BOULDER, CO (October 1, 2026) — In this month’s episode of NEPC Talks Education, Drs. Michele Moses and Amy Farley join hosts Bethy Leonardi and Zander Nowell in the first of a series of episodes examining how the politics of today directly impact education policy and the daily lives of teachers, researchers, principals, students, and families across K12 and university settings. 

Michele Moses is Professor of Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research focuses on issues of ethics, democracy, and policy disagreements that involve racial, ethnic, and gender diversity and equity. Amy Farley is Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at University of Cincinnati. Her research pays particular attention to school and university reform, high-stakes policies, and the disparate impact of policies on minoritized student and teacher populations. 

In this episode, they discuss the national pushback against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, particularly Arizona Proposition 142, a measure on the upcoming 2026 ballot designed to tighten constitutional restrictions on affirmative action, diversity programs, admissions, and public employment hiring practices within the state. 

Drawing on their extensive academic research on direct democracy, citizen-initiated ballot initiatives, and race-conscious education policies, Drs. Moses and Farley explain how measures like Prop. 142 function in reality to “chill conversation,” “weaponize voter confusion,” and create an “administrative stranglehold” on educational institutions. The chilling effect stems from the broad, sweeping language of the proposition. Criminalizing certain topics creates a culture of fear that silences teachers, researchers, school, university and district leaders, and prevents students from having honest classroom conversations about history, race, and identity. Voter confusion stems from a combination of marketing and legislative language intentionally designed to confuse the public. While measures like Prop. 142 are frequently sold to voters as "ending discrimination," their actual mechanism outlaws the programs designed to ensure equal treatment. The proposed ban on public funding for diversity offices, staff training, and inclusive curriculum creates an administrative stranglehold by forcing public universities and K-12 schools to prioritize legal concerns over student success and belonging and fair hiring. This creates an environment in which the threat of litigation paralyzes educational institutions and prevents them from focusing on supporting their communities.

A new NEPC Talks Education podcast episode will be released each month from September through May. Listeners can look forward to a season dedicated to exploring education policy through a human lens, with episodes bringing top researchers into conversation with the people on the front lines of education, including school counselors, youth, and families.

Don’t worry if you miss a month. All episodes are archived on the NEPC website and can be found here.

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