EduShyster here tells the heartwarming story of how DFER tried to elect one of their own in Boston (white, privileged, no experience or knowledge of public schools necessary) and lost.
If you recall, the California Democratic Party called out DFER as a front for Republican and corporate interests.
Here are the key paragraphs of the resolution:
“Whereas, the political action committee, entitled Democrats for Education Reform is funded by corporations, Republican operatives and wealthy individuals dedicated to privatization and anti-educator initiatives, and not grassroots democrats or classroom educators; and
“Whereas, the billionaires funding Students First and Democrats for Education Reform are supporting candidates and local programs that would dismantle a free public education for every student in California and replace it with company run charter schools, non-credentialed teachers and unproven untested so-called “reforms”;
“THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party reaffirms its commitment to free accessible public schools for all which offer a fair, substantive opportunity to learn with educators who have the right to be represented by their union, bargain collectively and have a voice in the policies which affect their schools, classrooms and their students…”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Dream on. Any Republican supporting this org. is a RINO. No “conservative” supports this. Most of these so called Republicans, have just about been tossed out of the party. They try to keep holding on to their power, but they simply haven’t realized that the pro-liberty movement is taking over. No liberty in the Feds having ANY power in education. Abolish the US DOE. That is the message from a true Conservative. NOt one that jumps in bed with the BIG GOVT Dems who continue to push policies and legislation that further empower Obama/Duncan/Gates.
Mom — can you honestly say that McCain or Romney would have resisted the corporate education reform movement any more than Obama has?
I agree with you in spirit, but we need reality, not philosophy.
By the way, I hope you are right. If the Republicans can present some candidates who will speak out the way the California Democrats have, they’ll get votes.
At this point, I’d happily throw the Democratic party under a bus — just the way they did to us — if it means an end to the madness.
To be fair, the DFER candidate was a sitting state rep so not without experience (also the race was extremely close). My point was that DFER’s well-funded quest to bring “choice” to Massachusetts is hindered by the fact that the DFER-ites don’t seem to know anything about the state, its schools, or public schools period. Did you know that 40% of the students in the Boston Public Schools are Latino? Or that 30% are English Language Learners? Don’t feel bad. DFER doesn’t either…
In Illinois, a DFER Angela Rudolph staffer was appointed to state charter authorization board. Isn’t that a total conflict of interest, as cofounder Whitney Tilson, hedge fund manager, loves the ed sector? Couldn’t he get insight into approvals ahead of the curve?
I used to read this blog and get extremely upset and depressed due to the attacks on teachers. More and more I am reading how the tide appears to be turning and it makes me happy.
Uh oh. I just saw a commercial on PBS for TED talks with none other than Bill Gates opining on what we need to do with education in this country. I really wish he would stop acting like a expert on education. This man has done a tremendous amount of damage out here.
My only reply is– GET THE POLITICS OUT OF EDUCATION!
This is not a Democrat vs. Republican issue. There are actually excellent teachers who represent both sides of the aisle. I wish someone would actually remember what education is all about.