New York, NY (April 16, 2024) – Today, DFER CEO Jorge Elorza released the following statement in response to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s testimony during the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Hearing:

“We commend Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona, for his recent public support of public charter schools during the House Appropriations Committee meeting hearing on the Department’s proposed FY25 budget. We must support all federal programs that provide a diverse ecosystem of high-quality public education options that allow all parents and students to attend the school that provides them with the highest level of education and opportunity regardless of their zip code or socioeconomic status.

However, we must correct the record that demand for public charter schools has decreased. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ recent report, ‘Believing in Public Education,’ highlights that from 2022 to 2023, charter school enrollment grew by 2%, welcoming 72,241 new students, while district school enrollment remained stagnant with only a 0.02% increase. In the last four school years alone, charter schools have gained over 300,000 new students, showcasing a 9% increase.

Furthermore, the Department’s own budget justification reveals that on average, 167 public charter schools are opening each year, underscoring the continued demand for these innovative educational options.

We urge Congress to bolster its support for a diverse high-quality public school ecosystem. Specifically, we request that Congress increase crucial support for public charter schools by appropriating $500 million for FY25. The Department should also streamline application processes, reduce burdens, provide increased outreach, and offer technical assistance to educators seeking to establish public charters in their communities. This support is crucial, especially as charter schools serve only 7.5% of the nation’s public school students yet are experiencing significant growth and meeting unique educational needs.”

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New York, NY (March 25, 2024) – Today, DFER CEO Jorge Elorza released the following statement in response to the House passing the federal education spending bill:

“The Congressional FY24 spending bill represents a significant win for students by averting the drastic cuts to crucial education programs initially proposed by Republicans. We applaud House and Senate Democrats’ efforts to safeguard students’ rights to a robust public education system and their rejection of MAGA extremists’ efforts to undermine our public education system.

We applaud the $18.4 billion allocated for ESSA Title I grants to local education agencies, a $20 million increase from FY23. This funding, while modest, is a resounding rebuttal to the 80% cut proposed by House Republicans. These funds will provide crucial support for schools—especially those in high-poverty areas and other districts facing fiscal challenges—to sustain learning recovery programs after ESSER funds expire. 

Additionally, we applaud the increased funding for IDEA to support students with disabilities, and while we are disappointed there is no increase in funding to Title III—which seeks to specifically aid English learners—we are also pleased to see there were no cuts either, as both investments are key to addressing the diverse needs of our student population.

Acknowledging the heightened demand for diverse, high-quality public education options, including public charter schools, we continue to urge Congress to increase funding for the Charter Schools Program (CSP) to $500M. We recommend increasing outreach and technical assistance to public charter applicants who need guidance in navigating the increasingly complex application process and particularly providing aid to schools serving under-resourced communities.

We appreciate Democrats’ ongoing commitment to funding vital higher education programs, ensuring that all post-secondary opportunities for students remain protected. However, it’s essential to note that simply maintaining flat-funding is not sufficient. We must advocate for increased funding to empower all students, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds, with the chance to attend the college that best suits their aspirations. We likewise continue to call on Congress to increase funding for the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence. Investing $300M in this critical program supports HBCUs, TCCUs, and MSIs. Augustus Hawkins is instrumental in enhancing teacher preparation programs and fostering diversity within the teaching workforce.

The current flat-funding of total federal student aid assistance at $24.6 billion and the unchanging maximum yearly Pell Grant award per student at $7,395 highlight the need for further investment. By enhancing accessibility to higher education pathways, we can truly support students’ ambitions and ensure that education remains a pathway to success for all.

We commend President Biden for his part in these negotiations and swiftly signing the budget into law. Furthermore, we urge the President to continue to take decisive action to strengthen America’s education system, guaranteeing a high-quality education for every student, regardless of their socioeconomic background or zip code. It is imperative for Democrats to continue to steadfastly oppose the Republican Party’s overt attempts to undermine public education and champion policies that uplift our students and communities.”

NEW YORK, N.Y. (March 11, 2024) — Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) CEO Jorge Elorza issued the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s proposed cut to funding for the federal Charter Schools Program, released today by the U.S. Department of Education:

“We are deeply troubled by the Biden administration’s proposal to slash $40 million from the Charter School Program’s (CSP) proposed budget. This decision is dangerous for the future of our kids and the electoral prospects of Democrats across the country. 

Public charter schools enjoy wide support, and for good reason. They offer innovative and effective educational opportunities to families, and they particularly benefit Democratic base voters: low-income, Black and brown communities. Ten years ago, Democrats enjoyed a 26 point advantage over Republicans on voters’ trust on education. Today, that advantage is gone due in large part to decisions like these.

Polling has made it clear that public school choice, and public charters, continue to retain immense popularity, with data showing that over 70% of Black and Latino voters, Democrats, and parents view public charter schools favorably. In swing states, 78% of voters said electeds should increase public school options beyond students’ traditionally zoned public schools, allowing families to select the best school to meet their child’s needs. Voters are clearly demanding public school choice but instead of embracing it, the administration is retreating from it. This is a mistake.

In short: the administration’s cuts to public school choice give the least consideration to the very communities the president needs the most. It not only hurts students, it hurts the president’s re-election chances.”

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New York, N.Y. (June 5, 2023) — Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jorge Elorza released the following statement in response to today’s decision by the Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board to approve the first sectarian charter school in the country:

“Today’s decision by the Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board to approve a sectarian charter school is disappointing, but we cannot let this anomaly  detract from the vital role that public charter schools play for millions of students within our nation’s public school system. 

At DFER, we will continue to support public charter schools that are nonsectarian, tuition-free, have fair and open admissions processes, are held to the same federal accountability standards as traditional public schools, and that abide by federal civil rights protections. To be clear, any school not meeting these criteria is not a public charter school and should not be eligible for federal funding under the Charter Schools Program. 

DFER’s north star has always been advancing evidence-based policies that enable the American Dream for all students. For the past 30 years, public charter schools have delivered exceptional results educating Black, Brown and low-income kids throughout the country, and they’ve shown that a great public school education is not reserved for only the affluent. This is why support for high-performing charter schools among low-income Black and Brown families consistently polls extraordinarily high. Put simply, low-income Black and Brown families have seen great public charter schools and they want more of them.

We urge Democrats to stand against public dollars being used to support religious instruction, and to also continue protecting and expanding high quality public charter schools that are providing an excellent education to students across our nation.”

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