What happens when parents finally get a firsthand look at what their children are being taught in school?

On this episode of the Washington Signal Lunch Hour Podcast, host Andrew Langer sits down with Nicole Neily, President and Founder of Defending Education, a national organization focused on parental rights, academic transparency, and accountability in K-12 and higher education. Prior to founding Defending Education, Neily also founded Speech First, a leading campus free speech organization that challenged First Amendment violations at public universities.

Drawing on years of work in education policy and civil liberties, Neily discusses how COVID-era school closures transformed the national debate over education and why parental involvement has become one of the defining policy issues of the past decade.

The conversation covers:

• The rise of the parental rights movement
• COVID-19 and the public’s renewed focus on education
• The history and role of the U.S. Department of Education
• Teachers unions and their influence on public policy
• School choice and educational competition
• DEI programs in K-12 and higher education
• Campus free speech and Speech First’s legal battles
• Accreditation agencies and higher education reform
• The future of colleges and universities amid declining enrollment
• Parental notification policies and transparency in schools
• State-level education reforms and the role of federalism

Neily also explains the origins of Defending Education, how the organization investigates school policies and curricula, and why she believes many parents have become more engaged in education than ever before.

The discussion explores broader questions about accountability, educational outcomes, bureaucratic growth, and whether America’s education system is preparing students for future success.

Throughout the episode, Neily argues that meaningful reform will require greater transparency, stronger parental involvement, and a renewed focus on academic achievement rather than ideological activism.

00:00 — Intro + Nicole Neily joins
01:00 — Why education became a national issue
03:05 — How America’s education system changed
06:06 — Declining academic standards and outcomes
07:25 — Schools of education and ideological influence
10:33 — Founding Defending Education
13:13 — COVID, parents, and public awareness
17:24 — Teachers unions and political influence
19:30 — School choice and education reform
23:20 — Why some states are improving outcomes
26:00 — Trump administration education reforms
29:31 — Accreditation and higher education
34:25 — Campus free speech and Speech First
37:25 — Current battles in K-12 education
40:08 — Travel, family, and personal interests
40:36 — Where to learn more about Defending Education
41:12 — Closing thoughts

Follow us on social media

X: @TheLunchHourPod

Instagram: the_lunchhour_pod

LinkedIn: Lunch Hour Podcast

TikTok: lunchhourpod

Find more at Washington Signal

Your source for policy, national security, and investigative journalism.

https://washingtonsignal.com/