Our 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 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 Renews Commitment to Equity in Education
We are living in a time where transparency is critical for every organization. As we continue to learn from our past and strive for growth, we recognize that we must reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that public education is just and equitable in Washington, DC. So today, after engaging in many conversations with our community, we are announcing our first-ever core values, which aim to strengthen the foundation that Democrats for Education Reform DC (DFER DC) is built on and showcase our dedication to all DC students and families.
We are living in a time where transparency is critical for every organization. As we continue to learn from our past and strive for growth, we recognize that we must reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that public education is just and equitable in Washington, DC. So today, after engaging in many conversations with our community, we are announcing our first-ever core values, which aim to strengthen the foundation that Democrats for Education Reform DC (DFER DC) is built on and showcase our dedication to all DC students and families.
The new core values represent our recent reflection on how we want to show up, internally and with external partners, but most importantly, with the DC community.
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.
What’s next?
We are looking to our community – students, partners, parents, and educators for suggestions on improving our collaboration with you so we can fight together for a public education that is just and equitable in DC.
Statement on National Voter Registration Day
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.”
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!
As D.C. tightens its fiscal belt, we must not squeeze students - The Washington Post
As we collectively struggle to cope with the dire economic ramifications of the coronavirus, the District must be careful not to balance the budget on the backs of schools and children, especially those most in need.
The novel coronavirus has brought our nation tremendous heartache and wreaked havoc on our economy. To her credit, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) has responded quickly and decisively, wisely relying on science and evidence when making decisions about closing schools and businesses.
But even strong leadership cannot keep the pandemic and its consequences entirely at bay, a fact made clear again when the District announced a dramatic decrease in projected revenue for the coming years. The numbers, grim by any measure, merely confirm what we’ve known: The District’s economy and budget are facing an extended period of pain.
As we collectively struggle to cope with the dire economic ramifications of the coronavirus, the District must be careful not to balance the budget on the backs of schools and children, especially those most in need. Our elected leaders must provide significant funding to support students, especially students from low-income families and students of color, in the weeks, months and years ahead.