When We Talk About the Obama Legacy, What Do We Really Mean?

When We Talk About the Obama Legacy, What Do We Really Mean?  The Battle Over Barack Obama’s Legacy at the Democratic Debates. The Fiercest Democratic Debate in 2020 Is About Barack Obama. Barack Obama, silent in Democratic nominating contest, omnipresent in debate. After the first two Democratic Presidential Debates, one thing is clear: President Obama’s

Robert F. Kennedy – ESEA Author and Progressive Proponent of Assessments and Accountability

by Charles Barone I distinctly remember waking up for school the morning of June 6th, 1968 and finding out that Robert F. Kennedy had been shot in Los Angeles just after midnight. My father was a Republican and my mother a Democrat, but they were both shocked and saddened by the news. I don’t remember

The Privatization of New Jersey Public Schools

by Charles Barone   Many of the hottest education debates right now revolve around ascribing good v. evil according to whether or not a school is “public.” In Manichean terms, these debates include: public v. private schools; public charter schools v. traditional public schools; neighborhood schools v. out-of-zone schools; segregated schools v. integrated schools; non-profit

Democratic Voices for Public School Choice

By Charles Barone  Last week, New York Magazine writer Jonathan Chait offered a trenchant analysis of the politics surrounding the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education: “Both the right and the left have a shared interest in defining the liberal pro-reform position out of existence, and treating support for DeVos and support for

Note from Shavar Jeffries on DeVos Confirmation Hearing

Dear Friends, As President Obama’s historic term in office comes to an end, we reflect on the great progress we’ve made for kids and communities over the past eight years. President Obama’s educational legacy is historic. Rooted in innovation, accountability, resource investment, and expanded parental options, Secretaries Duncan and King were historic champions for the

DFER’s Senate Confirmation Hearing Questions for Betsy DeVos

Originally posted on dfer.org  From DFER President Shavar Jeffries:    On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate HELP Committee will convene the confirmation hearing for Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, conservative activist Betsy DeVos. From what we know about the education agenda of President-elect Trump and Mrs. DeVos, we are deeply troubled. There is simply

REPORT RELEASE: A Democratic Guide to Public Charter Schools

By Charles Barone and Marianne Lombardo Today we’re issuing an issue brief we’ve called “A Democratic Guide to Public Charter Schools.” This issue brief offers a reminder that throughout their history, public charter schools have had strong roots in progressivism and that the current public charter school sector, on the whole, reflects Democratic values of equalizing opportunity and

Resources and Reform: The Obama Administration’s Higher Education Legacy and the 45th President’s Challenge

President Obama invested more in student financial aid than any American President in history. The deeper story though is Obama extended the federal higher education policy paradigm beyond financial aid into areas of college quality and degree completion. There have been successes and disappointments. The Obama administration cracked down on shoddy for-profit trade schools, moved to hold teacher

2016 | First Presidential Debate: Hillary Clinton & Donald Trump on Education | Part 2: What’s the Proper Federal Role in Education?

This is the 2nd in a series of pre-debate blog posts. To see Part 1,  click: here. By Charles Barone and Marianne Lombardo On December 10th, 2015, President Obama signed into law the “Every Student Succeeds Act” (ESSA), Congress’s long overdue reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the first reauthorization since No Child Left Behind in

Education Reform Now Celebrates Historic Week at DNC Convention & Camp Philos 2016

After an exhilarating week in Philadelphia, Education Reform Now is reinvigorated in our ability to influence the progressive direction of our Party and our nation’s education policies. We kicked off the week with our third-annual Camp Philos that featured some of the biggest names in politics and policy. Below is a recap of our speakers’ comments and