Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Democrats for Education Reform

mystery solved

Colorado
February 4, 2019

Democrats for Education Reform was behind text campaign seeking to prevent teacher strike

Jen Walmer, head of DFER's Colorado branch, said they chose to send the text after Thursday night’s talks between the district and the union collapsed.  

election post-mortem

National
November 28, 2018

‘What are we supposed to feel here?’ Education reformers look for answers amid a blue wave

2018's blue wave swept in a number of politicians who campaigned against key elements of the education reform agenda. Now what?

local leadership national impact

National
July 18, 2018

Denver’s longtime superintendent turned the city into a national school reform favorite

Over Tom Boasberg’s nearly 10 years as Denver superintendent, he made a national impact.

shots fired

New York
July 8, 2018

Democrats for Education Reform blasts New York state’s school turnaround program

A report, issued by the local chapter of Democrats for Education Reform, argues the state’s education department has watered down its “receivership” program.

Analysis

Colorado
May 31, 2018

How education reform became a wedge issue among Colorado Democrats this election year

This election season has the potential to change what’s considered mainstream Democratic education policy in Colorado.

In talks

Tennessee
May 4, 2018

Does Tennessee’s emergency response to testing problems conflict with federal ed law? Stay tuned.

While legislation to address TNReady woes has eased concerns in school communities, it's raised a flurry of new questions about Tennessee’s plan under ESSA.

Pushback

Colorado
April 20, 2018

National head of DFER after Colorado Democrats’ platform vote: ‘We’re not going anywhere’

Education reform has become an increasingly divisive issue within the Democratic Party.

All in a Name

Colorado
April 14, 2018

Colorado Democrats overwhelmingly reject Democrats for Education Reform at state assembly

After booing down the head of the education reform organization, delegates voted overwhelmingly to call for the organization to no longer use “Democrats” in its name.

MLK50

Tennessee
March 12, 2018

Martin Luther King Jr.’s hope for equal education in Memphis still a dream, new book says

Memphis advocacy group Campaign for School Equity recently published the book to bring awareness to King's belief that education is key to economic equality.

Follow the money

Colorado
October 17, 2017

Groups with a stake in Colorado’s school board elections raise $1.5 million to influence them

Teachers unions and education reformers are again throwing their efforts — and money — into high-profile races in Denver, Aurora, Dougco and elsewhere.

getting to know you

Colorado
August 30, 2017

Colorado conservatives are pressing Republican gubernatorial candidates on education policy. Here’s how.

The conversations are designed to help voters better understand where conservative candidates stand on policy matters such as school choice and standardized testing.

Trump trouble

New York
August 14, 2017

Head of Democrats for Education Reform resigned from board of Success Academy, highlighting split in charter world

It is unclear why Jeffries left the board, but he differed with Moskowitz on how to engage with the Trump administration in the aftermath of the election.

exclusive

National
July 31, 2017

‘I think that’s blood money’: Arne Duncan pushed charters to reject funds from Trump admin if budget cuts approved

Former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan suggested that charter leaders refuse to accept federal charter school money if Trump’s cuts to education went through.

National
May 21, 2017

Head of Democrats For Education Reform blasts DeVos, calls push for vouchers a ‘sideshow’

Chalkbeat sat down with DFER’s president Shavar Jeffries to ask, what now?

getting to know you

Colorado
January 31, 2017

Meet the Colorado Republicans who want to reclaim their party’s education reform agenda

Ready Colorado has been quietly working behind the scenes for two years supporting politicians that expand school choice and protect school accountability.
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