{"id":2667351,"date":"2026-09-22T08:50:58","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T12:50:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignmeet-the-lawyer-helping-the-education-dept-fight-for-parental-rights\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T08:59:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T12:59:40","slug":"utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignmeet-the-lawyer-helping-the-education-dept-fight-for-parental-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignmeet-the-lawyer-helping-the-education-dept-fight-for-parental-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lawyer Helping The Education Dept Fight For Parental Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Futm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignmeet-the-lawyer-helping-the-education-dept-fight-for-parental-rights%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2667351&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the problematic history of the U.S. department of Education, highlighting decades of alleged wrongdoings, increased radical ideology, and foreign influence impacting public schools. It emphasizes the importance of strategic appointments like Ernie Trakas as senior civil rights lawyer, whose extensive experience in parental rights advocacy and litigation-particularly relating to issues such as gender policies, student safety, and Title IX enforcement-aims to reform and restore protections within the education system. The piece notes ongoing legislative efforts, court rulings, and investigative challenges related to controversial topics like transgender policies, sex abuse, and curriculum oversight, while also criticizing efforts to maintain secrecy and bypass restrictions. Trakas\u2019s role during this tumultuous period is portrayed as vital for advocating parental authority, safeguarding children\u2019s rights, and pushing back against radical indoctrination and suppression of free speech in schools. the article underscores a meaningful push for reforms to counteract systemic issues and uphold basic parental and civil rights in education.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>For decades, the Education Department has perpetrated massive wrongs within the education system, while costing trillions of dollars. The strategic appointment of Ernie Trakas as the department\u2019s senior civil rights lawyer could help roll back some of the damage before the department is dismantled entirely.<\/p>\n<p>In early September, Trakas was appointed senior counsel in the Office for Civil Rights at the department, under assistant secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/fedsoc.org\/bio\/kimberly-richey-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kimberly M. Richey<\/a>. The position is powerful, supporting the enforcement of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-justice-department-pick-helped-kill-pipeline-favored-by-key-senator\/\" title=\"Biden Justice ... Pick Helped Kill Pipeline Favored by Key Senator\">federal civil rights laws<\/a> in education and initiating sanctions against non-compliant institutions that receive millions of dollars in annual federal funding. As senior counsel, Trakas will advise leadership and guide policy decision-making.<\/p>\n<p>Trakas has spent decades successfully litigating for parental rights and protections for children as an attorney for <a href=\"https:\/\/childparentrights.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Child and Parental Rights Campaign<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/limbaugh-baker-jack-phillips-a-cultural-hero\/\" title=\"LIMBAUGH: Baker Jack Phillips \u2013 A Cultural Hero\">public-interest law firm<\/a> that focuses on protecting children from transgender policies.<\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/cases\/federal\/appellate-courts\/ca4\/24-1682\/24-1682-2025-08-07.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Blair v. Appomattox County School Board<\/em><\/a>, Trakas <a href=\"https:\/\/childparentrights.org\/news\/ernie-trakas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">provided legal support<\/a> in a lawsuit brought by the adoptive mother of Sage Blair. The lawsuit alleges Blair was physically and sexually assaulted on school property after school counselors encouraged her use of the male restroom if she identified as a boy. The school failed to inform her guardian. These circumstances allegedly led Blair to run away, falling prey to sex traffickers. The stunning Title IX claim was remanded to a lower court, but received national attention for highlighting the dangers of queer ideology and sparked efforts to prevent similar future atrocities through legislation called \u201cSage\u2019s Law.\u201d The Federalist <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/09\/25\/lawsuit-over-sex-trafficked-teen-could-stop-schools-from-hiding-kids-dysphoria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">was the first national outlet<\/a> to report on the saga and resulting lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/docket\/68412012\/landerer-v-dover-area-school-district\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Landerer v. Dover Area School District<\/em><\/a>, Trakas won a settlement for a mother who sued the school district that kept her daughter\u2019s gender confusion confidential.<\/p>\n<p>Trakas has also advocated for the protection of women and girls in sports, <a href=\"https:\/\/childparentrights.org\/news\/ernie-trakas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">serving as counsel <\/a>for Melissa <a href=\"https:\/\/dfipolicy.org\/podcast-freedom-to-learn-melissa-batie-smoose-and-vernadette-broyles-on-courage-consequences-the-future-of-title-ix\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Batie-Smoose<\/a>, who alleged she was suspended from her coaching position after speaking out against the detrimental inclusion of a biological male on the women\u2019s volleyball team. The department\u2019s investigation into the case found the university in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/about\/news\/press-release\/us-department-of-educations-office-civil-rights-finds-san-jose-state-university-violated-title-ix\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">violation of Title IX<\/a> and issued a proposed resolution agreement.<\/p>\n<h2>Entrenched and Invasive<\/h2>\n<p>Parents\u2019 fundamental authority over their children was upheld by the courts in the <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/06\/04\/100-years-ago-the-supreme-court-recognized-parental-rights-they-need-to-do-the-same-today\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1920s<\/a>, but has significantly eroded since then. Entrenched radical ideology coupled with invasive <a href=\"https:\/\/defendinged.org\/investigations\/little-red-classrooms-young-envoys-scholarship-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">foreign<\/a> influence has exerted increasing sway over public education <a href=\"https:\/\/www.downsizinggovernment.org\/education\/timeline-growth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">since the mid-1900s<\/a>, when the federal government significantly expanded funding and regulating education. <\/p>\n<p>Modern education ideology is disturbingly leftist, prescribing school control of curriculum and health and student information, and encouraging secrecy from caregivers. Artificial intelligence tools designed to racially discriminate are <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/11\/exclusive-virginia-school-district-injects-dei-into-ai-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gaining traction<\/a>. Democrats staunchly opposed Republicans\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/118th-congress\/house-bill\/5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Parents Bill of Rights Act<\/a>, which would have expanded parental access to information about curriculum, school budgets, and school privacy practices, and backed an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the74million.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/FINAL-Bill-of-Rights-for-Students-and-Parents.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">alternative bill<\/a> identifying parents as \u201ccomplementary\u201d rather than primary authorities.<\/p>\n<p>Republican-run school districts have not evaded infection. In traditionally conservative counties, schools have made national headlines in recent years for <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/01\/19\/virginia-teen-sex-trafficked-twice-after-school-hides-gender-identity-from-her-parents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">protecting sexual abusers<\/a>, espousing <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2021\/07\/12\/appalled-parents-discover-racially-extremist-instruction-in-conservative-virginia-county\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">radical teaching<\/a>, and encouraging gender-confused children through <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/01\/19\/virginia-teen-sex-trafficked-twice-after-school-hides-gender-identity-from-her-parents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">secrecy policies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Exploitation, coercion, and indoctrination efforts are so rampant that some former educators recommend parents remove their children from schools altogether. \u201cOutside groups have infiltrated many of our nation\u2019s schools, often making propaganda, rather than traditional education, their foremost priority,\u201d said Larry Sand, a retired classroom teacher and former president of the California Teachers Empowerment Network.<\/p>\n<h2>Winning Advocacy<\/h2>\n<p>The work to salvage a system as broken as public education is daunting, but a significant reform effort is underway. House Republicans proposed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/118th-congress\/house-bill\/5?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22HR+5+letlow%22%5D%7D&#038;s=3&#038;r=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Parents Bill of Rights<\/a> Act in 2023 and passed the <a href=\"https:\/\/edworkforce.house.gov\/uploadedfiles\/h.r._2616_final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act<\/a> in 2026. In 2025, the Supreme Court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/24pdf\/24-297_4f14.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ruled<\/a> that parents challenging a Maryland district\u2019s use of LGBTQ-themed children\u2019s books were entitled to a notice and opt-out option.<\/p>\n<p>President Trump\u2019s executive efforts to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/ending-radical-indoctrination-in-k-12-schooling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">end radical indoctrination<\/a> have resulted in a patchwork of negotiations and legal losses. The department\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/about\/news\/press-release\/us-department-of-education-rescinds-illegal-title-ix-resolution-agreements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rescinding<\/a> of several Biden-era Title IX resolution agreements has had limited effect.<\/p>\n<p>Schools now disguise or <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/07\/13\/audit-shows-outlawed-dei-practices-still-embedded-in-indiana-public-schools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">defy restrictions on DEI<\/a> instruction in states that have outlawed the discriminatory material, continuing to reap the benefit of state and federal funding. <a href=\"https:\/\/portal.momsforliberty.org\/news\/moms-for-liberty-sues-nj-school-district-over-gender-transition-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Secrecy policies<\/a> persist. <a href=\"https:\/\/swulegaljustice.org\/legal-actions\/uc-davis-title-vi-complaint\/?utm_source=substack&#038;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Antisemitic activity<\/a> on college campuses is well-documented. Free speech is increasingly suppressed.<\/p>\n<p>Trakas enters a department investigating a myriad of claims. The Office for Civil Rights database lists <a href=\"https:\/\/ocrcas.ed.gov\/open-investigations?field_ois_state=All&#038;field_ois_discrimination_statute=701&#038;items_per_page=20&#038;field_ois_institution=&#038;field_ois_institution_type=All&#038;field_open_investigation_date_1=&#038;field_open_investigation_date_2=&#038;field_open_investigation_date=&#038;field_open_investigation_date_3=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">nearly 3,000<\/a> open Title IX investigations in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools. Instances of sexual misconduct, discrimination, and abuse abound in schools.<\/p>\n<h2>Historic Push for Protections<\/h2>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/childparentrights.org\/news\/ernie-trakas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">farewell tribute<\/a> to her longtime colleague, Child and Parental Rights Campaign\u2019s president Vernadette Broyles lauded Trakas\u2019 legacy as one of \u201cexcellence and compassion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cErnie\u2019s expertise, gained through a long career, will reverberate in our firm for years to come,\u201d Broyles said. \u201cHe consistently demonstrates wise insight, clear thinking, and an entrepreneurial mindset that has assisted this firm in innumerable ways \u2026 those who work with him also know that his mastery of legal strategy is equally matched by a sincere care for clients \u2014 parents and children whose fundamental rights and well-being hang in the balance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trakas enters the department at a historic time. Multiple efforts to enforce laws that protect parents and children, including an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.littler.com\/news-analysis\/asap\/new-doe-doj-interagency-agreement-meaningful-shift-civil-rights-enforcement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">interagency agreement<\/a> with the Department of Justice, are underway. His ability to skillfully navigate Title IX funding and education law, successfully litigate in hostile courts, and advise on lasting parental rights and child safety reform is critical to the restoration of basic liberties in a very sick system.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Ashley Bateman is a policy writer for The Heartland Institute. Her work has been featured in The Washington Times, The Daily Caller, The New York Post, The American Thinker, the Ascension Press blog, and numerous other publications. She previously worked as an adjunct scholar for The Lexington Institute and as editor, writer, and photographer for The Warner Weekly, a publication for the American military community in Bamberg, Germany. She and her <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >brilliant engineer\/scientist husband homeschool<\/a> their six children.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ernie Trakas appointed to help reform Education Department<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":638,"featured_media":2667352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Ernie-e1789914210557.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[6017,5152,51639,86045,34304],"class_list":["post-2667351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-advocacy","tag-education","tag-law-2","tag-legal-aid","tag-parental-rights"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Ernie-e1789914210557.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2667351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2667351"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2667351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2667355,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2667351\/revisions\/2667355"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2667352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2667351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2667351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2667351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}