Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding. My colleague Paul Zimmerman joins the podcast to explain Title IX’s original intent to ensure equal educational opportunities regardless of sex, the regulatory evolution and whiplash in recent years, and regulators' attempts to push gender ideology and weaken parental rights. We conclude with a discussion about DFI’s RESPECT Title IX Act, a model law that provides Title IX policy clarity and stability.

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Erin Lee, executive director of Protect Kids Colorado, shares her harrowing experience navigating gender ideology’s impact on her daughter. She discusses the alarming rise of rapid onset gender dysphoria, the cult-like mentality surrounding gender identity, and the challenges parents face in protecting their children from school policies and societal pressures. Erin shares practical steps parents can take to protect their children from harmful ideologies and highlights Colorado’s radical laws affecting parental rights and child safety.

Stop Gender Ideology: https://www.stopgenderideology.com/

Art Club Movie: https://www.artclubmovie.com/

Defending Education Files Joint Lawsuit Against Colorado State Over New “Anti-Discrimination” Law: https://defendinged.org/lawsuits/defending-education-files-joint-lawsuit-against-colorado-state-over-new-anti-discrimination-law/

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Freedom to Learn is a production of the Defense of Freedom Institute. You can learn more about DFI at DFIPolicy.org.

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The U.S. House budget reconciliation bill includes a federal tax credit that could make K-12 scholarships available to students in every state across America. Tony de Nicola, Invest in Education chairman, joins the podcast to discuss the Educational Choice for Children Act’s (ECCA) strong support in Congress, the White House, and the public. De Nicola shares his personal education journey and explains why expanding school choice is a national imperative.

Invest in Education Coalition: https://investineducation.org/coalition/

POLL: Americans Strongly Support School Choice: https://investineducation.org/poll-americans-strongly-support-school-choice/

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Freedom to Learn is a production of the Defense of Freedom Institute. You can learn more about DFI at DFIPolicy.org.

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Starlee Coleman, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ new CEO, joins the podcast to celebrate National Charter Schools Week and the 30th anniversary of the federal Charter School Program. Coleman discusses her 25 years of fighting for education freedom, from overhauling over 100 Texas charter regulations to securing bipartisan wins. Get the scoop on federal policy threats, rural charter growth, and the St. Isidore Supreme Court case that could redefine charters.

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Freedom to Learn is a production of the Defense of Freedom Institute. You can learn more about DFI at DFIPolicy.org.

If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a thumbs up, share it, and subscribe for more insights into education law and policy. Thank you for your support!

David Zweig joins Freedom to Learn to discuss his new book, "An Abundance of Caution: American Schools, the Virus, and a Story of Bad Decisions," a piercing exposé of America’s COVID-era school closure debacle. Zweig reveals how media, health “experts,” and teachers unions ignored real-time evidence, amplified fear, and prioritized politics over children, with devastating class-based consequences. His book uncovers the groupthink and failures that prolonged closures and equips readers to spot similar missteps in future crises.

An Abundance of Caution: American Schools, the Virus, and a Story of Bad Decisions: https://www.amazon.com/Abundance-Caution-American-Schools-Decisions/dp/0262549158

How Covid Lies Destroyed Kids’ Lives: https://www.thefp.com/p/david-zweig-covid-lies-school-lockdowns-destroyed-kids-lives

Congressional hearing on the Consequences of School Closures: Intended and Unintended: https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/the-consequences-of-school-closures-intended-and-unintended/

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Freedom to Learn is a production of the Defense of Freedom Institute. You can learn more about DFI at DFIPolicy.org.

If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a thumbs up, share it, and subscribe for more insights into education law and policy. Thank you for your support!

Maine State Representative Laurel Libby joins Freedom to Learn to share the personal and political fallout from her public stand on women’s sports. After posting a photo exposing a biological male’s victory in a girls’ track event, Libby was censured by Maine’s Democratic majority and stripped of her voting rights in the legislature. In this candid conversation, Libby discusses the policy shifts in Maine, the federal legal battles now underway, and her ongoing fight for the rights of girls, women, and parents.

Republican legislator appeals to Supreme Court to end censure over social media post: https://mainemorningstar.com/briefs/republican-legislator-appeals-to-supreme-court-to-end-censure-over-social-media-post/

Attorney General Pamela Bondi Announces Enforcement Actions Against the State of Maine for Violating Title IX: https://www.justice.gov/opa/video/attorney-general-pamela-bondi-announces-enforcement-actions-against-state-maine-violating

U.S. Department of Education Announces Consequences for Maine’s Title IX Noncompliance: https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-consequences-maines-title-ix-noncompliance

🔗 Links & Resources:

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Freedom to Learn is a production of the Defense of Freedom Institute. You can learn more about DFI at DFIPolicy.org.

If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a thumbs up, share it, and subscribe for more insights into education law and policy. Thank you for your support!

When asked, “Should we keep men out of women’s sports?” the vast majority of the American people respond with a resounding “Yes!” May Mailman, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Policy Strategist, joins Freedom to Learn to discuss executive orders related to protecting women's sports and spaces and restoring biological truth. We explore the implications of these orders, public support for reality and common sense, and the federal Title IX investigations into states (including Maine!), school districts, and athletic associations. The discussion highlights the importance of defining sex and the need for legislative, as well as executive action.

This episode was originally released on 2/27/25. Recent developments include:

Video: Attorney General Pamela Bondi Announces Enforcement Actions Against the State of Maine for Violating Title IX

Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Consequences for Maine’s Title IX Noncompliance

Press Release: U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Issues Final Warning Letter to Maine on Title IX Compliance

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If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a thumbs up, share it, and subscribe for more insights into education law and policy. Thank you for your support!

Arizona mother Jenny Clark shares her family's challenging educational journey and how these experiences led her to establish Love Your School, an organization that provides personalized support for parents navigating educational options. Jenny describes how Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) provide families, including families of students with disabilities, with the flexibility to tailor their children’s education to better meet their needs. Jenny shares insights from her experience testifying at a congressional hearing in support of school choice and her hope that the proposed federal Education Choice for Children Act (ECCA) will expand educational options nationwide.

🔗 Links & Resources:

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📩 Contact Us:
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🎧 Thank You for Listening:
Freedom to Learn is a production of the Defense of Freedom Institute. You can learn more about DFI at DFIPolicy.org.

If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a thumbs up, share it, and subscribe for more insights into education law and policy. Thank you for your support!