Following national media coverage and a backlash from some members, the National School Boards Association's board of directors apologized Friday to members for a letter it had sent to President Joe Biden. The letter asked for federal law enforcement's help in responding to threats against local school board officials.

"We regret and apologize for the letter," NSBA wrote in a memo. "There was no justification for some of the language included in the letter. … We apologize also for the strain and stress this situation has caused you and your organizations."

NSBA's Sept. 29 letter has become a target of conservative politicians and parent groups amid nationwide clashes over mask mandates and the alleged teaching of "critical race theory." Some leaders of state school board associations say they were not consulted about the letter, which was signed by NSBA's board president, Viola Garcia, and interim CEO Chip Slaven.

The national association's letter to Biden said: "As these acts of malice, violence and threats against public school officials has increase, the classification of these heinous actions could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes."

Two state-level associations representing local school board officials in Louisiana and Pennsylvania subsequently dropped out of NSBA, which is a federation of state associations and the U.S. territory of the Virgin Islands.

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association said in a statement about its decision to leave NSBA: "The most recent national controversy surrounding a letter to President Biden suggesting that some parents should be considered domestic terrorists was the final straw. This misguided approach has made our work and that of many school boards more difficult."

In its apology to members, NSBA said it should have had a better process in place "to allow for consultation on a communication of this significance." NSBA said it is "engaged in a formal review of our processes and procedures. We will announce specific improvements soon to ensure there is improved coordination and consultation among staff, our board and our members across the country."

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