Bill of Rights Institute
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The Bill of Rights Institute, established in September 1999 by the Charles G. Koch Foundation,[1] is a Virginia based nonprofit launched by Koch Family Foundations that promotes a teaching a conservative interpretation of the Constitution in schools.[2] According to Indyweek.com, "The group says it has provided materials to more than 2 million students and published 16 curricula for elementary, middle and high schools on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and historical Supreme Court decisions, among other topics."[3]
The Bill of Rights Institute claims that its "mission is to educate young people about the words and ideas of America's Founders."[4]
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The Bill of Rights Institute receives grants from Charles Koch Foundation, Fred and Mary Koch Foundation, and the David H. Koch all of which are branches of Koch Family Foundations.[5] Grants from the Koch Family Foundations and its subsidiaries fund BRI seminars in Kansas and summer conferences in Washington D.C. that train teachers in government and the constitution.[6]
Contents
Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council
The Bill of Rights Institute has ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). It has been a member of ALEC's Education Task Force. According to an August 2013 ALEC board document obtained by The Guardian, the Institute terminated its ALEC membership on April 16, 2013.[7]
In 2010, the American Legislative Exchange Council developed a bill called the Founding Principles Act which, "would require during the high school years the teaching of a semester-long course on the philosophical understandings and the founders’ principles."[8] The bill was sponsored by Harold Brubaker, an Asheboro Republican and ex-House speaker, and Don Vaughan, a Greensboro Democrat, (both have ALEC ties) and passed by the General Assembly in North Carolina in 2011.[9] Among the resources the State Superintendent of Public Instruction included for curriculum development was the Bill of Rights Institute[10]
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Personnel
Board of Directors
As of June 2014 members of the board of directors were:[7]
- Mark Humphrey, Senior Vice President of Koch Industries
- Ryan Stowers, Director of higher education programs at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation
- Rob Testwuide, Asset management advisor for Merrill Lynch
- Todd Zywicki, Professor of Law at George Mason University
Staff
As of June 2014, staff members were:[8]
- David J. Bobb, President
- Cynthia Bader, Professional Development Instructor
- Andy Gillette, Vice President of Programs
- Michelle Griffes, Director for Education
- Rupert Munro, Development Officer
- Emily Rose, Vice President of Development
- Gennie Westbrook, Director of Curriculum and Professional Development
- Laura Vik, Manager of Programs & Events
- Krysten York, Grants Manager
Articles and Resources
Related SourceWatch Articles
External Resources
References
- ↑ Bill of Rights Institute, "History of the Institute," organizational website, accessed December 2013.
- ↑ Jane Mayer, "Covert Operations: The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama," The New Yorker, August 30, 2010, p. 5.
- ↑ Indy Week [1], U.S. History According to Charles Koch, Billy Ball, February 27, 2013, accessed June 11, 2014
- ↑ Bill of Rights Institute, About Us: Mission & Vision, organizational website, accessed December 2013.
- ↑ Koch Family Foundations and Philanthropy[2], accessed May 11, 2014
- ↑ Koch Family Foundations and Philanthropy[3], accessed May 11, 2014
- ↑ American Legislative Exchange Council, ALEC 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting Board Meeting packet, organizational documents, August 6, 2013, released by The Guardian December 3, 2013.
- ↑ ALEC [4], approved June 3, 2010, accessed June 11, 2014.
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly [5], 2011-2012 session, accessed June 11, 2014
- ↑ Indy Week [6], U.S. History According to Charles Koch, Billy Ball, February 27, 2013, accessed June 11, 2014
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