SGLF, N2 America Continue Six-Figure “Let Kids Learn” Ad Campaign In New Jersey and Virginia

New Spot Emphasizes Irreparable Harm Done by Democrats and Urges Them To Open Schools Now

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The State Government Leadership Foundation (SGLF) and N2 America are continuing their six-figure “Let Kids Learn” ad campaign today, releasing a second spot urging Democrats to immediately open schools for in-person learning five days a week. The new 30-second ad will run on digital platforms in New Jersey and Virginia, and emphasizes the irreparable academic and emotional harm that Democrats and teachers unions have done to students across the country, while also noting that conservative-led states have kids back in the classroom.

The groups began their joint ad campaign in mid-February in response to the refusal of union-controlled politicians to follow the recommendations of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Centers for Disease Control, and the broad consensus of experts who said it’s safe to reopen America’s schools. Since the first ad of the campaign, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has refused to commit to reopen all schools for the 2021-2022 academic year.

“Democrats have repeatedly refused to follow the science and open schools for in-person learning five days a week,” said SGLF Executive Director Dee Duncan. “The evidence is clear — school closures are resulting in decreased academic achievement, a lack of physical activity, and increasing mental health issues. It’s past time that liberals draw on the example of conservative states across the country, stop blocking schools from reopening, and give our children their futures back.”

N2 America Co-Founder Liesl Hickey added, “The school debate has exposed the unions for what they are most interested in: power and control. Not kids. Not education. Parents have felt this impact directly and they know where the blame lies. Joe Biden and national and state Democrats failed their leadership test and revealed their true priorities when they choose the unions over science. The unions over kids.”

Click HERE to watch “Irreparable.”

TRANSCRIPT

How is it possible that some kids haven’t seen the inside of a classroom in over a year, while other school districts have opened safely?

Democrats and leftist teachers unions have ignored the science and the kids, keeping schools closed.

And while students in conservative states are thriving, students in liberal states will continue to suffer irreparable academic and emotional harm.

Democrats and unions have kept students out of school long enough.

Fully reopen schools now. 

BACKGROUND

While Democrats and unions in both New Jersey and Virginia have opposed opening schools, conservatives in both states have been fighting to do so.

New Jersey 

• State Democrats in New Jersey have refused to take legislative action to reopen schools.
• Teachers unions in New Jersey have opposed plans to reopen schools.
• The New York Times reports that, “one in four children still live in a district where public schools are closed. No state in the Northeast had more districts relying on all-virtual teaching in early March than New Jersey”
• New Jerseyans are so desperate to get children back in school that parents have sued multiple districts in the state for refusing to reopen.

Virginia

• House Democrats opposed adding an emergency clause to school reopening legislation that would have made the measure effective immediately.
  • The legislation will now not go into effect until July 1. 
• The Democrats’ refusal to immediately open schools came after the National Review reported that teachers unions in the state “engaged in an intense behind-the-scenes pressure campaign to influence Democratic state lawmakers over the reopening issue.”

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