DFER News Roundup
DFER Seen & Heard:
- Policy Director Charlie Barone’s piece on Bill Clinton’s recent remarks related to public charter schools and accountability made EdWeek’s Friday Reading List.
- Chicago students “urgently need access to more high-quality charter schools, particularly in underserved communities,” DFER-IL’s Rebeca Nieves Huffman said in the Chicago Sun-Times. Huffman also commented on the announcement that CPS will not consider plans for any new public charter schools this fall in Catalyst Chicago.
- “With every election and every legislative session, we the voters are responsible for getting the schools we want for Washington’s students,” DFER-WA’s Lisa Macfarlane writes in The Seattle Times.
- CTU chief Karen Lewis “shouldn’t continue to be tone deaf” regarding her conflict of interest between serving as a mayoral candidate and teacher contract negotiator, Huffman tells POLITICO’s Morning Education.
Advocacy, Policy Briefs & Such:
- DFER joined the Center on Reinventing Public Education, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and other policy organizations to consider what’s needed in the next generation of accountability systems.
- Read “Making The Second City’s Schools Second to None,” DFER-IL’s new report on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s education leadership.
DFER Blog:
- DFER-NY’s Nicole Brisbane asks of Chancellor Fariña’s school evaluation revamp, “What about failing schools?”
- “Democrats for Education Reform applauds the U.S. Department of Education for the guidance it issued today to help ensure equal educational opportunity for all students,” writes Policy Director Charles Barone.
- Check out Barone’s widely-circulated blog post, “Bill Clinton’s Remarks on Charters And Accountability – Some Good Points That Don’t Quite Add Up.“
- Michael Dannenberg, ERN’s Director of Strategic Initiatives for Policy, talks about “Extending Accountability to Teacher Preparation.”
- DFER-CO’s Jen Walmer calls Tea Party activist Julie Williams “A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing.”
In Related News:
- EdWeek’s Alyson Klein breaks down what’s left on Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s summer to-do list.
- “Even with GOP Senate Takeover, Education Plan Could Stall,” reports POLITICO’s Maggie Severns.
- The Associated Press reports Senator Elizabeth Warren’s plan to endorse Democratic nominee (and DFER List member) Seth Moulton.
- New America’s Conor Williams released two new reports on supporting dual language learners. Check them out here and here.
- The San Diego Union-Tribune’s editorial board endorses Marshall Tuck for California schools chief, writing, “In his reaction to the landmark ruling in the Vergara vs. California case, Torlakson has made the case for his opponent.”
- “Stop Scapegoating Teach For America,” Conor Williams writes in The Daily Beast.
Fun With Infographics & More:
- Have you heard about the “Don’t Steal Possible” campaign in New York? Check out their website to learn more.
- Kristen Bell, Joel McHale, Dax Shepard, and Adam Scott lend our friend Marshall Tuck some support.
- Infographic | Economically Disadvantaged Students in NY’s Public Charter Schools Surpass Average Math Proficiency Rates For All Students Statewide.
- Infographic | Mind the Gap: Students Scoring Proficient by State, But Not International Standards.
- “My favorite part of preschool is learning.” Check out this inspiring video on why pre-K matters from Soul Pancake.
- DFERs were out in full force last week at a Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference reception honoring Congressman John Lewis, co-hosted with the National Newspaper Association.
- Check out The DFER List!