Democrats for Education Reform

Congress Passes a National School Voucher Program

“Look at where our current education system has landed the party. We’re not delivering policy-wise and are losing support politically. We have to try new ideas and should be open to anything.” DFER CEO Jorge Elorza via @nytimes.com. 🗞️

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/u...

A New Path for Education Reform: DFER’s Vision for Abundance A Democratic Framework for An Abundance Education Agenda

Here’s @dfer.org’s great take on what a better path forward would look like. Embrace innovation & choice, focus on guardrails and goals - not reflexive defenses of an expensive status quo that’s failing far too many students & families:

open.substack.com/pub/democrat...

PRESS RELEASE: DFER Welcomes Outcome in St. Isidore v. Drummond, Avoiding Nationwide Disruption to Charter Laws and Student Access - Democrats for Education Reform DFER is a national political organization that supports elected Democrats and candidates for office who seek to expand policies that improve the quality of education for America’s students.

🚨 SCOTUS's split ruling in St. Isidore v. Drummond preserves the public status of charter schools—avoiding chaos for millions of families. DFER applauds this outcome and remains committed to protecting student access and educational opportunity:
dfer.org/2025/05/22/p...

Guest Commentary: PA Democrats Must Lead on Education The CEO of an education reform group believes the Abundance Agenda can build a public education system evolves, adapts, and improves.

“We spend $1 trillion a year on public education—and only a third of students are proficient.” It’s not about spending more. It’s about delivering better. Read the bold op-ed from DFER CEO Jorge Elorza on what’s next for Democratic education leadership. ⬇️
thephiladelphiacitizen.org/guest-commen...

A Democratic Framework for An Abundance Education Agenda - Democrats for Education Reform DFER is a national political organization that supports elected Democrats and candidates for office who seek to expand policies that improve the quality of education for America’s students.

🎓 “The question is no longer whether to redesign public education, but how.” 👉 A Democratic framework for an Abundance Education Agenda—read DFER CEO Jorge Elorza's vision for a better, more effective public education system here:
dfer.org/2025/05/05/a...

Six Charts Showing Where Most Undergraduates in the United States Go to College - Education Reform Now ERN is a network of supporters across the advocacy and policymaking arenas working to expand what works and change what is broken in the public education system.

New from @edreformnow.org: Most undergraduates aren’t at elite, selective institutions—they’re at public colleges that accept the majority of applicants.

This data-rich post from @jamessmurphy.bsky.social offers a clearer picture of #HigherEd today. edreformnow.org/2025/05/06/s...

Six Charts Showing Where Most Undergraduates in the United States Go to College - Education Reform Now ERN is a network of supporters across the advocacy and policymaking arenas working to expand what works and change what is broken in the public education system.

New from ERN's @jamessmurphy.bsky.social: the biggest issue in #HigherEd isn’t getting in—it’s getting through.

🎓 Most students attend open-access or moderately selective schools.
🎓 3 in 5 attend colleges where <2/3 of students graduate.

Time to shift our focus.
edreformnow.org/2025/05/06/s...

Congratulations to DFER Champion Sen. Jamaal Bailey on being named to the 2025 class of @newdealleaders.bsky.social! 🥳 Sen. Bailey's commitment to equity, innovation, and expanding opportunity in education makes him a standout leader. We are proud to see him recognized nationally.👏 #NewDEALers

Spotlight Schools: High-Poverty Schools That Are Raising The Bar - Education Reform Now Spotlight Schools: High-Poverty Schools That Are Raising The Bar Discover what works! Dive into our series highlighting high-performing, high-poverty schools in…

💡What do high-poverty, high-performing schools in GA, TX, CO, and MA have in common?

@edreformnow.org finds 3 key drivers of success:
✅Data-driven decision making
✅Building educator capacity
✅Small-group instruction
Learn more at edreformnow.org/k-12/spotlig...

Sixty Years Later, We’re Still Fighting for Title I - Education Reform Now ERN is a network of supporters across the advocacy and policymaking arenas working to expand what works and change what is broken in the public education system.

Title I turns 60 today—a milestone worth celebrating, and a commitment worth renewing. Title I has created opportunities for millions of students, but it’s currently under threat.

Read @edreformnow.org's latest blog on what’s at stake 👇👇
edreformnow.org/2025/04/11/s...

Our regional chapter DFER South was proud to support
Senator @rashaunkemp.bsky.social's election, and we’re even prouder to see him deliver real results for Georgia students. SB-93 ensures literacy instruction is grounded in science. The work continues! 💡 #EducationMatters

🚨🚨 Big victory for #EducationReform!! 🚨🚨 Senator @rashaunkemp.bsky.social’s first bill passed UNANIMOUSLY, ensuring Georgia teachers are trained in reading instruction aligned with the science of reading. A huge step toward making Georgia #1 in literacy! 📚👏

🚨My first bill achieved final passage! Unanimously! It tasks the PSC with ensuring teachers are prepared using reading instruction aligned with the science of reading. I look forward to the Governor signing this bill into law and ending the use of three-cuing in Georgia!

A Conversation on Educational Policy with Dr. Bryan Johnson: The Future of Public Education YouTube video by Equity in Education

DFER South Regional President Alisha Searcy participated in an important conversation on the future of ED & education #equity in Atlanta schools hosted by Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr Bryan Johnson. 💡📝
www.youtube.com/live/uq7TU6J...

🎉🎉 Congratulations to DFER and EBR school board member, Dadrius Lanus, on being named the new Executive Director of @lademos.bsky.social!! 🥳👏

Subscribe to Democrats For Education Reform Democrats leading a national political organization that cultivates and supports leaders in our party who champion America's public school children. Click to read Democrats For Education Reform, a Sub...

From funding battles to school choice debates, the future of public education is being decided right now. Stay ahead of the curve with DFER’s Substack––we break down the biggest education policy updates & ways to take action. 🎯 Subscribe NOW!
democratsforeducationreform.substack.com/subscribe

We urge Speaker Johnson and House leadership to move swiftly and do what’s right for students, families, and communities.

Our message is simple: education is not a bargaining chip—it’s a fundamental right.

Explore common FAQs on this issue to learn more. ⬇️⬇️

Phone Banking Power Hour: Tell House Representatives to Vote YES on the DC Local Funds Act! · Education Reform Now Advocacy In just **one hour (or less!),** you can help flood Congress with calls, demanding they **respect DC and pass the DC Local Funds Act.** Pick a time that works for you and join advocates nationwide on ...

2⃣ Participate in Friday’s Live Phone Banking Power Hour to make sure D.C.'s elected officials hear us loud and clear! 🗣️🗣️
www.mobilize.us/edreformdc/e...

Pass the DC Local Funds Act (S. 1077) Congress passed, and the President signed, a spending law that slashes $1.1 billion from D.C.’s FY25 budget mid-year, including $184 million from D.C. Public Schools, and $166 million from public char...

DFER is fully committed to rallying national support to get this done. We're encouraging everyone to do 2 things:

1⃣ Join us by sending letters to House representatives.
actionnetwork.org/letters/pass...

The Senate has done its part—now it’s time for the House to step up and pass the DC Local Funds Act (S. 1077) bill. Every day of delay puts students and schools at risk, and we cannot afford inaction.

🗣️📢 Let's talk about what is going on right now with public education in Washington, D.C. and how you can help. 🧵

Why Returning Education Entirely to the States is a Dangerous Proposition Dismantling the Department of Education and returning education to the states will put all students in the U.S. at risk

New on the Blog: Returning Education Entirely to the States is a Dangerous Proposition. Dismantling the Department of Education and handing returning education to the states will put all students in the U.S. at risk. Read the full blog: edtru.st/4bJd8mI

President Trump signs executive order to dismantle the Department of Education President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that directs the education secretary to begin dismantling the Department of Education.

“Shutting down the Department of Education will have a tremendous impact on students, educators & families in particular. My biggest concerns are for our most vulnerable students.” ERN Southern Region President Alisha Thomas Searcy via @atlantanewsfirst.com.
www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/03/21/p...

DFER CEO Jorge Elorza Responds to the Trump Administration’s Executive Order on the Department of Education - Democrats for Education Reform DFER is a national political organization that supports elected Democrats and candidates for office who seek to expand policies that improve the quality of education for America’s students.

DFER CEO Jorge Elorza responds to the Trump administration’s executive order on the Department of Education. "This will put severe strains on state and local education budgets and will only add to the ongoing academic crisis."
dfer.org/2025/03/20/d...

Video: Opinion | Democrats Need to Face Why Trump Won The Democratic pollster David Shor walks through what voter data reveals about the 2024 election — and how the American electorate is shifting.

Democratic pollster @davidshor.bsky.social walks through what voter data reveals about the 2024 election — and how the American electorate is shifting via @nytimes.com. www.nytimes.com/video/opinio...

‘More visas will be revoked’ during Trump campus protest crackdown The Trump administration will revoke more foreign student visas in the coming days to advance its crackdown on campus protesters, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

.@mattmeyerde.bsky.social via @politico.com: “As long as we stay focused on outcomes with respect to the quality of education, as long as we focus on outcomes with respect to equalizing opportunity for kids/families across America, I think Dems are going to be fine." www.politico.com/newsletters/...

Education Dept. layoffs by the numbers: Which staff were ousted, where cuts hit hardest The Trump administration slashed half of the Education Department's workforce on Tuesday. Here's a look at the offices and jobs hit hardest.

#ICYMI: Last week @usedgov.bsky.social slashed its workforce in half. ERN Director of Career Pathways & Postsecondary Policy @jamessmurphy.bsky.social analyzed the numbers and broke down the data. Read more via @usatoday.com.
www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...

Congress Is Attacking DC’s Schools—We Need Your Voice

Yesterday, House Republicans recklessly voted to pass a spending bill that slashed $1.1 billion from D.C.’s current FY25 spending budget. Now, the bill is before the Senate, awaiting a vote to be made by FRIDAY.

Tell the Senate to reject this attack! ⬇️⬇️
p2a.co/mR2UYS6

The idea that the Department of Education is bloated is false.

We know that one of the reasons the FAFSA went so poorly last year is that the agency is understaffed and has to rely on contractors.