“Whole Schools” Weaken Families: An Open Letter to the AZ Dept. of Education
An urgent alert to the AZ Department of Education, and to all parents and grandparents of kids in public schools:
Arizona Women of Action represents thousands of families across the state, promoting strong families and thriving kids--especially in education. More parents are alarmed to learn the insidiousness of the education model called, “Whole/Community Schools”.
Though the general idea sounds positive, a closer look shows the ‘Community School’ approach is systemically bad for families. It is our hope that by informing ADE and AZ citizens about Community Schools, the department will investigate Arizona’s current position, and with the support of the public, change course to ensure that this model be dismantled to stop further weakening of the families in Arizona’s public schools.
The well-being of our children and their education are of utmost importance. Top education researchers, and our own researcher, Adrienne Johnson, are sounding the alarm about the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model (AKA Community School). This ‘education’ model comes from the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
A quick search on the site shows how the CDC, along with Medicaid, is encouraging schools to have medical, mental health, and dental clinics on campus with an increase in counselors and social workers, as well as a focus on social emotional learning. Schools would now have a concentration on anything related to health--mental health, safety, trauma, self-harm, and suicide.
For example, Portrait of a Graduate, as seen in Mesa Public School District, is a community school approach, and the AZ School Counselors Association is promoting more school counselors who are often not board certified. This would increase the state’s control over our children, taking it away from their parents, families, and loved ones. WSCC inevitably leads to interventions without parental knowledge and or without parental presence.
Many entities across the country are lauding the AZ Department of Education’s public statement that Superintendent Horne’s office will be investigating WSCC.
AZWOA would now like to offer knowledge on the topic, provide the ADE with direction, and connect the office with those who have been exposing the dangers of WSCC.
The foremost expert on the Community School model is Kelly Schenkoske; she is willing to come to AZ and/or speak with AZ legislators and Superintendent Horne virtually to explain WSCC. Please view this WSCC video from Ms. Schenkoske’s post for a quick understanding of what the CDC proposes.
Here's the CDC's Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child "WSCC" model in AZ
The Medicaid model can be seen here.
Further research has uncovered the contract ADE has with Public Consulting Group, (along with Medicaid), which has a troubling ‘equity’ based model.
The AZ Health Improvement Plan of 2021-2025 is also of great concern.
There are other AZ child advocacy entities that are aware of the CDC's Community School model and are working to expose and eliminate it. Arizona Women of Action hopes the AZ Department of Education, under Superintendent Horne, will seriously examine the insidious nature of WSCC and do all it can to prevent its encroachment—particularly in the wave of additional counselors/social workers and health practices on campus. The ADE should also reconsider contracts with Medicaid and Public Consulting Group.
Lastly, the NEA, Secretary Cardona, and the Biden Administration's full press of community schools should connect the dots to resulting government control. Further articles and data:
Biden Expands ObamaCare For Mental Health Services at Schools to Psychoanalyze Children 0 to 21
While Community Schools may seem benign and convenient for parents, the obvious result is that WSCC will further separate children from their families, decrease parental rights and control, and inevitably position the state to officially share in the role of parenting children.
We thank Superintendent Horne for his commitment to supporting strong academics and parental rights. AZWOA is confident that this issue will be managed well, ensuring that children are well-protected from community school models in Arizona. We look forward to hearing from the department and being of assistance in any way we can.
We advise parents to voice their concerns about Community Schools with the AZ Department of Education through The Empower Hotline at empower@azed.gov or 602-771-3500.
Current public-school parents: To ensure your school protects your legal rights and the safety of your kids, print two copies of this Notice of Non-Consent to Healthcare, sign and date, and hand to your school nurse and principal’s office.