The Education Truth Project (ETP) is an advocacy organization and political action committee established in 2022 and based in Oakland, New Jersey. It promotes school board candidates and educational policies aligned with teachers’ unions. ^{1 2}

Matthew Kazmierczak, former chief of staff to a New Jersey Assemblyman, leads the organization. ³

Activities

Education Truth Project states that it supplies school board candidates “with the resources and support necessary to combat the toxic candidates and environment created by MAGA movement and fake news organizations.” ⁴ Its media pages feature attacks on teachers whom it claims support book bans ⁵ and on right-of-center nonprofits and politicians. ^{6 7}

ETP characterizes right-of-center stances as “misinformation” by “hate groups.” Left-of-center school board candidates and unionized teachers are praised as “pro-education” and their political stances as “truth.” Included in “truth” are positions not tied to education, such as policies on Ukraine. ^{8 9}

ETP urges the public to engage in political activism. ¹⁰ It promises access to the “full coalition power” of ETP chapters ¹¹ and claims to operate nationwide. ¹² Its New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission filing indicates that 25% of its activity takes place in New Jersey. ¹³

Controversies

Mike Lilley, founder of the right-of-center Sunlight Policy Center of New Jersey, describes Education Truth Project as a “dark money Super PAC” exhibiting “all the hallmarks of a 501(c)(4) political action committee (PAC) that does not have to disclose its donors.” ¹⁴

Legal Status and Financials

ETP describes itself as a 501(c)(4) political action committee (PAC) whose purpose is to “protect public education against national right-wing extremist groups.” ¹⁵

The organization is on file with New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission but has not received approval. ¹⁶ It is registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), making it eligible to operate nationwide. ¹⁷

With two exceptions, its financial activities are undisclosed. ¹⁸ The first is six ActBlue Civics earmarked contributions in the amount of $415 in 2022. ¹⁹ ActBlue Civics funnels donations to left-leaning 501(c)(4) organizations. ²⁰ There is an ETP ActBlue page soliciting contributions. ²¹

The second is funding to the New Jersey Public Education Coalition (NJPEC). ²² NJPEC campaigns for left-of-center curricula in New Jersey public schools. ²³ NJPEC’s home page states that it is “Paid for by Education Truth Project.” Matthew Kazmierczak, ETPs executive director, sits on NJPEC’S advisory board. ²⁴

People

Matthew Kazmierczak is executive director of Education Truth Project. He is a former campaign manager and chief of staff to a state legislator. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Susquehanna University and a master’s degree in public administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. ^{25 26}

1. “Education Truth Project.” Education Truth Project. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.educationtruthproject.org
2. “Education Truth Project.” Facebook. Accessed June 2, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/www.educationtruthproject.org/
3. “Matthew Kazmierczak.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 4, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-kazmierczak-29a9aa8/
4. “FYI: Education Truth Project.” Democratic Underground. Accessed June 2, 2023. https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216745319
5. “Education Truth Project.” Facebook. Accessed June 2, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/www.educationtruthproject.org/
6. “Https://Twitter.Com/Edtruthproject?Lang=en.” Twitter. Accessed June 5, 2023. https://twitter.com/edtruthproject?lang=en
7. “Education Truth Project.” Education Truth Project. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.educationtruthproject.org
8. “Education Truth Project.” Facebook. Accessed June 2, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/www.educationtruthproject.org/
9. “Education Truth Project.” Instagram. Accessed June 3, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/educationtruthproject/
10. “Online Actions.” Ngpvan.com. Accessed June 2, 2023. https://secure.ngpvan.com/User/UnAuthenticated
11. “Education Truth Project.” Education Truth Project. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.educationtruthproject.org
12. “Education Truth Project.” Facebook. Accessed June 2, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/www.educationtruthproject.org/
13. “Search Party or PAC Filing Reports – NJElecEFile.Com.” NJElecEFile.com. Accessed June 4, 2023. https://www.njelecefilesearch.com/SearchPACReports
14. Lilley, Michael. “LILLEY: Is the Education Truth Project a NJEA-funded Dark Money Super PAC?” Sunlight Policy Center of New Jersey. October 5, 2022. Accessed June 3, 2023. https://sunlightpolicynj.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Report-of-Education-Truth-Project-PDF.pdf
15. “Education Truth Project.” Education Truth Project. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.educationtruthproject.org
16. “Search Party or PAC Filing Reports – NJElecEFile.Com.” NJElecEFile.com. Accessed June 4, 2023. https://www.njelecefilesearch.com/SearchPACReports
17. “Form 1 for Education Truth Project.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed June 4, 2023. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00794321/1591096/
18.  “OpenSecrets.” OpenSecrets. Accessed June 4, 2023. https://www.opensecrets.org/
19. “Education Truth Project.” PublicAccountability.org Accessed June 6, 2023. https://publicaccountability.org/dataset-search/#q=Education%20Truth%20Project&year=2022&dataset=63&data=0&page=1&party=1
20. “ActBlue — Billions Raised Online since 2004.” Accessed June 5, 2023. https://secure.actblue.com/
21. ActBlue. “I Just Gave to Education Truth Project!” Accessed June 5, 2023. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/education-truth-project-2
22.  NJPEC. “NJPEC.” Accessed June 4, 2023. https://www.njpecoalition.org
23. Lilley, Michael. “LILLEY: NJEA’s Dark Money and Shadowy Network of Allies Is Trying to Intimidate School Boards.” NJ Education Report. March 9, 2023. Accessed June 3, 2023. https://njedreport.com/opinion/lilley-njeas-dark-money-and-shadowy-network-of-allies-is-trying-to-intimidate-school-boards/
24. NJPEC. “NJPEC.” Accessed June 4, 2023. https://www.njpecoalition.org
25. “Matthew Kazmierczak.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 4, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-kazmierczak-29a9aa8/
26. “Education Truth Project.” Education Truth Project. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.educationtruthproject.org