The State of State Schools

Joe Soltis and his wife, Becky, have six children including a 20-year-old entrepreneurial son, their 18-year-old daughter who’s headed to Liberty University this fall, and 15-year-old Jake. They live in Cleveland, Ohio.

Joe is a board member of Prayer At The Heart, a ministry founded in 2021 urging Americans to return to God.

Despite his youth, Jake stands unapologetically for Jesus Christ on TikTok where he urges his teen peers to “live loud” for Christ.

prayerattheheart.org

soltis.jake (TikTok)

Jake Soltis Podcast (YouTube)

E. Ray Moore, founder of The Exodus Mandate Project, urges Christian parents to pull their kids out of public schools and put them in private Christian schools or homeschool them instead.

He wrote the book entitled Let My Children Go and produced an award-winning documentary called IndoctriNation: Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity in America.

Websites discussed:

exodusmandate.org

publicschoolexit.com

indoctrinationmovie.com

https://christedu.org/news/ceis-church-based-scholarship-funds-information

Feb. 2026--Education topics discussed in this episode include:

· UNESCO…What is UNESCO?

· The 2030 Agenda—what is that?

· How do these two impact the United States?

· What are “Sustainable Development Goals”?

Sources:

· Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

· Sustainable Development Goals for Education

Jan. 2026--Education topics discussed in this episode include:

• Plans & efforts to bring homeschooling & private schooling under State regulation.
• Worldview and why it matters.

Sources:

• Parental Choice and the Right to Education
• What you need to know about homeschooling through a human rights lens
• Home-Schooled Kids are Not All Right
• NYT Declares War on Homeschooling

This special episode was recorded on November 8, 2025 at the Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE) annual youth conference in Carol Stream, Il.

Drawing from his own story of conflict, John dives into what it truly means to live as a Christian in today’s turbulent culture. From the blazing heat of Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace to the horrors of the Holocaust and the modern-day battle against Christianity, he weaves together powerful stories from the Bible and his book, Courage to Stand. With passion and urgency, he showcases how men and women—young and old—have faced overwhelming spiritual warfare yet stood unshaken, boldly anchored in God’s Word.

This special episode was recorded on November 8, 2025 at the Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE) annual youth conference in Carol Stream, Il.

Building on powerful past stories, John highlights the unwavering faith, obedience, and urgency that have guided courageous Christians throughout history—from biblical times to today. His message serves as a heartfelt encouragement to all Believers, reminding them that God is always near, ready to lead and strengthen those who seek Him. With patience, trust, and a willing heart, every follower of Christ can hear His voice and walk boldly in obedience, knowing that His plans are always for our good, and His promises never fail.

This special episode was recorded on November 8, 2025 at the Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE) annual youth conference in Carol Stream, Il.

In this talk, John recounts the extraordinary journey of his parents—two individuals with only high school educations—who, against the tide of cultural norms, made the bold choice to homeschool in the early ‘90s. Little did they know that this act of faith, obedience, and courage would ripple through time, impacting John’s life nearly three decades later. Their story is a powerful testament to the unfailing truth of God’s Word, which never returns void (Isaiah 55:11), and a stirring call to families everywhere to pursue a legacy grounded in faith.

8/22/25--Education topics discussed in this episode include:

• Francis Howell School District paid $230k to superintendent who never worked a single day. (FirstAlert4)
• Florida School Board chair responds to Hulk Hogan’s death by saying, “Good, one less MAGA in the world.” (Fox13News)
• School officials in Virginia are under investigation for allegedly organizing free, secret abortions for students. (The New American)

This special episode is the commencement speech I gave to the 2025 Master Books Homeschool graduates. I hope it encourages each of you to boldly and faithfully walk in obedience to God's Word.

4/16/25--Education topics discussed in this episode include:

· Is the DOE really abolished?

o "Elimination of the Education Department Has Begun," Paul Dragu, The New American

o Behind the Deep State with Alex Newman

· IL HB2827

o Read Full Text

· Vouchers & Forced Speech Issues in Colorado

o “Lawmakers try to tighten rules after most homeschool voucher funds went toward non-academic expenses,” Austin Gelder, Arkansas Times, arktimes.com

o Read HB25-1312

Recommended Resources:

· Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA): https://hslda.org/

· Master Books: https://www.masterbooks.com/

· Classical Conversations: https://classicalconversations.com/

· The Noah Plan: https://face.net/curriculum/