The Education Department launched the controversial National Parents and Families Engagement Council in June 2022 to provide “a channel for parents and families to constructively participate in their children’s education,” according to a now-deleted page from the department’s website.
The council’s goal was to hold meetings to discuss “the different ways schools are providing academic, mental health and social and emotional support, and how families can best constructively engage with schools.”
Organizations on the council included Al Sharpton’s National Action Network and Black Lives Matter supports such as Mocha Moms Inc., United Parent Leaders Action Network, and UnidosUS.
Parental rights groups, including Fight for School, Parents Defending Education, and America First Legal, filed a joint lawsuit against the Education Department in July and accused the council of being politically biased and violating several provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
The groups alleged that the council members disproportionately supported the Biden administration and that nearly 80% of their leaders donated to Democrats.
Court documents filed Monday revealed that the Education Department agreed to “immediately and permanently” dissolve the council, and consequently, the parental rights groups agreed to dismiss their lawsuit without prejudice.