NJPEC Raises Concerns Over Colts Neck “History Rock” Assembly, Outside Political Organizations, and the Exclusion of Parents

COLTS NECK, NJ — Today, we at the New Jersey Public Education Coalition are issuing this statement regarding the “History Rock” assembly held at Cedar Ridge Middle School and the disturbing decision by the Colts Neck Board of Education to bar parents from both a publicly noticed special Board meeting this morning and from the assembly itself.

First and foremost, despite allegations to the contrary, we want to make clear that we had no objection whatsoever to the appearance or participation of New Jersey Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Our concerns were never about the Secretary’s presence.

Our objection is directed at the involvement of outside political advocacy groups, including Turning Point USA, which participated in or supported aspects of today’s program. We view this involvement as part of a growing national effort to introduce political and religious ideology into public school programming under the banner of civics education.

We Are Concerned About National-Level Ideological Efforts

We believe today’s assembly reflects a broader national agenda connected to the America 250 Civics initiative, which is being shaped by 41 right-wing and evangelical organizations. These groups are working to influence what students learn about civics, history, and government in ways that we consider ideologically driven and inappropriate for public schools.

Parents Were Barred From a Public Meeting and the Assembly

Parents in Colts Neck received only three days’ notice that this mandatory assembly would take place — even though every student in the school was required to attend, making the event unquestionably curricular.

Despite this, parents were:

• Refused entry to a publicly noticed special Board of Education meeting this morning, and
• Prevented from entering the school to observe the assembly, even after requesting access.

We find both actions unacceptable and inconsistent with New Jersey’s standards of transparency and public accountability.

The Board’s Actions Contradict Its Own Parental Bill of Rights Policy

Just two and a half weeks ago, the Colts Neck Board of Education passed a Parental Bill of Rights that explicitly guarantees parents transparency in curriculum and school-based programming.

We cannot reconcile the Board’s stated commitment to parental transparency with its decision today to exclude parents from both the meeting and the assembly.

This assembly—mandatory, instructional, and delivered to every child—is curriculum. Preventing parents from observing it directly contradicts the policy the Board just adopted.

We Want Answers

Today’s events demand an explanation.

“How does the Colts Neck Board of Education justify refusing parents access to a public meeting and to a school-wide curricular assembly mere days after promising them full transparency? Parents deserve to know why the Board is saying one thing and doing another.”

We reaffirm our commitment to protecting nonpartisan, inclusive public education and ensuring that outside political groups do not use New Jersey’s public schools to advance their ideological agendas.

About Us

We, the New Jersey Public Education Coalition (NJPEC), are a nonpartisan, statewide organization dedicated to protecting public education, defending students’ rights, and ensuring transparency, accountability, and equity in New Jersey’s schools.