New Report: Lessons Learned in Lawrence Schools Should Inform Education Funding Debate

New Report: Lessons Learned in Lawrence Schools Should Inform Education Funding Debate Data Show Lawrence Graduating More Latino and Economically Disadvantaged Students than Boston, Spending Far Less BOSTON – Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA), an affiliate organization of Democrats for Education Reform, today released a new report, “Money, Mediocrity, and Making Change. A tale of two cities:

DFER-MA Responds to State Party Action on Charter Cap Ballot Question

For Immediate Release Democrats Respond to State Party Action on Charter Cap Ballot Question BOSTON — In response to members of the Democratic State Committee voting tonight to oppose Question 2 – a ballot question which would allow more high-quality charter schools to operate in Massachusetts – Democrats For Education Reform released the following statement:

DFER-MA Statement on Charter School Confusion

For Immediate Release DEMOCRATS FOR EDUCATION REFORM STATEMENT ON CHARTER SCHOOL CONFUSION Lowell, MA — Following the Massachusetts Democratic Party Convention today, DFER-MA State Director Liam Kerr released the following statement: “The official platform of the Democratic Party says that Democrats will “work to expand public school options for low-income youth, including … charter schools.”

Massachusetts Higher Ed: Excellence Without Equity

By Liam Kerr, DFER-Massachusetts State Director Democrats for Education Reform sent a “secret shopper” to 11 elite Massachusetts colleges and universities to get a glimpse at how good a job these schools are doing in supporting the relatively small number of working class and low-income students enrolled.  The results either call into question the veracity of the

Opinion: New BPS superintendent Tommy Chang should be bold

The following piece, originally published in the Boston Globe, was written by Marty Walz, DFER-Massachusetts Advisory Council chairman and former Massachusetts state legislator from Boston.  — New BPS superintendent Tommy Chang should be bold By Marty Walz | July 02, 2015 Boston Mayor Martin Walsh’s inauguration was 18 months ago, but the Walsh era in Boston Public Schools

DFER-MA's Liam Kerr: No reason to abandon MCAS testing

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette by DFER-Massachusetts State Director Liam Kerr: Letter: No reason to abandon MCAS testing Posted Jul. 2, 2015 at 7:06 AM The recent legislative hearing on proposals to jettison assessment tests underscores the need to return the Democratic Party to its role as

High Demand for Public Charters in Boston

As in climate change, ignore the deniers. By Liam Kerr, DFER-MA State Director Climate change deniers often argue that some scientists agree with their position. Yet here in Massachusetts, we know that climate change is real—and we know something’s not right when a lone, climate change-denying scientist uses a questionable study to disagree with the

Myths and Realities of MA's Public Charter Schools

By John Griffin, DFER-MA Policy Fellow Policy leaders from across the United States are trying to reproduce the proven success of Boston’s public charter schools. But you wouldn’t know that from the charter debates currently happening in the Commonwealth, where opponents are repeating the same tired, unsupported criticisms. They argue charters achieve their high performance

DFER-MA testifies against new school performance assessments

Source: MA Charter Public School Association On Tuesday, June 24th, DFER-MA sent policy fellow John Griffin to testify against proposed changes to public charter school regulations at the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The proposed policy is projected to eliminate charter school seats in four high-need, urban districts while increasing seats in higher-performing

RELEASE: DFER-MA Statement on Stalled Charter Bill in Light of Arne Duncan's Visit to Boston Schools

Contact: Devin Boyle | 202.445.0416 | Devin@dfer.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Democrats for Education Reform Releases Statement on Stalled Charter Bill in Light of Arne Duncan’s Visit to Boston Schools Boston, MA – March 11, 2014 – Democrats for Education Reform Massachusetts (DFER-MA) released the following statement today from Massachusetts state director Liam Kerr, urging the