Lance Christensen
Lance Christensen is the Vice President of Education Policy and Government Affairs at the California Policy Center and former candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Read his Epoch Times columns and op-eds here.
Higher Education Doesn’t Have to Happen on a College Campus
With my children slowly moving through K–12 schools, my wife and I have wrestled with the wisdom of sending them to college. We’re both college graduates…
Parents—The Ultimate Education Reform
Canadian writer Grant Allen once lamented, “What a misfortune it is that we should thus be compelled to let…
Statesmen over Politicians
A very contentious election season is upon us. To better navigate the deluge of political propaganda…
Want to Rule the World? Run for Local Office
When interviewing for a legislative fellowship in Sacramento, California over two decades ago…
The Remedy to a Misinformed Populace is to Inform Them
During an otherwise quiet September morning some years ago, I received a curious call…
What kind of legislator do you have?
A weird thing happens when voters are polled. People usually hold their legislature in low esteem…
California's Hundreds of Thousands of School Curricula
“How many different kinds of curricula are there in the state’s public school system?” This is a regular question concerned Californians ask when discussing education policy, especially with how politicized our K–12 classrooms are these days.
Honesty is the Best Parental Notification Policy
Last week, I signed a permission slip for my 11th grade son allowing him to see a PG-13 movie for his United States history class in our local public high school. I was thankful that the school respected our relationship enough to ask permission…
Misconceptions About California's Legislature
Few people have described our Leviathan Legislature so succinctly as G.K. Chesterton did a century ago. "When a politician is in opposition he is an expert on the means to some end; and when he is in office he is an expert on the obstacles to it." Enter California’s 120 full-time lawmakers.
Holding the Line on Parental Rights in California
Parents, where do you draw the line? Do you want to be in control of the upbringing of your children, or are you willing to turn those responsibilities over to the state? How much ground are you willing to cede to a capricious government bent on eliminating your God-given rights as a parent?
No One Is Banning Books in Your School Library
While reading the California Education Code the other day, I made a stunning discovery. School districts are allowed to burn books. Is California that far ahead on the road to totalitarianism? Not so fast.
Media Outlets Should Encourage Parents Advocating for Their Children’s Education
After witnessing the stunning recall of three trustees in a very progressive San Francisco Unified School Board in February 2022, many in the media began to marvel at the political power disenchanted parents and public school advocates were capable of wielding. After all, San Francisco has…
Teachers Unions — End Them, Don’t Mend Them
Striking teachers and supporters rally in Grand Park across from City Hall in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2019 (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)
Want to Improve California Schools? Show Me the Numbers
After another general election when over a thousand school board seats were on the ballot, we have seen a slight shift in favor of parent advocates representing our districts in California.
And while many media outlets want to frame the election about social and cultural issues…