School admins admit using Newsela to bypass CRT bans.
EXCLUSIVE: Undercover Footage Reveals School Administrators Using Newsela to Circumvent Critical Race Theory Bans
A conservative journalism organization that employs undercover tactics has uncovered a shocking revelation: public school administrators across the country are admitting to using Newsela, a curriculum service, to bypass state bans on critical race theory.
In a video shared exclusively with the Washington Examiner, Accuracy in Media captured several administrators from different school districts openly discussing their use of Newsela to incorporate critical race theory concepts into their classrooms.
Investigating Critical Race Theory Bans
The investigations conducted by Accuracy in Media focused primarily on how school administrators were navigating the bans on critical race theory in various states. States such as Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Idaho have all prohibited the teaching of critical race theory in public schools. This theory, which originated in law schools, asserts that U.S. institutions and culture are inherently racist and oppressive towards racial minorities.
Adam Guillette, the president of Accuracy in Media, revealed in an interview with the Washington Examiner that a common pattern emerged during their undercover investigations. School administrators repeatedly mentioned Newsela as a means for teachers to introduce critical race theory ideas into the classroom, even in states where it is prohibited.
“What we’ve learned firsthand from administrators around the country is that if they’re in a state where they’re not allowed to teach the 1619 Project, they simply get the Newsela version of it… and parents are none the wiser,” Guillette explained.
Guillette went on to describe Newsela as a “Trojan horse” that advances the radical principles associated with critical race theory. He pointed out the company’s partnerships with organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center and the New York Times, which published the controversial 1619 Project, arguing that the true founding of the United States occurred in 1619 with the arrival of African slaves.
Newsela: Adapting Content for Engaging Learning
According to its website, Newsela takes authentic content from trusted sources, primarily news articles and written materials, and adapts them to different reading levels for students. The company prides itself on providing challenging yet supportive material for every learner. With over 40 million registered students, Newsela has become a popular resource for teachers.
“Teachers love that Newsela helps them create more engaging lessons that meet students where they are, and administrators love having the assurance that every content choice teachers make is vetted, aligned to standards, and contributing to learning,” the company states on its website.
In one revealing clip from the Accuracy in Media videos, an administrator from an Indiana school district acknowledged Newsela’s partnerships with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Howard Zinn Education Project, admitting that “our teachers know that but they’re not saying that out loud.” Another administrator from an Iowa district mentioned using Newsela as a covert method to incorporate critical race theory without detection.
Newsela lists numerous partners on its website, including renowned news outlets like the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Associated Press, and the Guardian. Additionally, organizations such as Human Rights Watch, the Smithsonian Institution, the Council for Economic Education, the White House Historical Association, and Voices of a People’s History contribute texts that Newsela adapts.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
While the Southern Poverty Law Center is not currently listed as a partner on Newsela’s website, a 2021 blog post from the company acknowledged the center’s Teaching Tolerance initiative as a past partner involved in creating anti-bias and anti-racism lessons. Teaching Tolerance has since been renamed to Learning for Justice. Newsela also promoted the 1619 Project on social media in 2020.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Newsela for comment regarding their partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center and whether they provide materials like the 1619 Project to school districts in states that have banned critical race theory. However, the company did not respond to the inquiry.
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