A conservative public education advocate is raising money to bankroll the campaigns of conservative school board candidates in Missouri and throughout the U.S.
Andy Wells, state director of no Left Turn in Education, launched American Education, a 501(c)4, last month.
“We want to stop all of this craziness happening in school and get back to educating our kids,” he said. “When almost a quarter percent of our high school graduates are functionally illiterate, we have a problem and that's nationally.”
Wells wants to improve the education students receive throughout the U.S.
"Most of the parents' organizations are absolutely on board," he said. "That's what they've been fighting for the last two years is to get not just legislation that supports them, but also get school board members elected that support them."
American Education’s board is made up of professionals from Missouri, Georgia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
“These are all extremely well-educated, credentialed people,” Wells told the St. Louis Record. “We have a lawyer, and two doctorates in education. We made sure that this board is a legitimate board of credentialed people who understand education and also understand the laws.”
Other states that American Education is already working with include the states of Delaware, Wyoming, Kentucky, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio.
“Our goal is to be able to help those smaller rural candidates with direct financial backing,” Wells said in an interview. “I’ve contacted philanthropists across the state and philanthropic organizations. I've already got some commitments.”
Although the election is not until April, Wells has already begun promoting local candidates.
“The Missouri money goes towards the Missouri candidates,” he said. “Some organizations are putting outside interest money into elections. I want Missouri people who are donating to know that they are donating to Missouri candidates. I don't believe that the out-of-state money belongs in our elections in Missouri.”
To start, Wells has targeted 10 Missouri suburban school districts in the state.
“These are some of the bigger school districts in the state and with some of the bigger school districts, the cost of the campaigns go up,” he said.
The Missouri State Division President of American Education is Jennifer Rosebach who will be vetting candidates who are generally parents. An endorsement from American Education, however, will depend upon funding and how much direct or indirect support Wells is able to secure.
“Between myself and the Missouri division president, we've vetted close to one hundred candidates so far,” Wells added. “We've already been talking with parent organizations. We want to work with these parent organizations across the state in these school districts. Just about every school district in the state either has a formal or informal parent organization working with them right now.”