Don’t Adopt a “Dixiecrat”-like plank re local (school board) control of chartered public schools
The following statement was submitted in July, 2020 to the 2020 National Democratic Party Platform Committee by more than 100 parents, students and educators, including Joe Nathan, director, Center for School Change
To 2020 National Democratic Convention Platform Committee Members and Delegates:
We strongly urge the national Democratic Party platform committee to listen to civil rights heroes like Rosa Parks, Dr. Kenneth Clark and Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker – to expand, rather than restrict public school choices, as has been proposed in the draft Democratic Party 2020 platform. The proposed draft would “turn back the clock” almost 30 years – when the only public school options low income families had were what the local district decided to provide.
Dr. Clark, co-author of the “Doll Test” used in the “Brown versus Board” US Supreme Court Case, in 1968, urged creation of “realistic, aggressive and viable competitors” outside the control of local school boards.
Dr. Kenneth Clark
Chartering rests in part on his wonderful suggestions. The proposed draft would ignore Clark’s recommendations. The draft permits local boards to block federal startup funds for charters.
Sadly Detroit’s board blocked a charter when Rosa Parks proposed one be created because she and many other African-American families wee dissatisfied with many district public schools.
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Rosa Parks
While the platform includes many progressive ideas, the education section sounds sadly, like some of the worst Dixiecrat platforms. It urges regression and return to “local (school board) control” when it comes to families – especially low income, African American, Latinx, indigenous and other families of color. We strongly urge rejection of local school board control over chartering and chartered public schools.
We strongly urge inclusion of chartered public schools as a form of public school in the platform. Otherwise, Democrats will be guilty of what Ralph Ellison described in the Invisible Man “ I am invisible because you refuse to see me.”
As predicted, chartering has encouraged districts from Boston to Los Angeles to create new district options, and refine existing district choices. “Choice/freedom” is a central principle for progressive Democrats whether it involves a woman’s control over her body or a family’s decisions among public schools. Chartering is a freedom, something like freedom of speech, offering opportunities but no guarantees. Like other American freedoms, chartering
- Recognizes the value of giving people the chance to create something new, and valuable
- Requires that innovators be responsible for results
- Insists that those new public school operate within limits.
Dr. Wyatt T. Walker, chief of staff for Dr. Martin Luther King, wrote, “ In the charter school movement, I am continuing the work of Dr. King…”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Wyatt T. Walker
While some succeed in district schools, Cesar Chavez explained why growing numbers of Latinix (and other students of color) select chartered public schools. “Years of misguided teaching have resulted in the destruction of the best in our society, in our cultures and in the environment.”
Consistent with the wonderful work of these courageous leaders, we urge recognition of chartering and charter public schools as valuable parts of public education and as a manifestation of self-determination of Black, Brown, Asian-American, indigenous people and immigrant families.
We urge rejection of draft platform approaches that would allow “local school board control” to block federal funds for creation of new, or expansion of existing, effective chartered public schools. We urge federal support for learning from the most effective schools – measured in various ways, whether district or chartered.
We’re eager to work with you and other Democrats to promote education opportunity, equity and justice.
St Claire Adriaan, Principal, Academy of The City Charter School, Woodside, NY
Claud Allaire, Executive Director, FIT Academy Charter School, Apple Valley, Mn
Chancey Anderson, Prodeo Academy, CEO School Development, Minneapolis
Erin Anderson, Director of Charter School Authorizing, Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center, Minnesota
Heidi E. Anderson, Executive Director, Augsburg Fairview Academy, Minneapolis
Joan Arbisi Little, Executive Director, Career Pathways Public Charter Secondary School, St Paul
Jay Artis-Wright, Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools, Steering Committee Member, Sacramento CA
Sara M. Asmussen, Ph.D., Executive Director, New Dawn Charter Schools, Brooklyn, NY
Katie G de Aviña, Executive Director, El Colegio High School, Mpls, Mn
Todd Bartholomay, Executive Director of New City School (Public Charter), Minneapolis, Mn
Darren T. Beck, Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer, Utah Military Academy
Susan Berg, Executive Director, Yinghua Academy, Minneapolis
Carol Bowar, Executive Director, Girls Athletic Leadership Schools of Denver
Valeria Braimah, Executive Director, City Charter Schools, Los Angeles CA
Jai Brisbon, M.Ed, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Lumin Education, Dallas, Texas
Karen Butterfield, Ed.D, founder of Flagstaff Arts & Leadership Academy, Flagstaff AZ; 1993 Arizona Teacher of the Year
Kaleem Caire, One City Schools, Madison WI
W. Michelle Cambrice, Director, The Journey School, St. Paul, MN
Antonio Cardona, Director Office of Public Charter Schools at Pillsbury United Communities, Minneapolis
Rick Campion, Prodeo Academy, CEO Strategy, Prodeo Academy, Minneapolis-St.Paul
Iris Maria Chávez, Director, Oregon Coalition of Community Charter Schools
Matt Cisewski, Director, Aurora Charter School, Minneapolis
Rev. Al Cockfield, Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools, Steering Committee Member, Far Rockaway, NY
Monique Daviss, Executive Director El Sol Science and Arts Academy, Santa Ana, California
Judith Denton Jones, Board Chair, Maine Association of Charter Schools
Cathy Diaz, Co-Director, EdVisions Off Campus, Henderson, MN
Catherine Diersing, Superintendent/School Leader, The Project School, Bloomington, Indiana
Gigi Dobosenski, co-Director, EdVisions Off Campus, Minnesota
Ruben Dueñas, Chief Operations Officer, YPI Charter Schools, Los Angeles CA
Ramona Edelin, Senior Advisor, DC Charter School Alliance
Dr. Charlene Ellingson, Executive Director, Rochester STEM Academy, Rochester, MN
Ahmed Elmi, Director, Metro Schools College Prep, Minnesota
Sharif El-Mekki, Phillys7thward Philadelphia, Pa.
Walter Enloe, Professor Emeritus, Hamline University, Minnesota
Carolyn Farrell, Principal Seven Hills Preparatory Academy, Minnesota
Alison Ford, Director of Development & External Affairs, KIPP Minnesota
Terry Ford, Executive Director, Lumin Education, Dallas, Texas
Josh Frankfort, Instruction Coordinator, Academia Avance, Los Angeles CA
Connie Freitag, Executive Director, Aspen Academy, Minnesota
Dr. Howard Fuller, Marquette University, formerly Milwaukee, Wisconsin, district superintendent of schools
John Gawarecki, Director, Math and Science Academy, Woodbury, Mn.
Stacey Gauthier, Executive Director, The Renaissance Charter School and The Renaissance Charter School 2, Queens, NY
Kim Goates, Executive Director, Canyon Grove Academy, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Cris Gulacy-Worrel, Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools, Steering Committee Member, Columbus Ohio
David Hardy, Founder, Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia PA and Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools, Steering Committee Member
Chavarious Harwell, 2020 Student of the Year, Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs
Mustafa Ibrahim, Executive Director, STEP Academy Charter School, Saint Paul, MN
Dr. Laurie Inman, Founder, The Center for Independent Charter Schools, Los Angeles CA
Wayne Jennings, former suburban district director, director of district & charter public schools
Judith Jones, board chair, Maine Association of Charter Schools
Peter Kleinbard, retired, New York City
Yvette King-Berg, Executive Director, YPI Charter Schools, Los Angeles CA
Clem Lee, Superintendent ABLE Charter Schools, Stockton, California
Harry Lee, President & CEO, New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association
Heather Lines, Executive Director Discovery Charter School, Inver Grove Heights, MN
Raphael Martinez, Executive Director, Albuquerque Sign Language Academy
Myranda Marsh, Founder, James Jordan Middle School, Los Angeles CA
Matt McFarlane, Executive Director, PIM Arts High School, Eden Prairie Mn
Ricardo Mireles, Executive Director, Academia Avance and Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools, Steering Committee Member, Los Angeles CA
John Mullaney, Exec Director, Maine Association of Charter Schools
Barbara Novy, Executive Director, Stonebridge World School, Minneapolis
Joe Nathan, PhD, Director, Center for School Change, St Paul, Mn.
Sam O’Brien, Head of School, Great River School St Paul, Mn.
Dr. Meg Palisoc, Former School District Teacher and Charter School Leader, California
Renee’ Parcheta, Ed.S, Principal, Blue Sky School, Minnesota
Sonia C. Park, Executive Director, Diverse Charter Schools Coalition
Dr. Steve Perry, Head of Schools, Capital Preparatory Schools, CT/NY and Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools, Steering Committee Member
John Poupart, founder and director, American Indian Policy Center, Minnesota
Eric Premack, Executive Director, Charter Schools Development Center, Inc., California
Khulia Pringle, Minnesota Parents Union
Therese Privette, Principal, North Metro Flex Academy, Minnesota
Elissa Raffa, Executive Director / District Superintendent, Minnesota Online High School
Nicole Rasmussen Director, Cyber Village Academy, St. Paul, MN
Ember Reichgott Junge, former (Democratic) Minnesota state senator, author of nation’s first charter law
Xavier Reyes, Chief Executive Officer, Alta Public Schools, Los Angeles CA
Greg Richmond, Founder, National Association of Charter School Authorizers, Chicago, IL
Bryan Rossi, Ph.D. Experiential Youth Empowerment Strategies
Dr. B. Charvez Russell, Executive Director, Friendship Academy of the Arts, Mpls
Terry Ryan, CEO, Bluum Boise, ID.
Jose Salas, Executive Director & Principal, Montague Charter Academy, Los Angeles
Chakesha Scott, MBA, CEO/Founder, Education Explosion, Inc. d/b/a Impact Charter School, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Tony Simmons, Executive Director, High School for Recording Arts, St. Paul, Mn.
Angelica Solis-Montero, Executive Director, LA Coalition for Excellent Public Schools, and Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools, Steering Committee Member, Los Angeles
Jon Schroeder, Founding Director, Charter Friends National Network; Current Board Member, Minnesota Association of Charter Schools
Doug Thaman, Executive Director, Missouri Charter Public Schools Association
Jean Thomas, M.EDL, Administrator, Academy of Building Industries High School, Fort Mohave, Arizona
Jason Ulrich, Executive Director, Eagle Ridge Academy, Minnetonka, Minnesota
Jed Wallace, Founder, CharterFolk
Brandon N. Wait, LSC ,Executive Director, Paladin Career & Technical High School, Blaine, Minnesota
Lori Webster, Director, Mountain Mahogany Community School, Albuquerque, NM
Robert J. Wedl, Former Minnesota Commissioner of Education
Peter Wieczorek, Director Northwest Passage High School, Coon Rapids Mn.
Sabrina Williams, Founder & Executive Director Excell Academy for Higher Learning Charter School, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
Caprice Young, National Superintendent, Learn4Life, California, Ohio and Michigan
Sheryl Zimmerer, Executive Director, Logos Public Charter School, Medford, Oregon
Steven Zimmerman, Founder, Coalition of Independent Charter Schools, Executive Director, Academy of the City Charter School, Woodside, NY
Organizations listed are for identification purposes