Democrats for Education Reform

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 change American public education, through five policy areas: resource equity, teacher quality and preparation, accountability, public school choice, and higher ed quality and affordability. Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization that covers education, has called the group "a national pro-charter advocacy group."[1]

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History

DFER emerged around the same time as the Education Equality Project.[2] Whitney Tilson and Kevin P. Chavous are among the group's co-founders.

Positions

DFER supports five policy areas: resource equity, teacher quality and preparation, accountability, public school choice, and higher ed quality and affordability. In 2019, Chalkbeat cited a poll by DFER that showed a racial divide among Democrats in their support for public school choice—with African American and Latino Democratic voters favoring public school choice options over white voters. The organization counts elected officials like Rep. Jim Clyburn, Sen. Chris Coons and Sen. Kevin Thomas as "DFERS." In 2018, The Colorado Democratic Party asked the CO DFER chapter to stop using "Democrats" in its name.[3]

Leadership

Shavar Jeffries, one of the charter school sector's most prominent Black leaders, became the president of the organization in 2015.[4][5][6] DFER has eight state chapters including Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington D.C., and Washington state.

Activities

DFER is known for its charter advocacy, but has said in statements that it does not support for-profit charter schools. DFER President Shavar Jeffries has been a staunch critic of former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

In Washington D.C., DFER sent out attack ads against Janeese Lewis George, a progressive candidate. After conducting polling that showed voters were concerned about crime, DFER claimed that George would defund the police.[7] After the election, DFER apologized for its efforts. [8]

References
  1. "Assembly pushes for $1.5 billion boost to education spending". Chalkbeat. 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  2. Moe, Terry M. (2011). Special Interest Teachers Unions and America's Public Schools. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 0-8157-2130-7.
  3. Meltzer, Erica (2018-04-14). "Colorado Democrats overwhelmingly reject Democrats for Education Reform at state assembly". Chalkbeat Colorado. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  4. Resmovits, Joy. "Democrats for Education Reform's Shavar Jeffries on how to fix his own movement". LATimes.com. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  5. "Ex-Newark mayoral candidate Jeffries to head education lobbying group". NJ.com. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  6. "At odds over Trump, Democrats for Education Reform chief resigned from Success board". Politico PRO. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  7. Cohen, Rachel (June 4, 2020). "A PROGRESSIVE CHALLENGER WAS ATTACKED FOR CALLING TO DEFUND THE POLICE. SHE WON ANYWAY". Intercept. Washington DC. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  8. Ryals, Mitch (June 5, 2020). "Democrats for Education Reform Founder Acknowledges Attack Mailers Were Unfair". Intercept. Washington DC. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
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