Democrats for Education Reform: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American political action committee}} |
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{{promo|date=October 2021}} |
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{{Education in the U.S.}} |
{{Education in the U.S.}} |
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'''Democrats for Education Reform''' ('''DFER''') is a New York-based [[political action committee]] which focuses on encouraging the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] to support public education reform and [[Charter school|charter schools]]. |
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'''Democrats for Education Reform''' ('''DFER''') is a New York-based [[political action committee]] whose mission is to encourage the Democratic Party to embrace policies which will fundamentally reform American public education and promotes use of more charter schools, school funding and stricter teacher evaluations.<ref>{{cite book| last1 = Maranto| first1 = Robert| last2 = McShane| first2 = Michael Q.| title = President Obama and Education Reform The Personal and the Political| year = 2012| publisher = Palgrave Macmillan| isbn = 1-137-03094-1 }}</ref> The group wants the Democratic Party to embrace [[education reform]],<ref name=moel /> such as standardized testing and the [[Common Core]] educational standards.<ref>{{cite news|last=Anderson|first=Jeffrey|title=An Education PAC Is Phone-Banking D.C. Residents to Promote Controversial Policy|work=Washington City Paper|date=March 2, 2017|accessdate=March 2, 2017|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/loose-lips/article/20853674/an-education-pac-is-phonebanking-dc-residents-to-promote-controversial-policy}}</ref> |
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==History== |
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The group emerged around the same time as the [[Education Equality Project]].<ref name=moel>{{cite book| last = Moe| first = Terry M.| title = Special Interest Teachers Unions and America's Public Schools| year = 2011| publisher = Brookings Institution Press| isbn = 0-8157-2130-7 }}</ref> [[Whitney Tilson]] and [[Kevin P. Chavous]] among the group's co-founders. [[Gloria Romero (California politician)|Gloria Romero]] leads the group's California chapter. [[Ron Tupa]] is a staff member for the group. [[Cory Booker]] is on the group's board of advisors. The group is led by former journalist Joe Williams,<ref>{{cite book| last1 = Kopp| first1 = Wendy| last2 = Farr| first2 = Steven| title = A Chance to Make History What Works and What Doesn't in Providing an Excellent Education for All| year = 2011| publisher = PublicAffairs| isbn = 1-58648-926-7 }}</ref> who covered [[Oakland]], [[California]]'s school system.<ref>{{cite book| last = Ravitch| first = Diane| title = The Death and Life of the Great American School System How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education| year = 2011| publisher = Basic Books| isbn = 0-465-02821-7 }}</ref> In September 2015 [[Shavar Jeffries]] become the president of the organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/education/community/la-me-edu-shavar-jeffries-on-education-reform-problems-20150903-story.html|title=Democrats for Education Reform's Shavar Jeffries on how to fix his own movement|first=Joy|last=Resmovits|website=LATimes.com|access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2015/09/ex-newark_mayoral_candidate_jeffries_to_head_educa.html|title=Ex-Newark mayoral candidate Jeffries to head education lobbying group|website=NJ.com|access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref> |
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DFER emerged around the same time as the [[Education Equality Project]].<ref name=moel>{{cite book| last = Moe| first = Terry M.| title = Special Interest Teachers Unions and America's Public Schools| year = 2011| publisher = Brookings Institution Press| isbn = 978-0-8157-2130-7 }}</ref> Whitney Tilson and [[Kevin P. Chavous]] are among the group's co-founders.{{fact|date=November 2022}} |
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==Positions== |
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The ''[[Washington City Paper]]'' has called the group "staunchly pro-charter and anti-teachers union."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2015/10/29/kaya-hendersons-calendar-fundraising-fundraising-and-more-fundraising/|last=Sommer|first=Will|title=Kaya Henderson's Calendar: Fundraising, Fundraising, and More Fundraising|work=Washington City Paper|date=October 29, 2015|access-date=November 2, 2015}}</ref> |
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DFER claims to support five policy areas: resource equity, teacher quality and preparation, accountability, public school choice, and higher ed quality and affordability. In 2018, the [[Colorado Democratic Party]] asked the Colorado DFER chapter to stop using "Democrats" in its name.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Meltzer|first=Erica|date=2018-04-14|title=Colorado Democrats overwhelmingly reject Democrats for Education Reform at state assembly|url=https://co.chalkbeat.org/2018/4/14/21104748/colorado-democrats-overwhelmingly-reject-democrats-for-education-reform-at-state-assembly|access-date=2021-02-04|website=Chalkbeat Colorado|language=en}}</ref> |
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==Leadership== |
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[[Shavar Jeffries]], one of the charter school sector's most prominent Black leaders, became the president of the organization in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/education/community/la-me-edu-shavar-jeffries-on-education-reform-problems-20150903-story.html|title=Democrats for Education Reform's Shavar Jeffries on how to fix his own movement|first=Joy|last=Resmovits|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=3 September 2015|access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2015/09/ex-newark_mayoral_candidate_jeffries_to_head_educa.html|title=Ex-Newark mayoral candidate Jeffries to head education lobbying group|website=NJ.com|date=4 September 2015|access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2017/08/14/democrats-for-education-reform-chief-resigns-from-success-academy-board-113916|title=At odds over Trump, Democrats for Education Reform chief resigned from Success board|work=Politico PRO|access-date=2018-04-23}}</ref> |
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* [[Achievement gap in the United States]] |
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Since 2023, the organization is led by [[Jorge Elorza]], former mayor of Providence, Rhode Island.<ref>{{cite web | last=Bernal | first=Rafael | title=Former Providence mayor to lead Democratic education group | website=The Hill | date=2023-04-03 | url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3931205-former-providence-mayor-to-lead-democratic-education-group/ | access-date=2024-09-13}}</ref> |
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==Activities== |
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In Washington D.C., DFER sent out attack ads against [[Janeese Lewis George]], a progressive candidate for D.C. city council. After conducting polling that showed voters were concerned about crime, DFER ran mailers that claimed that George would [[defund the police]].<ref name="intercept">{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Rachel |date=June 4, 2020 |title=A PROGRESSIVE CHALLENGER WAS ATTACKED FOR CALLING TO DEFUND THE POLICE. SHE WON ANYWAY. |url=https://dcist.com/story/20/03/18/first-candidate-claims-to-max-out-public-financing-funds-for-d-c-elections/ |work=Intercept |location=Washington DC |access-date=June 4, 2020 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603175305/https://dcist.com/story/20/03/18/first-candidate-claims-to-max-out-public-financing-funds-for-d-c-elections/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After the election, DFER apologized for its efforts.<ref name="wcp200605">{{cite news |last=Ryals |first=Mitch |date=June 5, 2020 |title=Democrats for Education Reform Founder Acknowledges Attack Mailers Were Unfair|url=https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/loose-lips/article/21136272/democrats-for-education-reform-founder-acknowledges-attack-mailers-were-wrong|work= Intercept|location=Washington DC |access-date=June 5, 2020}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.dfer.org/ Democrats for Education Reform website] |
* [http://www.dfer.org/ Democrats for Education Reform website] |
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* [http://www.dfer.org/2012/01/education_refor_7.php Letter to Cuomo regarding Race to the Top] |
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[[Category:Democratic Party (United States) organizations]] |
[[Category:Democratic Party (United States) organizations]] |
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[[Category:United States political action committees]] |
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Latest revision as of 22:40, 13 September 2024
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Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) is a New York-based political action committee which focuses on encouraging the Democratic Party to support public education reform and charter schools.
History
[edit]DFER emerged around the same time as the Education Equality Project.[1] Whitney Tilson and Kevin P. Chavous are among the group's co-founders.[citation needed]
Positions
[edit]DFER claims to support five policy areas: resource equity, teacher quality and preparation, accountability, public school choice, and higher ed quality and affordability. In 2018, the Colorado Democratic Party asked the Colorado DFER chapter to stop using "Democrats" in its name.[2]
Leadership
[edit]Shavar Jeffries, one of the charter school sector's most prominent Black leaders, became the president of the organization in 2015.[3][4][5] Since 2023, the organization is led by Jorge Elorza, former mayor of Providence, Rhode Island.[6]
Activities
[edit]In Washington D.C., DFER sent out attack ads against Janeese Lewis George, a progressive candidate for D.C. city council. After conducting polling that showed voters were concerned about crime, DFER ran mailers that claimed that George would defund the police.[7] After the election, DFER apologized for its efforts.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Moe, Terry M. (2011). Special Interest Teachers Unions and America's Public Schools. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 978-0-8157-2130-7.
- ^ Meltzer, Erica (2018-04-14). "Colorado Democrats overwhelmingly reject Democrats for Education Reform at state assembly". Chalkbeat Colorado. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ Resmovits, Joy (3 September 2015). "Democrats for Education Reform's Shavar Jeffries on how to fix his own movement". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ "Ex-Newark mayoral candidate Jeffries to head education lobbying group". NJ.com. 4 September 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ "At odds over Trump, Democrats for Education Reform chief resigned from Success board". Politico PRO. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- ^ Bernal, Rafael (2023-04-03). "Former Providence mayor to lead Democratic education group". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ Cohen, Rachel (June 4, 2020). "A PROGRESSIVE CHALLENGER WAS ATTACKED FOR CALLING TO DEFUND THE POLICE. SHE WON ANYWAY". Intercept. Washington DC. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ Ryals, Mitch (June 5, 2020). "Democrats for Education Reform Founder Acknowledges Attack Mailers Were Unfair". Intercept. Washington DC. Retrieved June 5, 2020.