As a new school year begins, parents are being reminded that the papers sent home in the first week of class are far more than routine forms. From permission slips to technology agreements, many schools are increasingly using opt-out policies that automatically enroll students unless a parent actively declines. That means a missed signature or overlooked deadline can result in children taking part in controversial surveys, lessons, or tests without families even realizing it.

Education advocates say the start of the year is the most important time for parents to slow down and carefully read every document. Experts recommend a few key steps: check for vague language, ask questions if terms are unclear, keep a copy of every form you return, and know your state’s rules on parental consent. Some districts have been criticized for blurring the lines between “opt-in” and “opt-out,” leaving parents frustrated when they later discover their children were automatically included.

I walked away from corporate-controlled media because as a parent I want what’s best for our kids, and I refuse to be told what stories I can and cannot cover. All of my content is free and you can sign up now to stay in the know with my exclusive stories, and if you want to go further, you can become a paid supporter to my work. Click red button below.

 

Become a Supporter

 

Survey Sparks Complaints in Massachusetts

In Burlington, parents were outraged this spring when middle school students were given the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The survey included explicit questions about sex, drug use, and gender identity. Some families had filed opt-out forms, but their children were still required to take the survey, and teachers allegedly failed to note that participation was voluntary. Parents filed complaints under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), which requires parental consent for surveys involving sensitive topics. In response, Burlington schools suspended future surveys and began a policy review

Supreme Court Sides With Parents on LGBTQ-Themed Books

On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, who objected on religious grounds to lessons featuring LGBTQ-themed children’s books. The 6–3 decision held that families must be given advance notice and the ability to opt out of such material, citing constitutional protections for religious liberty. The case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, is expected to shape parental rights battles across the country.

Testing Opt-Out Fight in Texas

In Texas, parents continue to push back against mandatory participation in the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exams. Some Houston families reported that students who opted out were still presented with exams during make-up testing sessions, sparking frustration and formal grievances. The Texas Education Agency requires schools to hit a 95 percent participation rate to meet federal rules, but parents argue that the pressure undermines their rights.

Why It Matters

Advocates say these incidents underscore the importance of parental vigilance. An unchecked box, a misunderstood signature, or an unsigned paper can carry significant consequences.

“Parents need to be vigilant,” said Karen England, a parental rights advocate. “If you do not know what you are signing, you could unintentionally give permission for things you never would have agreed to.”

With the school year underway, experts stress that parents should treat permission slips and agreements with the same seriousness as legal documents. In today’s classrooms, awareness is just as important as backpacks and pencils.

Welcome! I rely on paid subscribers to support this work. For less than $1 a week, you’ll get exclusive content plus access to my live Keeping It Real After Hours show with my wife and me every Saturday night. Click the red button below to upgrade your subscription.

Become a Supporter

 

 

Michigan welfare fraud doubled from 2023-2024

Reported food stamp fraud and other welfare fraud in Michigan more than doubled from 2023 to 2024, according to the Michigan State Police Crime Dashboard and information obtained through open records requests.

Criminals steal from a $254 million monthly fund that is given to 1.4 million residents using outdated magnetic strip cards that can be subverted in a variety of ways.

Criminals can install fake versions of card readers that process payment cards, such as debit and credit cards, at gas stations, grocery stores and liquor stores.

In 2023, there were 351 crimes, 332 victims, 351 offenses and 345 incidents of welfare fraud throughout Michigan, according to the state police. The number of reported crimes more than doubled in 2024, with roughly 733 crimes, 703 victims, 733 offenses and 720 incidents. These statistics encompass all law enforcement agencies throughout Michigan, not just the state police. Click here to read more.

 

Tax Foundation study shows avg $3,151 tax cut for Michiganders after One Big Beautiful Bill

A new analysis from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation projects Michigan taxpayers would see significant savings and job growth under President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping tax cut package the White House calls the largest middle-class tax cut in U.S. history.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said the study “confirms” the bill’s nationwide benefits. “President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is the largest, most consequential tax cut on the middle class ever,” Kelly said. “Their study found that the Big Beautiful Bill will reduce federal taxes for taxpayers in every state. In Michigan, Michiganders will save $3,151 on average and see 23,357 jobs added statewide.”

The Tax Foundation’s report estimates that, in 2026, the average Michigan taxpayer would see a $3,151 tax cut. Click here to read more.

 

Illegal Given Commercial Driver’s License By California’s Newsom Charged In Fatal Semi Truck

An illegal immigrant who the State of California reportedly granted a commercial driver’s license allegedly made an illegal U-turn and killed three people at an “Official Use Only” turn on the Florida Turnpike.

On August 12, just south of the St. Lucie County north border in southern Florida, a collision occurred when a semi tractor-trailer made an unauthorized U-turn. The crash with an oncoming black 2015 Chrysler Town & Country van killed all three occupants, “a 30-year-old Florida City man, a 37-year-old Pompano Beach woman and a 54-year-old Miami man,” according to TC Palm. Click here to read more.

 

ICE Rescues 27, Including 10 Children, From Human-Trafficking Ring

Immigration enforcement authorities rescued 27 human-trafficking victims in Nebraska last week. Among the victims Immigration and Customs Enforcement rescued were 10 children under the age of 12, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

“Our brave ICE law enforcement rescued these children and women, who were being sexually exploited and trafficked,” said Tricia McLaughlin, assistant DHS secretary.

The human-trafficking ring was being run by illegal aliens, according to the DHS.

President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristin Noem “will not allow children and women to be victims of these heinous human-trafficking rings,” McLaughlin said. “Our message to human traffickers is clear: We will dismantle your networks, and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. That’s a promise.” Click here to read more.

 

Back to school in Chicago: fewer than 1-in-3 students read at grade level

Students are returning to Chicago Public Schools on Aug 18 Many will return to see empty seats around them.

But for the hundreds of thousands of students enrolled in Chicago’s schools, there is a lot of room for improvement in the new school year.

The most recent teset scores for Chicago Public Schools show fewer than 1-in-3 students could read at grade level. Fewer than 1-in-5 could do math at grade level.

Each year the district gets more money to educate fewer, and proficiency is still far behind where it should be compared to spending.

It doesn’t help when newest data shows 41% of students were chronically absent in CPS. Absenteeism has continued to hover well above the pre-pandemic rate of 24% in 2019. Chicago schools continue to struggle to engage students, especially low-income and minority students. Click here to read more.

Welcome! I rely on paid subscribers to support this work. For less than $1 a week, you’ll get exclusive content plus access to my live Keeping It Real After Hours show with my wife and me every Saturday night. Click the red button below to upgrade your subscription.

Become a Supporter

 

 

Michigan welfare fraud doubled from 2023-2024

Reported food stamp fraud and other welfare fraud in Michigan more than doubled from 2023 to 2024, according to the Michigan State Police Crime Dashboard and information obtained through open records requests.

Criminals steal from a $254 million monthly fund that is given to 1.4 million residents using outdated magnetic strip cards that can be subverted in a variety of ways.

Criminals can install fake versions of card readers that process payment cards, such as debit and credit cards, at gas stations, grocery stores and liquor stores.

In 2023, there were 351 crimes, 332 victims, 351 offenses and 345 incidents of welfare fraud throughout Michigan, according to the state police. The number of reported crimes more than doubled in 2024, with roughly 733 crimes, 703 victims, 733 offenses and 720 incidents. These statistics encompass all law enforcement agencies throughout Michigan, not just the state police. Click here to read more.

 

Tax Foundation study shows avg $3,151 tax cut for Michiganders after One Big Beautiful Bill

A new analysis from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation projects Michigan taxpayers would see significant savings and job growth under President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping tax cut package the White House calls the largest middle-class tax cut in U.S. history.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said the study “confirms” the bill’s nationwide benefits. “President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is the largest, most consequential tax cut on the middle class ever,” Kelly said. “Their study found that the Big Beautiful Bill will reduce federal taxes for taxpayers in every state. In Michigan, Michiganders will save $3,151 on average and see 23,357 jobs added statewide.”

The Tax Foundation’s report estimates that, in 2026, the average Michigan taxpayer would see a $3,151 tax cut. Click here to read more.

 

Illegal Given Commercial Driver’s License By California’s Newsom Charged In Fatal Semi Truck

An illegal immigrant who the State of California reportedly granted a commercial driver’s license allegedly made an illegal U-turn and killed three people at an “Official Use Only” turn on the Florida Turnpike.

On August 12, just south of the St. Lucie County north border in southern Florida, a collision occurred when a semi tractor-trailer made an unauthorized U-turn. The crash with an oncoming black 2015 Chrysler Town & Country van killed all three occupants, “a 30-year-old Florida City man, a 37-year-old Pompano Beach woman and a 54-year-old Miami man,” according to TC Palm. Click here to read more.

 

ICE Rescues 27, Including 10 Children, From Human-Trafficking Ring

Immigration enforcement authorities rescued 27 human-trafficking victims in Nebraska last week. Among the victims Immigration and Customs Enforcement rescued were 10 children under the age of 12, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

“Our brave ICE law enforcement rescued these children and women, who were being sexually exploited and trafficked,” said Tricia McLaughlin, assistant DHS secretary.

The human-trafficking ring was being run by illegal aliens, according to the DHS.

President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristin Noem “will not allow children and women to be victims of these heinous human-trafficking rings,” McLaughlin said. “Our message to human traffickers is clear: We will dismantle your networks, and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. That’s a promise.” Click here to read more.

 

Back to school in Chicago: fewer than 1-in-3 students read at grade level

Students are returning to Chicago Public Schools on Aug 18 Many will return to see empty seats around them.

But for the hundreds of thousands of students enrolled in Chicago’s schools, there is a lot of room for improvement in the new school year.

The most recent teset scores for Chicago Public Schools show fewer than 1-in-3 students could read at grade level. Fewer than 1-in-5 could do math at grade level.

Each year the district gets more money to educate fewer, and proficiency is still far behind where it should be compared to spending.

It doesn’t help when newest data shows 41% of students were chronically absent in CPS. Absenteeism has continued to hover well above the pre-pandemic rate of 24% in 2019. Chicago schools continue to struggle to engage students, especially low-income and minority students. Click here to read more.