DFER National President Shavar Jeffries Releases Statement in Response to Senator Warren’s Education Plan

October 21, 2019

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Oct. 21, 2019) –Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) National President Shavar Jeffries released the following statement in response to Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Education Plan:

“Senator Warren’s Education Plan can be commended on several fronts—including her approach to school finance and diversifying the teaching workforce—however, her stance on public charter schools is not only out of touch with the priorities of Democratic voters, but will hinder opportunities for Black and Brown students.

Public charters schools have always been based in the fundamental Democratic value of increasing equitable outcomes for all students. Studies continue to show that students—particularly Black students from low-income families and Hispanic English Language Learners have significantly higher learning gains than their similar peers in traditional public schools, gaining the equivalent of three to five months additional learning time.

The Senator’s plan would limit their access to high performing schools—a position that is not only harmful, but unpopular. Our recent polling with Benenson Strategy Group found that 81% of Democratic primary voters and 89% of Black Democratic primary voters support expanded access to public school choice options, including public charter schools.

Senator Warren’s plan is unfortunately another instance where she has broken with the Obama Legacy—an education legacy rooted in innovation and choice within public schools and one that continues to resonate with the Democratic party.  

While we agree with the Senator that for-profit charters should be banned and that public charter schools should be held to high standards, limiting high-quality options that have been proven to increase equity within the public school system is the wrong plan for Democrats.”

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