The 1776 Project PAC was launched in 2021, with financial backing from GOP megadonor and Illinois billionaire Richard Uihlein, owner of Pleasant Prairie-based Uline, to support school board candidates who said they would overturn the teaching of “critical race theory.”
Girdusky told WPR he started the group because schools were closed during the pandemic.
“Initially I focused on trying to open schools because it was poor for learning,” Girdusky said. “And then I started really working on trying to get a better curriculum in education.”
Wisconsin is one of a handful of states The 1776 Project PAC has focused on. Girdusky says that’s because of the strong parent groups based here who want to improve public education.
“I know the conservatives are all lumped in with the voucher system but I think public education serves an important thing not only for local communities, but for the culture as well,” he said. “I’ve seen members do really interesting, vibrant things, like how to get Singapore math into schools, or cellphone banning.”
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