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'Do your homework at the Library' program in jeopardy; what's being done to try and keep the program

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Since the pandemic, our San Diego libraries have slowly been trying to get to 100% operating capacity. Back in January, City Council shared its proposed budget, asking for additional resources for programming, staffing structures, and increased funds for library materials and the library's match program.

But the Library Foundation of San Diego says that is not enough. The City Council is asking for even more funding for a program that helps thousands of kids across San Diego.

“I don’t have the resources to find tutors elsewhere, so I depend on this," shares Maria Solorzano.

The mother of three has used the library her whole life. When the Logan Heights resident was met with her son needing additional help with schoolwork, the library is the first place she went to look for resources.

“When I was seeing too many zeros we came and got help from the tutors," shares Solorzano. "And those zeros started turning into points.”

The tutoring is through the 'Do your homework @ the Library' program. It has been around for nine years and is currently at 11 branches. With over 192,000 tutoring sessions already completed, those championing the program believe that it is vital for thousands of students.

“This is one of those programs that directly relates to a child’s ability to increase their academic success," shares CEO of the Library Foundation SD, Patrick Stewart.

With school finishing this week, the Library Foundation fears it won't be able to operate the summer sessions that will serve roughly 3,700 students.

It is why the Library Foundation is asking for more than $670,000 to help keep tutors. Those tutors are currently paid hourly, and have the highest turnover rate of any library employee, at 40%, according to Stewart.

“What this would do is convert that staffing," shares Stewart. "To allow this program benefited full or part-time positions and to scale out at the very least to 18 library branches immediately.”

But the hope in making this happen largely lies with the City Council. In January it voiced various pleas to get different dollar amounts on the table, but final revisions are underway.

“We are pushing Mayor Gloria really hard, to see that we get that into the final budget, I feel like we are going to get close," shares Councilmember Raul Campillo. "Whether it’s the full 670 thousand or a part of that, we are really just trying to make sure that our children are taken care of and they have a safe place to go after school.”

The ultimate decision lies with the Mayor when he approves the budget for the 2023 fiscal year at the end of the month.

And the library is slowly getting back to operating at pre-pandemic capacity. Last week, they opened the last 4 branches that were closed. The Clairemont, Mountain View, Ocean Beach Library, and IDEA lab are now open with limited hours.

The other 32 branches are open. Stewart furthers that the libraries have also hired 140 new employees.

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DO YOUR HOMEWORK @ THE LIBRARY

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Program description, event details.

Kids K through 8: having trouble with that homework?  Need a little help?  Our friendly Coaches will provide assistance!  They'll guide you through math and science assignments, sit with you as you try to sound out words while reading, and devise learning strategies to help get you up to speed!

Homework help is free to students & their families. Please email [email protected] for information about the DYH@L Program or Virtual Homework Help.

• Monday to Thursday: 3-6 PM
• Saturday: 10 AM - 1 PM (Central Library only)
• Virtual Homework Help is available on Fridays from 3-6pm

Accessibility

Need disability-related modifications or accommodations? Information and program content can be made available in alternative formats upon request by emailing [email protected] .

Do Your Homework @ the Library Summer Camps

San diego public library, innovation synopsis.

Through SDPL’s Out of School Time Learning, the Do Your Homework @ the Library program offered immersive virtual and in-person summer camps and skills learning assistance to decrease learning loss and increase student engagement. In San Diego, 3500 youth throughout the city benefited

Challenge/Opportunity

The COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted the education and financial resources of our students and families. During this time, the library saw a substantial increase in requests from parents seeking no-cost educational resources for students. As a response, the Do Your Homework @ the Library Program accelerated their offerings of virtual and some in-person learning camps that were fun and educational, making the library THE PLACE for accessible, innovative and engaging out our school time learning activities.

Key Elements of Innovation

The DYH@L team researched various online platforms, partners, marketing strategies and best practices that would enable us to provide the necessary learning experiences for students. With assistance from program partners and library staff trained on new skills, we offered a series of 30 weeklong STEAM learning camps for grades PreK-8th and bilingual homework assistance throughout the summer. The virtual camp experience included supplies shipped directly to the campers for hands-on participation.

Achieved Outcomes

In the program, 89% of participants felt more confident about what they learned. We had concerns with most of the program being virtual, but to our surprise, 95% of participants expressed preferring the virtual option, citing COVID-19 safety concerns, transportation issues, time management, opportunity for family participation and student social anxiety. The camps were an opportunity for youth to sharpen their skills, explore, and cultivate new interests.

"My son was excited to show me what he learned about STEM and pollution!"

Homework Help in the Library: What’s it All About?

Does your public library provide homework support for teens? Chances are the answer is “yes.” Many (or most) public library websites offer a homework help section, full of links to databases, websites, and librarian-approved search engines. You may offer other homework support services as well, like subscriptions to student-friendly databases, a collection of print materials specifically for school assignments, or special programs (for example, late night hours during exam times) for studiers. Some public librarians work hard to connect with teachers and media specialists in order to learn what’s happening in the classroom and supplement and support what’s happening in the schools.

On its face, homework support is a positive and obvious service for a public library to offer. School libraries are not usually open late in the day, which means students often need a place to work on homework and access resources. As a publicly funded institution, shouldn’t the public library be spending some of its dollars on homework-related activities that complement what happens in the school library and the classroom? Perhaps we take public library homework support for granted and need to start asking questions about how it works and the purpose it serves. For example, consider the following:

• Do teens really take advantage of the homework support libraries provide? Are teens using the web resources provided by the public library? Do they use most of the print materials available in the library’s physical collection purchased specifically as homework help?
• Are the services that public libraries provide teens in the homework realm what teens really need? How does the librarian know?
• When a library provides homework help on the web – usually a list of links sometimes organized by category – who is this really provided for? Teens, parents, teachers, anyone searching the web online?
• Why do public libraries provide homework support? Is it because everyone else does it? Is it because they say in library school that public libraries need to provide homework support to teens? Have you really asked yourself that question?

We propose that there is a belief that public libraries have to provide homework support because everyone else does. It’s just a given. Perhaps there is also an assumption that other libraries’ programs are working well; therefore, if a homework help program isn’t enjoying much success, a librarian might feel as though those failures are indicative of a challenge specific to their own community or library. But, what if no (or very few) public libraries have successful homework support programs for teens? And, how does anyone know if the homework support is successful? Are there specific evaluation measures implemented for that kind of thing?

What are the hallmarks of excellent homework support? Perhaps for the answer we should look to schools. This is where one starts to realize that homework support might not fit into the public library as most think that it does. Looking toward schools, we see that that excellent support requires a strong knowledge of what students are learning in class. The school librarian should be meeting with teachers on a regular basis and examining the school curriculum; the public librarian does not have the chance to do this (at least not as consistently as the school librarian). While a public library can do its best to offer a collection of materials for students, the reality is that these cannot be tailored to students’ needs in the same way that a school collection can.

Homework support must also be assessed through the examination of students’ skill building; again, public librarians do not have the opportunity to do this, as they do not spend the same amount of time with students – nor do they observe students doing the same activities. For example, a public librarian might observe a student finding and reading materials; a school librarian will have the opportunity to observe (and guide) search strategies, information analysis, topic refining, note-taking, information synthesis, and even writing. Without knowing the exact needs of the student – including their individual challenges and strengths – it is very difficult to provide the best services possible.

Finally, are public libraries asking teens if they want or need homework support? Again, this gets back to the idea that public libraries might offer these services simply because it is an expectation. But without teen input, librarians may find themselves spinning their wheels, spending money and staff time on materials and programs that are underused, and building websites that are rarely visited. All of this can feel discouraging.

We’ve got one more post on this topic in the works and in that post we will explore types of homework help that work and ways that libraries can move forward in supporting teen homework needs successfully.

Until then: what do you think? Does homework support belong in the public library? What’s been your experience offering this service? If you’re a school librarian, what do you think are the best ways to support students in their information gathering and studying?

We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

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9 Thoughts on “ Homework Help in the Library: What’s it All About? ”

The public library’s role in homework help is not singular, and many teens do need and do use the public library for these particular aspects of homework support: space that is convivial for group work on evenings and weekends; public space that can give them the privacy and “away” time they may need from crowded homes in order to concentrate without outlay of cash; nonjudgmental staff who can’t influence their final grade, no matter how much “help” is needed to round up the information that they feel will satisfy their homework needs; access to an adult who has sufficient academic English to be able to communicate (if only by listening and asking clarifying questions) about an assignment. Public libraries don’t provide high level expert advice on investing, but they are the “right place” for those with investment concerns to bring some of their work; same goes for students with assignments that, homework being what it is, requires them to investigate outside the classroom.

Hi Francisca, I think we’re much on the same page here. One thing Linda and I have talked a lot about – and will discuss in our next post – is how public libraries CAN best support teens when it comes to homework, and all of the things you mention above are exactly what we discussed. I think where we are being a bit more critical (that is probably too strong a word, but I just mean looking with a critical eye) is with public libraries trying to provide the *same* services as school libraries – via homework help sites, database access, and a print collection – which, frankly, isn’t really possible. But in terms of supporting teens as they study, offering a comfortable, friendly place where they can work alone or with friends, and even answering research questions, these are all excellent services. Sarah

We have a very successful homework help/tutoring program at our library. It’s a partnership with the local high school campus (which actually contains three high schools) – the members of their National Honor Society provide homework help/tutoring for K-12 students at the library three nights a week during the school year (they’re also at the other public library utilized by our school system two nights a week). The NHS tutors are busy almost all the time and we’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response to the program. We sometimes have more people than they can help, in fact, though they handle it pretty well. We’ve made it a fairly self-sustaining program with the burden of timing and so forth on the NHS tutors, so the staff commitment is minimal. It’s been a great partnership and really fills a need that our staff would otherwise be unable to address.

Providing homework help in the form of resources, space and helpful staff is core to a public library mission. We are an essential piece of the after school support network. We provide online resources, online tutoring, 24\7 information, group workspace, computers, books, and other tools for teens to use.

@Anne – that sounds like a great program. I tried to offer a similar program in my last position, at a public library, and struggled to help the students with their work; at the time I thought “it would be great to have peer tutors,” but that seemed like such a daunting task and I didn’t have time to come up with a plan before I left. Thanks for sharing that – it sounds like it’s very successful and a great way to support teens.

@Mary – how are all of those resources being used? I’m especially curious about the online resources, tutoring, and 24/7 information. Do you find that a lot of teens are taking advantage of those tools? Do you work with the schools to select books and online resources? Thanks!

I think what materials (and possibly even if) a public library offers in terms of homework support is largely dependant upon what the school or school system offers. After geneology researchers, high school students were the biggest users of our online services until 3-4 years ago. At that point the public schools in my area started offering the same—and in some cases like the hard sciences even superior—–resources to their students. Not surprisingly, usage of a number of our online products dropped significantly and we have been considering cuts in those areas. There have been talks lately about trying to partner with the public school system so we don’t duplicate quite as many services, but it’s hard because historically there has been little cooperation between the two very separate agencies.

It would be hard for us to get rid of the resources at this point, though, because I know a number of small private schools and homeschoolers in the area really depend on us providing access to the digital content.

Matt, you bring up some really interesting points and what really strikes me is the need to continually evaluate what’s going on in the community in terms of homework help for students and determine on a regular basis what needs to continue and what needs to change.

The comment about homeschoolers and private schools is a good one and I guess I’d still want to know how much/many of the resources are used by that group? I do know that those can be important populations for a library community so having resources for them is key. But, are there still resources and formats that could be re-thought and that population would still be served successfully?

The school/library cooperation piece is really central in this discussion. If librarians from the school and the library can work together to make sure that there is overlap only when it makes sense and figure out exactly who offers what in the ways that support teen learning then it’s a win-win for everyone. I’m curious Matt, have you and your colleagues started to brainstorm ways to break down some of the barriers that exist in order to provide homework support in the ways necessary? If so, it would be great to read about some of the ideas.

Our local school districts (and we serve 15 districts) have pretty much dismantled their database collections, leaving the public library as the only source for periodical access, and in too many cases, even reference materials like “opposing viewpoints”. We know teachers are using thier cards to provide access to these resources in classrooms and in school libraries. We absolutely have to look at how it is and isn’t appropriate for us to support students, but that’s happening in an environment where schools and school libraries aren’t able to support student’s *classroom* needs, let alone their homework needs.

I’m very sensitive to the truth that students need school libraries, and that the public library isn’t, can’t and shouldn’t be a substitute. We tread very carefully when we’re asked to come in to a school that’s lost its library, in order to promote what resources we do have. But the kids are between a rock and a hard place, and the kids are the priority.

Sarah, kids are the priority and the focus should be on how we help them to succeed no matter what.

I’m curious in your system, do you find that students/teens are using the homework help resources from databases to print materials to web links? How are the librarians you work with succeeding in making good connections between teens and those materials?

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"Creating & Managing the Full-Service Homework Center"

"The Student’s Survival Guide to Research"

"Homework Help from the Library: In Person and Online"

For Immediate Release Mon, 11/27/2017

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CHICAGO — Despite the proliferation of online homework websites and tutoring services, public libraries still have an important role to play when it comes to supporting young people’s educational needs. Public libraries that take a proactive approach—by setting up organized homework centers—have the potential to become catalysts for better performance in school, improved self-esteem, and engaged learning. Whether readers are investigating the possibility of setting up a center from scratch or are eager to revamp an existing center, Cindy Mediavilla’s “ Creating & Managing the Full-Service Homework Center ,” published by ALA Editions, shows the way forward with:

• discussion of the philosophy behind a public library homework center and its many benefits, with useful talking points for getting stakeholders on board;
• examples of model programs from across the country;
• guidance on assessing the community’s educational priorities and utilizing outcome-based planning and evaluation methods;
• pragmatic advice on how to collaborate with schools and educators to coordinate goals;
• thorough consideration of such key issues as carving out a space, setting hours, scheduling staff, and selecting and procuring educational resources;
• handy tools for a successful homework center, including sample surveys, homework helper application forms and contracts, staff and volunteer job descriptions, and focus group questions;
• advice on equipment and technology considerations; and
• methodologies for evaluation and improvement.

Mediavilla authored “Creating the Full–Service Homework Center in Your Library,” (ALA, 2001), which has been called “the quintessential guide to the practicalities of setting up a formal homework help center to provide one–to–one homework assistance to student patrons” (Intner, “Homework Help from the Library,” ix). In the early 1990s she managed a homework center, called the Friendly Stop, for the Orange (CA) Public Library, and she has been studying after–school homework programs ever since. She has published several articles on the topic and has evaluated homework programs for the Long Beach and Los Angeles public libraries. She has made presentations on homework help programs at the conferences of several major library associations, and she has also conducted many workshops on the topic.

ALA Store  purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. ALA Editions and ALA Neal-Schuman publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5052 or [email protected].

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Why You Should Start Doing Homework at the Library

4 reasons to start doing homework at the library.

It seems like kids have so much homework these days and their afternoon can turn into an overextended study session pretty quickly. With all of these assignments, it’s especially important for students to be able to study efficiently, complete their assignments, and move on to other activities. One of the best ways for students to achieve this is to work in an environment free from distraction. This might be from noise, social media, or just general distractions in the environment. The library is one of the best places for students to find the research material they need and complete their assignments without too much trouble – our private Los Angeles tutors are here to help you with your studies.

1. A quiet environment

Libraries provide a quiet environment where students are unlikely to be exposed to noise above a whisper. This helps them focus on the task in front of them and helps them concentrate on the difficult material. Students can work at a traditional desk, or they can relax in stuffed chairs and couches while reading books for school. Also, most libraries have a children’s section with a study environment more appropriate for kids in K through 2nd grade. In many instances, students can get their assignments done much quicker if they have an environment that specifically meant for studying.

2. Homework help

A library is also a great place for students to work with their study group or a tutor. Libraries have lots of private study rooms that can be reserved in advance and allow students a more private environment where they can talk at a normal level and work through a study guide or assignment. These spaces are especially helpful to middle and high school students who are going to be working with more advanced material or studying for lengthy exams. It’s also an ideal environment for students to meet their tutor and talk about the subject of the day (READ: Things Students Can do to Improve Their Grade in English ).

3. Research material

Although many students can access some materials online on their home computer, libraries offer students some academic materials rarely available online. Students can also access these materials free of charge with their library card instead of paying to purchase or rent them from a home computer. If students prefer to use their personal computer, they can certainly set themselves up at one of the study spaces and enjoy the library’s Wi-Fi. Students tend to get less distracted and complete assignments quicker when they have all the research material they need right at their fingertips.

4. Encourage literacy

Learning to read is one of the most difficult things a child will do, but it’s also one of the most important. When kids visit the library to do their homework, they are also exposed to a ton of fun reading material appropriate for their grade level. Students who get to try out different books are more likely to be excited about the prospect of improving their reading skills and can start to view the activity as something fun rather than a chore. Whether kids read-only while they’re at the library or take one or two books home to read during the week, visiting the library is a great way to encourage literacy and increase any child’s love of learning in general.

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In the Media June 6, 2022

Library Foundation leads efforts to support Do Your Homework tutors

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Library Foundation SD CEO Patrick Stewart discussed the importance of the library’s Do Your Homework @ the Library program and library advocate requests that the city council help the library recruit and retain tutors by making those positions benefitted.

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Do Your Homework at the Library

When I was in school, our teacher used to tell us to do our homework on the spot. The teacher would find the books we needed and we’d get them all done in no time. We were praised for doing a good job. Teachers also knew that if they didn’t do homework by the book, they wouldn’t get anything done that day. So they gave us extra homework in class. You know what that meant – it got our attention.

You can do your homework at the library the same way. Start by finding the books you need to do your homework. If the book doesn’t address the topic you need help with, see if someone at the library has written about the topic. Most people who do their homework in school use the Internet as their main research tool.

Now go through all of the books in the library that pertain to your topic. You can do your homework at the library in one of two ways – do your homework online or do your homework in the library. To do your homework online, you will need a computer and a connection to the Internet.

If you do your homework at the library, you will need a notebook or a desk and some paper and your homework completed. If you do your homework in school, you will need all of your homework assignments and workbooks. In either case, bring a pen and paper. It is easier to do your homework at the library than in school, since there is no one to nitpick at your assignments or dictate the research you have to do.

One great thing about do your homework at the library is that you can do your homework from home, so you won’t have to commute. For many students, just being in a place different than class provides a calming effect that helps them relax. In school, you have to be in the classroom and you can’t take your mind off of what your teacher is saying to you. Do your homework in the library, and you can do your homework at home at any time. That means you can do your homework at home during lunch or for a little bit after lunch, and you can do your homework at night.

When you do your homework at the library, you can either use one of the computers they have there or type up your assignment on your own laptop. Most of the time, you will find that most of the librarians there are helpful and will be glad to assist you. They can also sometimes help you with additional information if you have questions. When you do your homework at the library, you get out of the grind of getting ready in the morning, getting to class and coming back to find your assignment has been completed, and then starting your day again.

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OPINION Voices from the Idaho EdNews Community

For the sake of our public school students, voters should do their homework

Over the next five weeks Idaho voters will be barraged by political messages from the far-right in their mailboxes and on social media. These messages will sound dark and scary. They will also be full of lies and deception.

The billionaires and their front organizations who lost the battle to pass voucher legislation in the 2024 session, are now waging an all-out war against the pro-public-school lawmakers who opposed their attempts to use taxpayer money to fund private and religious schools.

What they couldn’t achieve at the Statehouse, they are trying to achieve at the ballot box in the upcoming May GOP primary.

Just see what Tommy Schultz, the CEO of the American Federation for Children (AFC) was quoted as saying: “If you’re a candidate or lawmaker who opposes school choice and freedom in education – you’re a target.”

And Schultz means it. The AFC spent $9 million in 2022 defeating public school supporters across the country. This year Schultz pledged to spend $10 million to defeat lawmakers who oppose vouchers, according to Politico .

And Schultz has a powerful ally in Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle who was frustrated he couldn’t get the voucher-like tax credit bill sponsored by Rep. Wendy Horman and Sen. Lori Den Hartog approved this session. “I still think that the school choice issue is not going away,” Moyle told Idaho Ed News as the Legislature adjourned. “I assure you that something will happen next year.”

Yet that “something” will only happen if Schultz and like-minded pro-voucher groups succeed in defeating pro-public school Republican lawmakers in May. Sadly, their targets are the very legislators who consistently vote to support the more than 300,000 students who attend our public schools. If Schultz and his allies win, Idaho’s public-school students lose.

During the 2024 Legislature, the AFC, Young Americans for Liberty and Yes. Every Kid spent $134,148 promoting vouchers. Together, the AFC and Young Americans for Liberty were by far the biggest spenders in the Legislature; Young Americans number one at $69,708 and the AFC number two at $55,794. The next closest Idaho-based lobbying effort was the Idaho Grain Growers which spent less than half of what the AFC and Young Americans did.

These pro-voucher groups are based out of state and have ties to some of the richest people in the country. The AFC is based in Dallas and was founded by billionaire Betsy DeVoss. Yes. Every Kid is based in Arlington, Virginia and was founded by billionaire Charles Koch. Young Americans for Liberty is also based in Virginia.

Even the Idaho Freedom Foundation, which holds the stated goal of abolishing public education in Idaho, has ties to out-of-state billionaires. The IFF is one of two Idaho “affiliates” of the State Policy Network, which is financed by dark money provided by some of the wealthiest people in the country. The IFF’s political action committee has launched a vicious campaign against the pro-public-school legislators.

In their attack propaganda, the pro-voucher groups claim the legislators who support public schools and oppose vouchers are “Right for California, Wrong for Idaho.” Ironically, the legislators they attack have deep and multi-generational ties to Idaho. They are life-long Republicans and conservatives and have nothing in common with California politics.

Meanwhile, the AFC and like organizations claim their anointed candidates are fighting for Idaho’s children. Yet their acolytes vote against every bill that would set our students up for success in school, work, and life. They even voted against funding for the Idaho Launch program which 14,000 high school seniors have applied for to attend postsecondary education.

Most of the time these billionaires don’t even mention vouchers in their attack messages because they know they are unpopular if privatization takes money away from public schools, which it does. Or sometimes they hide vouchers under the euphemism – “school choice.” They don’t bother to mention that Idahoans already have plenty of school choices, including local community schools, open enrollment, public charter schools, and home schools.

In short, these billionaires and their front are trying to convince Idaho voters that legislators who consistently support our youth wear black hats and legislators who never support education wear white hats. It’s like claiming day is night and night is day. It just doesn’t square with the truth.

IDAHO ISN’T THE ONLY STATE WHERE BILLIONAIRES THROW THEIR WEIGHT AROUND

Idaho voters should be aware that this influx of billionaire money and political muscle is not unique to our state. They have been bullying pro-public-school lawmakers for years and have stepped up their attacks this year.

In the Texas primary last month, the billionaires and their front organizations, including the AFC Victory Fund, launched a pitched battle against the pro-public-school lawmakers. Unfortunately, they were successful in defeating nine legislators who had stood in their way for years. Their success almost ensures that vouchers will pass in Texas next winter.

One of the Texas legislators the billionaires defeated was Rep. Glenn Rogers, a conservative sixth – generation rancher from Mineral Wells, and a staunch public-school supporter. The billionaire front organizations accused Rogers of voting to create a pension fund for himself (he didn’t) and supporting President Biden’s border policies (he doesn’t). Clearly, they didn’t let the truth stand in their way.

Rogers told Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 Investigates that those accusations were in mailers sent to voters by Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC. It is a Texas political action committee started this year by oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks. Since January Dunn and Wilks spent $3 million to support pro-voucher candidates, according to The Texas Tribune .

If Farris Wilks’ name sounds familiar, it’s because he and his brother bought thousands of acres of Idaho land a few years ago and made headlines when they closed it off to snowmobilers and other recreationists who had used it for years.

The border control mailer warned Rogers’ primary voters, “Don’t let Glenn Rogers Give Democrats control of the Texas Border!” Then it had pictures of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi next to it. Rogers told NewsChannel 5 that the claim that he was supporting Biden’s border policies was “obviously a ridiculous statement and a complete lie.”

Just like the ads against Idaho legislators the bogus pension fund and border control mailers never mentioned vouchers as they are unpopular in rural Texas. But the message to Rogers was clear – he had stopped them from privatizing Texas schools for the last time.

“To say that billionaires don’t have anything to do with this (attack literature) is ludicrous,” Rogers said. “They’re in control of our state right now. And if this trend continues with billionaires having this much influence, what happens to our Republic? Well, it’s really no longer a Republic. It’s an oligarch.”

BILLIONAIRES TARGET TENNESSEE

The billionaires have next turned their firepower on Tennessee lawmakers who oppose a $144 million voucher bill. One of the legislators being targeted is Republican Rep. Todd Warner. Warner told Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 that a pro-voucher lobbyist told him, “I can’t protect you if you aint’t on the right side of this.”

“So, when you don’t vote with Americans for Prosperity (a pro-voucher group founded by billionaire Charles Koch), you’re risking billionaires coming after you,” Warner told NewsChannel 5. He added that “big money” is trying to control the Volunteer State’s Legislature.

NewsChannel 5 reported that the American Federation for Children Victory Fund is warning legislators that it defeated anti-voucher lawmakers in Texas and “hinting” that it will do the same in Tennessee. Yes, that’s the same AFC which is targeting Idaho’s anti-voucher lawmakers in the upcoming May primary.

The station also reported that billionaire and TikTok founder Jeff Yass recently gave the AFC Victory Fund $3.5 million and billionaires Betsy and Dick DeVos gave it $1 million. Betsy DeVos and her AFC have spent millions over the years expanding vouchers in states like Wisconsin by electing pro-voucher legislators – just as the AFC wants to do this May in Idaho.

IDAHOANS BE WARNED

It is important for Idahoans to know what is going on in their state, and these other states because they are being misled by these billionaires and their front organizations. I am confident that if voters have accurate information about the candidates they will see through the misleading mailers and social media ads attacking the legislators who support the schools their constituents’ kids attend.

These billionaire-funded front groups don’t understand what makes Idaho tick because they don’t live here. Historically, Idahoans are fiercely independent, have a live-and-let-live philosophy, and hold a strong commitment to and pride in their communities and public schools. Idahoans volunteer in their communities, churches, and schools more than almost any state in the country.

Every Friday night in the fall and winter the bleachers in towns across our state are full of people cheering for their local teams. These public schools are the heart and soul of our Idaho communities. Just ask the good people of West Bonner who fought and took back their schools from the far-right last fall.

Idahoans I’ve talked to are tired of the chaos that these far-right legislators and their billionaire backers are creating year after year. They are tired of legislators who work to defund our public schools and ignore the kitchen-table issues that Idahoans face like being able to buy a home. They are tired of political extremists preaching at them about “Idaho values” when they couldn’t’ find Mackay or Kamiah on a map. They are tired of carpetbagger billionaires who want to privatize education in our state.

All voters must do to get the truth is ask their candidates if they support public schools or support taxpayer-funded tuition for private and religious schools. That will help voters separate white hat candidates from the black hat candidates. And it will tell them who will bring sanity, common sense, and true conservative principles back to the Idaho Legislature.

Perhaps Rep. Glenn Rogers has the best advice for our primary voters. “I’m hoping that people will begin to realize what is actually happening here, who is behind this and be able to see through the money and lies.”

Let’s just hope Rogers is right. For the sake of our public-school students.

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