DFER DC Statement on DCPS’s Decision to Postpone Reopening of Schools

DFER DC Statement on DCPS’s Decision to Postpone Reopening of Schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Democrats for Education Reform DC (DFER DC) released the following statement in response to the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) announcement that elementary schools will not reopen on November 9 as originally scheduled.

“The original plan to reopen DC Public Schools, while admirable in its intent, missed the mark with many parents, teachers, and principals. We believe that today’s decision to postpone reopening was correct. 
Moving forward, Mayor Bowser and Chancellor Ferebee must work with principals, teachers, and families to devise a reopening plan that supports staff while allowing all students to receive high-quality instruction — regardless of whether they participate in person or virtually. Above all, the plan must prioritize the students and communities most likely to be negatively impacted by school closures, including students considered “at risk” and students with special needs. We urge all sides to make every effort to reach an agreement that makes reopening inclusive, equitable, and safe for all students and staff.”

###

About DFER DC
Democrats for Education Reform DC (DFER DC) recruits, educates, and helps elect Democratic and progressive candidates who are committed to creating a public education system in Washington, D.C., that justly and equitably serves all students. We are committed to being student-centered, anti-racist, honorable, and collaborative.

DFER DC Releases Voter Guide on Education Issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democrats for Education Reform DC (DFER DC), an organization committed to creating a public education system in Washington, D.C., that justly and equitably serves all students, today released its first-ever DC Education Champions Voter Guide. The guide aims to help DC voters understand candidates’ positions on key education policy issues ahead of the November 3rd election.

“This year shows us that change must happen and it must happen now. There is no greater lever with which to change the broken status quo than the exercise of our most fundamental right as Americans: our right to vote,” said DFER DC Director Ramin Taheri. “As an organization dedicated to fighting for the students and families who are so often overlooked, we must ensure DC residents are well-informed and able to exercise their right to vote.”

The guide does not endorse any particular candidate. Still, the organization encourages eligible voters to pay attention to the candidates who have a strong understanding of the building blocks of an equitable public education system. These include resource equity, accountability, public school choice, teacher quality and preparation, higher education quality, affordability, and opportunity.

DFER DC obtained the information compiled and summarized in the guide from the candidates’ answers to the organization’s questionnaires, official campaign websites, and other publicly available sources.

The 2020 DC Education Champions Voter Guide is available at dc-edchampions.org through Election Day on November 3.

###

About DFER DC

Democrats for Education Reform DC (DFER DC) recruits, educates, and helps elect Democratic and progressive candidates who are committed to creating a public education system in Washington, D.C., that justly and equitably serves all students. We are committed to being student-centered, anti-racist, honorable, and collaborative.

DFER DC: Mission, Vision and Values

Our Vision

 A public education system in Washington, D.C., that justly and equitably serves all students. 

Our Mission

To recruit, educate, and help elect Democratic and progressive candidates who are committed to creating a public education system in Washington, D.C., that justly and equitably serves all students.

Our Values

Student-centered.

  • We are committed to prioritizing the success and well-being of students above all else. 
  • We are committed to examining our policy priorities continuously to ensure that they are truly student-centered.
  • We are committed to defending and advocating for just and effective policies that are in the best interests of students, even if those policies are unpopular or politically inexpedient. 
  • We are committed to evidence over ideology, and to policy outcomes over political victories.

Anti-racist.

  • We are committed to being anti-racist both in education and in our daily lives. 
  • We are committed to examining and understanding our work through the lens of equity and racial justice.
  • We are committed to breaking down the systemic barriers that perpetuate these injustices and inequities.
  • We are committed to including in our policy formation and advocacy efforts the voices of historically marginalized communities.

Honorable.

  • We are committed to operating in all aspects of our work with honor and humility.
  • We are committed to acknowledging and learning from our past, and to continuously improving, as individuals and as an organization.

Collaborative.

  • We are committed to working collaboratively, both within our organization and across the ecosystem of education, social-justice advocates, families, and communities.
  • We are committed to acknowledging and appreciating all opinions, valuing the diversity of people and perspectives.
  • We are committed to understanding and working within the interconnected nature of social justice work, acknowledging that harm and injustice anywhere affects students and families everywhere.

DFER DC Statement on National Voter Registration Day

Today, Democrats for Education Reform DC (DFER DC) celebrates National Voter Registration Day with millions of Americans who hope to inspire all eligible voters to exercise their right to be heard at the ballot box. 

Voting has never been more important. With a public health pandemic claiming lives and upending our economy, a critical U.S. presidential election, the threat of another Republican appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court that could roll back critical civil rights protections, and key local races that will determine the next DC Education Champions, we must ensure DC residents are well-informed and able to exercise their right to vote. As Barack Obama said, “There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter. It all matters.”Next week, DFER DC will release its first-ever DC Education Champions Voter Guide. This guide aims to help DC voters learn where the candidates stand on issues affecting public education. It will be available at dc-edchampions.org through Election Day on November 3.

If you are not registered to vote in DC, we encourage you to do so by October 13, 2020 at https://www.dcboe.org/Voters/Register-To-Vote/Register-to-Vote. DC also offers same-day voter registration during early voting and on Election Day. (You will need to bring proof of residence with you.) All active voters should receive a mail-in ballot at their registered address beginning the first week in October. All DC mail-in ballot voters must sign the outside of the envelope before mailing their ballot. For more information go to www.dcboe.org. 

We encourage all DC residents to vote! 

About DFER DC: DFER DC recruits, educates, and helps elect Democratic and progressive candidates who are committed to creating a public education system in Washington, DC, that justly and equitably serves all students. 

DFER-NY Releases Statement on Delayed School Opening 

NEW YORK, NY (Sept. 1, 2020) — Democrats for Education Reform-New York (DFER-NY) Director Crisanta Duran released the below statement following today’s decision to delay the start of the school year:

“We applaud the decision to delay the reopening of New York City schools and make the health and wellbeing of students and educators a top priority. This additional time will allow educators and administrators to be better prepared to provide a safe learning environment and high-quality instruction for all students—whether that’s in-person or online.”

##

DFER-DC Condemns Racist Language Used By DC Elected Official

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 22, 2020)—Democrats for Education Reform-DC (DFER-DC) Director Ramin Taheri released the following statement today:

“Public service, no matter the position, is an honor and a privilege. But elected office—being chosen by voters to represent them, to speak for them—to literally voice their desires and demands—is a special calling, one with a host of solemn duties and responsibilities. Our elected leaders are our champions and our advocates, and they must speak of and represent their constituents—and all citizens—with dignity and respect. Their platform should be used to support our communities, encourage allies to rally around them, and advance policies that mitigate historic harms and effect real, lasting change. 

Last week, however, one such leader, ostensibly speaking on behalf of DC at large, demeaned and denigrated the very citizens for whom she should be fighting, using vile and dangerous stereotypes and overtly racist language. It should go without saying that no three-year-old child should be criminalized. But this elected leader went further, invoking race to suggest that a Black child is inherently dangerous or violent; this is the epitome of the systemic racism and hatred that have undermined our democracy since its beginning. For too long, this country has used the demonization of Black children as a rationalization for systematically depriving them of their educational and human rights; consequently leading to disadvantage, discrimination, mass incarceration, and generational poverty. 

At DFER-DC, we believe an equitable, fully funded public education is an essential tool to breaking down the racist systems of our society. The centuries-old system of how children are educated with an anti-Black mindset has done untold damage and must be abandoned immediately. We stand against racism in all its forms and will not hesitate to speak up when we see something that is not right and not just. We expect no less from our elected leaders; in fact, we expect more.

As of today, however, the aforementioned elected leader has offered no apology, no indication that she understands that her comments were wrong and harmful, and no statement suggesting that she is committed to change. At DFER-DC, we know that an apology does not itself provide absolution, but it is an important first step toward healing. Refusing to take this step is unacceptable.

As the late John Lewis, member of Congress and one of America’s great leaders of the modern civil rights movement, noted, ‘when you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.’ We pledge to speak up, to live our values, and to hold our elected leaders accountable when they are wrong. We hope this is a wake up call for this particular elected leader, and others, to question their own biases, commit to change, and to join the movement to dismantle racism in our public education system.” 

###

DFER-DC Releases Statement on Organizational Values and Ward 4 Primary

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 7, 2020)—Democrats for Education Reform-DC Director Ramin Taheri released the following statement today on our organizational values and the Ward 4 primary:

“During this election season, DFER-DC endorsed Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd, a champion for education reforms that have helped make D.C. the fastest improving urban school district in the country and have better prepared Black and Brown children for college, career, and life. In furtherance of this, DFER-DC distributed mailers to Ward 4 voters informing them of Janeese Lewis George’s position on divesting resources from traditional police programs, a position that polling showed Ward 4 voters opposed. These mailers oversimplified a more nuanced conversation about public safety without calling out the problematic history of policing Black people, causing misunderstanding and pain on an issue vitally important to the students and families DFER-DC serves. We have taken the time to reflect on the implications of these mailers: We made a mistake, and we have learned from it.

At DFER-DC, we believe an equitable, fully funded public education system is an essential tool to breaking down the racist systems of our society, and we work every day to ensure more Black and Brown children can receive a high-quality public education that allows them to reach their full potential. We also believe that our criminal-punishment, economic, housing, and healthcare systems are interconnected with our school systems and thus educational equity is not possible without racially just practices throughout the policy ecosystem that affects young people and their families. We understand how the mailers we distributed in the Ward 4 election could appear to ignore that interconnectedness and have caused confusion about the values and principles that we hold dear, both personally and as an organization.

Since our founding in 2015, we have been proud to support candidates who have expanded school-based mental health, trauma-informed training, and restorative justice practices, and made sweeping reforms to D.C.’s juvenile justice system. I personally have spent my career fighting for educational equity, working as a civil rights attorney and helping to craft and advance policies that seek specifically to remedy racial injustice. These policies reflect who we are at our core and what we fight for.

As we always have, our team will continue to meet with, listen to, work with, and learn from community members across the city as we seek to achieve our shared goal—a city that puts educational equity and racial justice at the center of our collective work.

And we continue to stand alongside those marching and protesting to disrupt the status quo of inequity and bring about real and lasting change for Black communities.”

 ##

DFER-DC Releases Statement on Combating Systemic Racism

Public Education ‘Essential Tool for Breaking Down Racist Systems’

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 29, 2020)—Democrats for Education Reform-DC (DFER-DC) Director Ramin Taheri released the following statement today on the role of public education in combating systemic racism:

“DFER-DC is outraged by the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. We stand with those calling for the fullest prosecution of the officers responsible for the murder. And we stand with, and alongside, those exercising their First Amendment right to protest this injustice.

Like so many Black men and women before him, Floyd had his rights and his life violently taken away because of deep-seated, structural, toxic racism—a systemic racism that has too often allowed Black Americans to be treated as if their lives do not matter. And a systemic racism that pervades American public education. But this must change. We are committed to being part of that change.

At DFER-DC, we believe an equitable, fully funded public education system is an essential tool to breaking down the racist systems of our society, and we work every day to ensure more Black and Brown children can receive a high-quality public education that allows them to reach their full potential. An important step in that direction is supporting champions for great schools who will look at both short- and long-term solutions to improve all students’ outcomes and opportunities.

As Americans know—especially since November 2016—elections have consequences. It is impossible to overstate the importance of having the right people in the right seats; we need elected officials who are wholly committed to the success of our children. As a political organization, DFER-DC works to elect true advocates for educational equity who will fight for all students, particularly historically marginalized students, who deserve and have a right to a high-quality education.

Although public education in Washington, D.C., has come a long way over the past decade due to the many reforms made by strong leaders, all of DFER-DC’s efforts emanate from the fundamental belief that our public education system, as it exists now, does not adequately serve all students, and we will continue to support candidates who will fight for a more equitable future for every child. In doing so, we regularly highlight issues that voters care about, contrasting the positions of our endorsed candidates and their challengers.

For the past several weeks, DFER-DC has been informing voters in Ward 4 about one candidate’s proposal to divest resources from community policing in the District, a position that is deeply unpopular with Ward 4 residents, especially among African American voters. Recent polling shows that 78% of African American voters and 59% of white voters in Ward 4 do not support cutting police from their neighborhood. Any suggestion that this equates to support for police misconduct or brutality is disingenuous and contradicts everything we stand for and believe.

A man was killed this week because he was Black, an occurrence that is tragically too common in our country. We condemn the murder and call for justice. We fight for the promise of what comes next, starting with the system that touches almost every American—public education. While we know that education is not the cure all, it’s an essential tool for dismantling a centuries-old system of injustice. We look forward to uniting with all allies in this work so that one day in the United States, every child will have access to a great education, regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or the neighborhood where they live. ”

##

DFER LA Congratulates 19 Endorsed Candidates on Election Victories in 2019 Cycle

DFER LA Congratulates 19 Endorsed Candidates on Election Victories in 2019 Cycle

Gov. Edwards re-elected for four more years

19 DFER champions win races during 2019 cycle

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) Louisiana’s State Director, Eva Kemp, released the below statement following the reported victories of DFER champions in the legislature:

“We’re proud to congratulate these DFER-backed candidates on their hard-fought and well-deserved victories tonight, particularly Governor John Bel Edwards who will continue to prioritize education and fight for low-income families in his second term,” said Kemp. “Tonight’s runoff results, coupled with the primary victories, show that voters support the steady progress of public education across our state and demand better options and a greater investment in resources and expanded opportunities for students and families across Louisiana. We look forward to building strong relationships with each of the newly elected legislators as they begin their new terms.”

Based on the returns from the Secretary of State’s website, 19 DFER-backed candidates won elections during the statewide election cycle:

  • Governor John Bel Edwards edged out his Republican opponent with 51% of the vote in the runoff, leading by less than 40,000 votes;
  • BESE District 2: Kira Orange Jones won re-election handily with 61% of the vote in the primary;
  • BESE District 8: Preston Castille, a first time-candidate and education and civic leader bested his three opponents with 52% of the vote in the primary;
  • Senate District 2: Sen. Ed Price won re-election with 59% of the vote in the primary;
  • Senate District 5: Sen. Karen Carter Peterson will return to the Senate with 79% of the vote in the primary;
  • Senate District 14: former Sen. Cleo Fields edged out his opponent with 53% of the vote in the primary;
  • Senate District 24: Sen. Gerald Boudreaux won by a significant margin with 76% of the vote in the primary;
  • Senate District 29: Sen. Jay Luneau will continue serving in the Senate with 61% of the vote in the primary;
  • Senate District 39: Sen. Greg Tarver was easily re-elected with 69% of the vote in the primary;
  • House District 16: Fred Jones (50%) finished just short of an outright win and faced a runoff until his opponent withdrew from the race;
  • House District 18: Rep. Jeremy LaCombe held a strong victory margin with 63% of the vote in the primary;
  • House District 21: C. Travis Johnson won with 59% of the vote in the runoff;
  • House District 40: Rep. Dustin Miller was easily re-elected with 70% of the vote in the primary;
  • House District 58: Rep. Ken Brass was re-elected with 76% of the vote in the primary;
  • House District 63: Rep. Barbara West Carpenter was re-elected with 62% of the vote in the primary;
  • House District 67: Larry Selders won his election with 55% of the vote in the runoff;
  • House District 75: Rep. Malinda White held on to her seat easily with 64% of the vote in the primary;
  • House District 87: Rep. Rodney Lyons won re-election handily with 79% of the vote in the primary; and,
  • House District 100: Jason Hughes was elected to the district’s open seat with 66% of the vote.

In total, of the 24 races where DFER invested, 19 strong Democratic leaders will enter public office next year. The majority of the Democratic caucus is entering the Legislature after earning DFER’s support.

“We’d especially like to congratulate Governor John Bel Edwards, who has been a partner in advancing equitable policies both in and outside the classroom, on his victory tonight,” said Kemp. “This result gives Governor Edwards a clear mandate to continue moving Louisiana forward. We look forward to continuing our working relationship with the Governor and his Administration on common-sense policies to improve the lives of Louisiana’s students and families.”

###

DFER LA Congratulates 15 Endorsed Candidates on Election Day Victories

DFER LA Congratulates 15 Endorsed Candidates on Election Day Victories 15 DFER champions win races in BESE, House & Senate; Eight DFER-backed candidates face runoffs NEW ORLEANS, LA – Following the reported victories of 15 DFER champions for seats in the Legislature and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), Democrats for Education Reform Louisiana’s State Director, Eva Kemp, released the following statement:  “We’re proud to congratulate so many DFER candidates on their hard-fought and well-deserved victories tonight,” said Kemp. “At our core, we believe the Democratic Party should be the party that champions schoolchildren. The victories tonight prove that to be true and are a testament to the need for continued progress and opportunity for students and their families in Louisiana. We’d especially like to congratulate Governor John Bel Edwards, who has been a partner in advancing equitable policies both in and outside the classroom, on reaching a strong position for the November runoff. We will continue to support him throughout the next 34 days to ensure his re-election and continued service to Louisiana’s students and families.” Based on unofficial returns, both of DFER’s candidates for the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) won outright: 
  • District 2: Kira Orange Jones won re-election handily with 61% of the vote; and,
  • District 8: Preston Castille, a first time-candidate and education and civic leader bested his three opponents with 52% of the vote.
“It’s evident that Kira Orange Jones’ leadership and voice on BESE is invaluable; we’re thrilled that her tenure on BESE will continue and the lasting impact she will have on Louisiana students,” said Kemp. “Moreover, we’re thrilled that Preston Castille won outright; he will be a vibrant leader on BESE, crafting policy and building collaborative relationships that can take our state’s education system to new levels.” Based on the unofficial returns, six DFER-backed candidates won Louisiana Senate races outright: 
  • Senate District 2: Sen. Ed Price won re-election with 59% of the vote.
  • Senate District 5: Sen. Karen Carter Peterson will return to the Senate with 79% of the vote.
  • Senate District 14: former Sen. Cleo Fields edged out his opponent with 53% of the vote.
  • Senate District 24: Sen. Gerald Boudreaux won re-election handily with 76% of the vote. 
  • Senate District 29: Sen. Jay Luneau will continue serving in the Senate with 61% of the vote.
  • Senate District 39: Sen. Greg Tarver was easily re-elected with 69% of the vote. 
Seven DFER-backed candidates won elections to the Louisiana House of Representatives: 
  • House District 18: Rep. Jeremy LaCombe held a strong victory margin with 63% of the vote. 
  • House District 40: Rep. Dustin Miller was easily re-elected with 70% of the vote.
  • House District 58: Rep. Ken Brass was re-elected with 76% of the vote. 
  • House District 63: Rep. Barbara West Carpenter was re-elected with 62% of the vote.
  • House District 75: Rep. Malinda White held on to her seat easily with 64% of the vote.
  • House District 87: Rep. Rodney Lyons won re-election handily with 79% of the vote.
  • House District 100: Jason Hughes was elected to the district’s open seat with 66% of the vote.
Of note, both House Districts 18 and 75 were carried by President Donald Trump in 2016 and were heavily targeted by Republicans. DFER previously backed Rep. LaCombe in a landslide victory in a special election earlier this year.  “When DFER first considered these candidates for endorsements, it was clear that each of them would champion public schoolchildren as they consider issues that affect Louisiana’s students and families inside and outside the classroom,” said Kemp. “We look forward to building strong relationships with them as they begin their new term in the Legislature. Each of these victories affirms that voters across the state are demanding better options and resources for their students. It’s quite powerful that we will have quality education champions and dedicated public servants advocating for our students for the next four years.” “Our work is not done and we will ensure the eight remaining DFER-backed candidates get the resources they need to finish strong as they face a run-off election in November. DFER LA PAC will also be issuing new endorsements for select runoff races in the coming weeks,” said Kemp. Here are the unofficial results in select House and Senate races that are headed to a runoff: 
  • Senate District 16: Beverly Brooks Thompson (34%) holds a strong position heading into the runoff and faces Rep. Franklin Foil (30%), who edged into second place over Rep. Steve Carter by just eight votes.
  • House District 3: Daryl Joy Walters (33%) and Tammy Phelps (46%) head into the runoff in this North Louisiana district. 
  • House District 16: Frederick D. Jones (50%) finished just short of an outright win and will face Daryll Berry (23%).
  • House District 21: C. Travis Johnson (44%) will face Glen B. McGlothin, Jr. (23%).
  • House District 34: Kevin Guidry (41%) will face Wilford Carter, Sr. (48%) in this Lake Charles area district.
  • House District 67: Both DFER-backed candidates Larry Selders (38%) and Leah Cullins (29%) head to the runoff.
  • House District 99: Adonis Exposé (40%) and Candance Newell (49%) will face off in November.
The runoff election for the Governor’s race and legislative races will be on Saturday, November 16. Early voting will take place from Sat. Nov. 2 to Sat. Nov. 9 (except Sunday, Nov. 3) from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. ###

our newsletter.