(By: Geoff Brown)

For ten years, the Greeks laid siege against the City of Troy. And, for ten years, their best stratagems and finest warriors made no progress.

Until they gave up. Or, at least they appeared to give up.

After a fruitless decade, the Greeks retreated and in the wake of their withdrawal, they left behind a large wooden horse. The Trojans perceived the horse as the spoils of battle and brought it into the gates of Troy, leaving it in city center as a Trojan trophy of triumph.

That night, the Greek soldiers hidden within that timber trophy emerged as the Trojans slept, unlocked the gates, and the Greeks returned, capturing the city.

On February 6th, the seemingly gallant Greeks of the organization “Protect Education, Accountability Now!” filed for an initiative petition with the state of Arizona. Within this petition, like so many hidden Greeks within that storied Trojan Horse, are the elements of undoing for Arizona’s ESA program. That program, which has just surpassed 100,000 students, has produced the first gains in Arizona education — generally and for all students — that our struggling state has experienced in decade

And, like those sleeping Trojans, if we remain at slumber, Arizona students will suffer.

Protect Education, Accountability Now! has assembled a list of ‘requirements’ for parents and private schools that every private school in the state already meets and exceeds. Their goal, of course, is not “fingerprint clearance cards” and “school security measures”. It is control. Unblemished, brazen control.

Their most insidious demand? They wish to assume control of our standardized testing. Simply stated, controlling testing means controlling questions. Controlling questions means controlling answers. Controlling answers means controlling teaching. Controlling teaching means controlling worldview.

Under the cover of night, dressed in what appears to be noble intent, they will not stop there. They will unlock the gates from the inside and allow an increasingly alarming assault on worldview education. 2026’s midterm election may very well prove to be the most consequential election for education in memory.

We need to wake up. We need to be ready.

How best to accomplish this?

First, I would invite you to join the email/mailing list for the Center for Arizona policy. Stalwarts for students, CAP will keep you informed and let you know when the calls to action are primed.

Second, do not sign the petitions. And, help your friends, family, and neighbors to understand the perils plumbing the pipes of their petition.

Geoff Brown is the Superintendent of Northwest Christian School located in Phoenix, AZ. Northwest Christian School is one of the largest private Christian schools in the state of Arizona and an ACSI Exemplary Accredited school.

This post is sponsored by NCS Online. NCS Online is a fully online K-12th grade Christian school providing an online education that is rigorous, affordable, and rooted in Biblical worldview. To learn more about NCS Online, visit NCSonline.org.