5 notable provisions in the 2024 Republican Party Platform

4. Includes support for parental rights in education

This year’s platform includes multiple small provisions related to the issue of parental rights in education. Although light on specifics, the document contains a vow to “restore Parental Rights in Education, and enforce our Civil Rights Laws to stop schools from discriminating on the basis of Race.” 

The platform also expresses support for efforts to overhaul public school curriculum: “Republicans will ensure children are taught fundamentals like Reading, History, Science, and Math, not Leftwing propaganda. We will defund schools that engage in inappropriate indoctrination of our children using Federal Taxpayer Dollars.” 

At the same time, the platform calls for schools to embrace a “Fair and Patriotic Civics Education,” adding, “We will support schools that teach America’s Founding Principles and Western Civilization.” The document also signals support for universal school choice as well as the “First Amendment Right to Pray and Read the Bible in school.” 

The platform’s commitment to parental rights in education comes as concerns about the embrace of LGBT ideology and other progressive ideologies in public schools have led to increased awareness about parental rights. Several advocacy organizations have popped up, including the 1776 Project PAC, which has endorsed school board candidates explicitly opposed to such ideologies and has achieved mixed success in securing seats on school boards across the U.S.