This vision can help transform education systems, deliver results for families, and help Democrats reclaim their edge on education
(NEW YORK, NY, May 15, 2025) — Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) released a bold new vision, “A Democratic Framework for An Abundance Education Agenda,” to help deliver better outcomes for students and provide a path for Democrats to reclaim voters’ trust on education. In the “Abundance Education Agenda,” DFER CEO Jorge Elorza explores how a mindset of Abundance can guide Democrats in rethinking education policy and transforming education systems.
“This vision is not about adopting a particular education policy, it is about rethinking and transforming the way education systems are designed. We’re focused on unleashing the power of innovation, insisting on continuous improvement, and empowering families with greater agency and choice.”
Previously regarded as the “Party of Education,” Democrats once enjoyed a 26 point advantage over Republicans on voter trust on education. However, as Democrats focused less on K-12 education, Republicans gained an advantage as the party voters now trust most to deliver on their educational needs. This wild swing has created the political imperative for Democrats to rethink their approach to education.
Amid that growing public skepticism about the Democratic Party’s leadership on education, the Abundance Education Agenda offers a fresh approach–moving beyond outdated, input-focused strategies to pushing our party to transform our education systems so that they deliver better outcomes.
3 Core Pillars of an Abundance Education Agenda:
- Innovation, so that we can figure out what works.
- Accountability, so that we only invest in what works.
- Choice, so that families can decide for themselves what works.
The Agenda calls on Democratic leaders to be excellence-focused and governance-neutral. It calls for Democrats to utilize a startup-style approach to innovation and explore different education models such as micro schools, learning pods, and unbundled learning. It calls for Democrats to act with urgency and to embrace accountability by re-orienting our focus from inputs to outcomes. Last, it calls for our party to provide real choices for families so that they can decide which option best meets their diverse educational needs.
“Families deserve schools that deliver on the promise of a great education,” said Elorza. “In this moment of massive disruption, we have a perfect opportunity to take an entirely different approach. It’s time to set a new course and put education back at the center of our party’s priorities. We can indeed reclaim the title of the Party of Education and an Abundance mindset can be our guide.”
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