These parents are angry at schools. But it has nothing to do with critical race theory.

This story about the National Parents Union was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for Hechinger’s newsletter.

When education became a focal point in politics last year, it was no surprise to Keri Rodrigues, president and co-founder of the National Parents Union.

Rodrigues had been traveling the country for weeks, meeting with parent groups in city after city and working with them to get their grievances addressed by local school boards. The parents she met were angry, frustrated and energized.

But these parents, in both their concerns and backgrounds, differed from those to whom politicians seemed to be pandering. While pundits have seized upon issues like critical race theory as a driving force in recent election results, Rodrigues talked to parents who just wanted to make sure their kids had a competent bus driver and got a hot school meal. She didn’t see parents angry about culture war issues but parents who were worried about their kids learning in a safe and inclusive classroom.