When a Rhode Island teacher made headlines for publishing videos celebrating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, one local mom understandably wanted to know what he was teaching behind his closed classroom doors. Instead of giving answers, Barrington Public Schools gave that mom a bill for more than $117,000!
Public records aren’t really public at all if the cost to obtain them is more than a luxury car or a downpayment on a house. That’s why a lawyer with the Goldwater Institute’s pro-bono American Freedom Network sent a letter to the district demanding that it either drastically reduce its cost estimate or, considering the public interest, simply make the records free.
To produce the records for just this one teacher, the district says it will take more than 7,700 hours—that’s the equivalent of 320 days of continuous work at 24 hours a day! But as our client Nicole Solas notes, “those materials are already paid for by the taxpayer.” She’s right, and the Goldwater Institute will always fight to ensure parents aren’t priced out of knowing what’s happening in their kids’ classrooms.
Regarding a parent’s right to know, Kari Cochran had important questions—and plenty of criticism—for leaders of her Wyoming school district after her teenage son’s suicide. But instead of getting answers, two district leaders lodged bogus allegations of stalking against Kari and dragged her into court in an effort to silence her.
That’s when the Goldwater Institute and a lawyer with its American Freedom Network came to her defense. In a victory for free speech, they helped get both lawsuits dismissed. Kari made no threats or obscene comments. And as a judge noted, the job performance of school leaders is “subject to public scrutiny … discussion and input whether complimentary or critical.”
Kari’s case serves as a perfect example of why Wyoming—and many other states—must do more to protect citizens from this kind of legal retaliation for simply engaging in public and political advocacy.
Expanding school choice, dismantling discriminatory DEI mandates, standing up for health-care freedom—for decades now the Goldwater Institute has championed these issues and many more in our never-ending effort to protect liberty and empower individuals. Now, we’re proud to release The Freedom Agenda: Goldwater’s State Policy Handbook.
The handbook not only outlines Goldwater’s priorities for the years ahead, it also provides proven policy solutions and model legislation that state leaders can put into action to help restore constitutional limits on government and protect economic liberty and education and health freedom.
The Goldwater Institute has achieved 49 legislative victories so far this year—success comes through collaboration and partnerships with dedicated think tanks, activists, and lawmakers around the country. The Freedom Agenda handbook will help us to continue working together to build a future where freedom flourishes.
