question of whether teacher unions generally advance or hinder the core purpose of public schools to give students a quality education. The panel will also consider whether the Guarantee Clause of the Federal Constitution, which mandates republican government in the states, prohibits state and local governments from engaging in collective bargaining with public employee unions, as well as the prospects of success for this argument in the courts.

Featuring:

– Dr. Michael Hartney, Fellow, Hoover Institution and author of How Policies Make Interest Groups: Governments, Unions, and American Education
– David Osborne, Senior Fellow, Labor Policy, The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, and Special Counsel, Americans for Fair Treatment
– Ilya Shapiro, Director, Constitutional Studies, Manhattan Institute
– Eric Stahlfeld, Chief Litigation Counsel, Freedom Foundation
– [Moderator] Jonathan Berry, Managing Partner, Boyden Gray & Associates

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in over a year of virtual public schooling in some parts of the country, which caused a surge of interest in school choice options as parents sought in-person instruction for their children. About 500,000 students nationally left traditional public schools during the pandemic to move into private schools, charters, and full-time home-schooling. State legislatures across the country thus responded by considering legislation to increase the number of charter schools, offer additional scholarship and tax credit programs, and create education savings account options to increase choice in education.

This panel surveyed proposed education reforms to expand school choice and discussed the responses of unions, school boards, and parents to these proposals. Panelists considered changes the Biden Administration may make in education special emphasis on any proposed reforms in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.

Featuring:

Robert S. Eitel, President, Defense of Freedom Institute

Benjamin A. Field, Attorney, Institute for Justice

Moderator: Judge Joshua Wolson, United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.