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Non-profit

National Parents Union

Website:

nationalparentsunion.org
Location:

Woburn, MA
Tax ID:

83-4333274
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $1,481,110
Expenses: $1,578,974
Assets: $180,192
Type:

Non-Profit
Formation:

2020
President:

Keri Rodrigues

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The National Parents Union is an advocacy group created in January 2020 1 that says it represents minority parents, low-income parents, single mothers and fathers, and LGBT parents in K-12 education issues. 2

Co-founder Keri Rodrigues said the National Parents Union is made up of about 500 organizations in all 50 states; Washington, D.C.; and Puerto Rico. 3

Maurice Cunningham, a retired associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, called the National Parents Union a “neo-liberal organization.” 4 The National Parents Union has advocated for the teaching of critical race theory in public schools. 5

Funding and Finances

The National Parents Union received $1.48 million in funding in 2020. 6

The Walton Family Foundation gave the National Parents Union a $500,000 grant and a $700,000 grant in 2021. 7

The Boston Globe reported in 2021 that the National Parents Union receives funding from the “philanthropies that have historically supported school choice, including charters schools and vouchers.” 8

The National Parents Union gave a $5,000 grant to the left-of-center Concerned Citizens For Change, 9 which was formed originally under the name Northwest Bronx for Obama. 10 Concerned Citizens For Change endorsed Bernie Sanders for president in 2016.

Leadership

Rodrigues is the co-founder of the National Parents Union. 11 She started Massachusetts Parents United, the state’s largest parent advocacy group, in 2016. 12 She is an elected member of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, sits on the Executive Committee of the Ethnic Council of the Democratic National Committee, and is on the advisory board of Democrats for Education Reform. 13

Rodrigues also worked for Families for Excellent Schools, which was trying to increase the number of charter schools allowed in Massachusetts. 14 In a 2020 Heartland Institute podcast, Rodrigues described herself as a “former union organizer” 15 with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). 16

Jason Allen is listed as the organizing director of the east region for that National Parents Union. 17 Allen wrote in 2022 that racism was “too embedded in capitalism” and added that capitalism viewed and used Black people as a commodity. 18 He wrote that Black children are “trained early” in public education to accept being labeled low-performing and lower income so that when they enter the workforce they “accept lower offers for compensation.” 20 Rodrigues stated that “teachers unions and their allies” were using the COVID-19 pandemic to try to get statewide assessment testing cancelled, part of the teachers unions’ “longstanding political agenda. 21

Rodrigues wrote that teachers’ unions do not speak for families and represent their own separate interests. 22

Support of Critical Race Theory

The National Parents Union stated in an article in Ed Post in May 2021 that it strongly opposed “the political and social movement that seeks to eliminate critical race theory from public education.” 23

The National Parents Union stated that “our country is sick” and “we stand on stolen land” and that “critical race theory is a truth that many want to deny.” 24

Support of Crown Act

There has been national legislation and state-level legislation to ban discrimination based on hair styles. The legislation is called Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, or The Crown Act. 25

The National Parents Union is supportive of legislation that prohibits discrimination based on hair style. 26

Opposition to Parents Bill of Rights Act

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) introduced in March 2023 the H.R. 5 which was called The Parents Bill of Rights Act. 27 The bill would require school districts to make curriculums public and provide parents with a list of books and reading materials available in the school library and parents must consent before any medical exams take place at the school. 28

The National Parents Union called the legislation “jarringly disgraceful” and said it would ban books and out transgender students without their consent. The National Parents Union said the legislation was “unconscionably wrong.” 29

References

  1. National Parents Union. “Denying Critical Race Theory Is Denying Our History: Statement From The Delegates And Staff Of The National Parents Union”; Ed Post. May 21, 2021. Accessed April 2, 2023. https://www.edpost.com/stories/denying-critical-race-theory-is-denying-our-history-statement-from-the-delegates-and-staff-of-the-national-parents-union
  2. National Parents Union. Bill Of Rights. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://nationalparentsunion.org/npu-bill-of-rights/
  3. Vela Education Fund video. “When Schools Mirrors Communities – Education Options That Meet Families’ Needs”; March 15, 2021. Accessed April 2, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLzX3Ovk0XM&t=35s
  4.  Maurice Cunningham. “Merchants Of Deception: Parent Props And Their Funders”; Network For Public Education. February 2023. Accessed April 2, 2023. https://networkforpubliceducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Merchants-of-Deception.pdf
  5. National Parents Union. “Denying Critical Race Theory Is Denying Our History: Statement From The Delegates And Staff Of The National Parents Union”; EdPost. May 21, 2021. Accessed April 2, 2023. https://www.edpost.com/stories/denying-critical-race-theory-is-denying-our-history-statement-from-the-delegates-and-staff-of-the-national-parents-union
  6.  National Parents Union. Form 990. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/834333274
  7. Walton Family Foundation. Grants Database. Accessed April 5, 2023. https://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/grants-database?q=National+Parents+Union&s=1
  8. Amy Crawford. “Do-It-Yourself Education Is On The Rise”; Boston Globe. Dec. 26, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/794684424/?terms=%22national%20parents%20union%22
  9. National Parents Union. 2022 EPIC Grant Winners. Accessed April 2, 2023. https://epic.nationalparentsunion.org/2022-epic-grant-winners/
  10. Action Network. Concerned Citizens For Change. Accessed April 2, 2023. https://actionnetwork.org/groups/concerned-citizens-for-change
  11. National Parents Union. “Denying Critical Race Theory Is Denying Our History: Statement From The Delegates And Staff Of The National Parents Union”; EdPost. May 21, 2021. Accessed April 2, 2023. https://www.edpost.com/stories/denying-critical-race-theory-is-denying-our-history-statement-from-the-delegates-and-staff-of-the-national-parents-union
  12. National Parents Union. About Us. Leadership. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://nationalparentsunion.org/about/leadership/
  13. National Parents Union. About Us. Leadership. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://nationalparentsunion.org/about/leadership/
  14. Rebecca Klein. “The Other Angry Parents: What A New ‘Parents Union’ Is Demanding (It Has Nothing To Do With CTR)”; The Hechinger Report. Jan. 15, 2022. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://hechingerreport.org/the-other-angry-parents-what-a-new-parents-union-is-demanding-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-crt/
  15. The Heartland Institute School Reform News podcast. “National Parents Union: Connecting And Supporting Parents”; Jan. 28, 2020. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://heartland.org/podcasts/national-parents-union-connecting-and-supporting-parents-guests-keri-rodrigues-and-alma-marquez/
  16. Rebecca Klein. “The Other Angry Parents: What A New ‘Parents Union’ Is Demanding (It Has Nothing To Do With CTR)”; The Hechinger Report. Jan. 15, 2022. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://hechingerreport.org/the-other-angry-parents-what-a-new-parents-union-is-demanding-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-crt/
  17. National Parents Union. Our Staff. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://nationalparentsunion.org/about/staff/
  18. Jason Allen. “Black Kids Don’t Want A White Savior In Public Schools, They Want A Good Education”. EdLanta. Feb. 28, 2022. Accessed March 3, 2023. https://edlanta.org/2022/02/black-kids-dont-want-a-white-savior-in-public-schools-they-want-a-good-education/
  20. Jason Allen. “Black Kids Don’t Want A White Savior In Public Schools, They Want A Good Education”. EdLanta. Feb. 28, 2022. Accessed March 3, 2023. https://edlanta.org/2022/02/black-kids-dont-want-a-white-savior-in-public-schools-they-want-a-good-education/[/note

    Advocacy

    Criticism of Teachers Unions

    Rodrigues wrote a letter-to-the-editor that was published April 11, 2020 in which she criticized teachers union activities. 19 Keri Rodrigues Letter-To-The-Editor. “Unions Were Trying To Capitalize On A Crisis” Boston Globe. April 11, 2020. https://www.newspapers.com/image/654777662/?terms=%22National%20Parents%20Union%22%20&match=1

  21. Keri Rodrigues Letter-To-The-Editor. “Unions Were Trying To Capitalize On A Crisis” Boston Globe. April 11, 2020. https://www.newspapers.com/image/654777662/?terms=%22National%20Parents%20Union%22%20&match=1
  22. Rebecca Klein. “The Other Angry Parents: What A New ‘Parents Union’ Is Demanding (It Has Nothing To Do With CTR)”; The Hechinger Report. Jan. 15, 2022. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://hechingerreport.org/the-other-angry-parents-what-a-new-parents-union-is-demanding-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-crt/
  23. National Parents Union. “Denying Critical Race Theory Is Denying Our History: Statement From The Delegates And Staff Of The National Parents Union”; Ed Post. May 21, 2021. Accessed April 2, 2023. https://www.edpost.com/stories/denying-critical-race-theory-is-denying-our-history-statement-from-the-delegates-and-staff-of-the-national-parents-union
  24. National Parents Union. “Denying Critical Race Theory Is Denying Our History: Statement From The Delegates And Staff Of The National Parents Union”; Ed Post. May 21, 2021. Accessed April 2, 2023. https://www.edpost.com/stories/denying-critical-race-theory-is-denying-our-history-statement-from-the-delegates-and-staff-of-the-national-parents-union
  25. Emily Tannenbaum. “Here’s Every State That Has Passed The Crown Act”; Glamour. July 27, 2022. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.glamour.com/story/the-crown-act-banning-hair-discrimination
  26. National Parents Union. “Tell Your Senators To Pass The Crown Act”; Accessed March 29, 2023. https://nationalparentsunion.org/the-crown-act/
  27. Congresswoman Julia Letlow House of Representatives. “Letlow Reintroduces Parents Bill Of Rights”; March 1, 2023. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://letlow.house.gov/media/press-releases/letlow-reintroduces-parents-bill-rights
  28. Congresswoman Julia Letlow House of Representatives. “Letlow Reintroduces Parents Bill Of Rights”; March 1, 2023. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://letlow.house.gov/media/press-releases/letlow-reintroduces-parents-bill-rights
  29. National Parents Union. “The National Parents Union Issues A Statement Following The Passage Of H.R. 5, The Parents Bill Of Rights”; March 24, 2023. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://nationalparentsunion.org/2023/03/24/release-the-national-parents-union-issues-statement-following-the-passage-of-h-r-5-the-parents-bill-of-rights-act/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: March 1, 2020

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form 990 $1,481,110 $1,578,974 $180,192 $278,056 N $1,481,110 $0 $0 $236,538

    National Parents Union


    Woburn, MA