Five Questions for Any Free College Plan

Nearly every Democrat — and likely a number of Republicans — running for statewide office this cycle will propose some sort of free college plan. Those plans need to be well-designed and in particular recognize the relationship between college affordability and college completion. Otherwise they are apt at best to under deliver, and at worst,

En este Mes de la Herencia Hispana, debemos seguir apoyando a nuestros estudiantes

Este año, el Mes de Herencia Hispana viene a un tiempo tenso en los Estados Unidos y es un momento esencial para la comunidad Hispana. Solo en el último año, hemos visto arrestos de inmigración (ICE) subir 43 porciento, el perdón presidencial de sheriff Arpaio que manejaba una cárcel cruel e inhumana en el desierto

DFER National President Shavar Jeffries Statement on Reports of the Trump Administration's Effort to Roll Back Affirmative Action in Higher Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DFER National President Shavar Jeffries Statement on Reports of the Trump Administration’s Effort to Roll Back Affirmative Action in Higher Education Washington, DC – Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) National President Shavar Jeffries today released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s comments on affirmative action in higher education: “Hopefully,

DFER National President Shavar Jeffries Statement on President Trump's Proposed FY 2018 Federal Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DFER National President Shavar Jeffries Statement on President Trump’s Proposed FY 2018 Federal Budget Washington, DC –Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) National President Shavar Jeffries today released the following statement in response to President Trump’s proposed FY 2018 federal budget: “The budget announced today by the Trump administration is an assault on public education.

DFER D.C. Director Catharine Bellinger's Testimony to Support Proposed ESSA Implementation Plan

2/15/2017 TESTIMONY FROM CATHARINE BELLINGER D.C. DIRECTOR DEMOCRATS FOR EDUCATION REFORM Good evening members of the State Board of Education. My name is Catharine Bellinger and I am testifying on behalf of Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), a national policy and advocacy organization that advocates for high-quality public schools for all children. I serve as

Senate Confirmation Hearing Questions for Betsy DeVos

From DFER National 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 too much at stake

STATEMENT: DFER-Louisiana on 2016 Election Results

Following Tuesday’s election results, DFER-Louisiana State Director Eva Kemp released the following statement: “We’re deeply disappointed with the results of the election, but regardless of who is in the White House, DFER’s commitment to fighting for progressive education reform policies and the Democratic leaders who will continue to put our students first, both here in

Shavar Jeffries on the NAACP’s Resolution Calling for a Moratorium on Charter Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Statement from DFER President Shavar Jeffries on the NAACP’s Resolution Calling for a Moratorium on Charter Schools Today, in response to the NAACP approving a resolution calling for a moratorium on charter schools at its National Convention, DFER President Shavar Jeffries released the following statement: “The public charter school moratorium put forward

DFER Louisiana Calls on Lawmakers to Support High-Quality Public School Options

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DFER Louisiana Calls on Lawmakers to Support High-Quality Public School Options It is essential that Louisiana continue the progress that’s been made on behalf of high-quality public education for all students   Baton Rouge, La. – In Louisiana legislature’s 2016 regular session, House and Senate lawmakers have filed a number of bills

Culture of Countenance: Teachers, Observers and the Effort to Reform Teacher Evaluations

“Culture of Countenance” in Teacher Observations May Set New Evaluation Reforms Up for Failure If Not Addressed In the “Culture of Countenance: Teachers, Observers and the Effort to Reform Teacher Evaluations,” DFER Policy Analyst and former teacher Mac LeBuhn communicates that unless reformers can change the “culture of countenance” regarding teacher observations new reforms to