Democrats for Education Reform is a political action group that raises money for Democratic candidates who will support high-stakes testing and charter schools.
Here is its list of candidates for the 2018 elections.
Most notable on the list:
DFER endorsed Marshall Tuck for State Superintendent of Instruction in California. The Network for Public Education Action Fund and the Los Angeles Times endorsed his opponent Tony Thurmond.
DFER endorsed Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut for re-election. When the ESSA bill was written to replace NCLB, Murphy introduced an amendment (“the Murphy Amendment”) to retain all the punitive features of NCLB. Fortunately, his amendment was defeated.
DFER endorsed Senators Corey Booker (NJ) and Michael Bennett (CO) for re-election. No surprises there. Both are well-known supporters of school choice. Booker has even supported vouchers and charters.
DFER endorsed Congressman Bobby Scott for re-election. He is the chair of the House Education Committee.
Regaining control of the House and possibly the Senate this fall override any concerns I have about these candidates. If I lived in their state or district, I would vote for them. But if any of them aspire to higher office, I will do whatever I can to stop them because privatizers should not be rewarded.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“(Chris) Murphy’s Law: everything that can be done wrong WILL be done wrong.”
Murphy’s law
Is simply this:
Fatal flaw
Is thing to kiss
Thanks for the info. The Democrats are campaigning to their Right, hoping to draw away from the GOP just enough dissatisfied Trumpies to win swing districts while keeping control of the Party in the hands of the Wall Street insiders. This is a dilemma for progressives who oppose the treacherous insider Dems and the accelerating stealth coup propelled by Trump, who now plans to pardon himself. Defeating Trump is job number one, but job number 2, restoring democratic rights, constitutional protections, and public-friendly, earth-endearing policies will be an even bigger job.
Not clear why you would vote for them but state “prvitizers should not be rewarded.”
I’ve never understood that logic either. What better reward is there then voting them into office?
I usually agree with that sentiment, but the Democrats must be able to block Supreme Court nominations during the next two years. Otherwise, moneyed corporations will rule completely and the rest of us will suffer gravely. It’s a terrible lose-lose situation. The lesser of two evils again. Mark these words, though: I won’t be saying the same in 2020.
DFERS are WRONG!
You’re right!
I wouldn’t worry about the senators. They don’t support public schools but they’re not in a position to do much harm either.
In my opinion, it’s all state level.
The Senators write the federal law. They wrote ESSA. It’s up to them to change it. They will duck and evade.
Thanks for this post, Diane. There’s a group w/a Chicago p.o. box # calling itself “Progressive Takeover” that continually uses Cory Booker as their example of a progressive. Several of us have written them/called them (they profess not to have known this about CB, & want to know who IS a progressive…wait, what? How do you solicit money to donate to candidates you do not know?!), & we plan to have a meeting w/them; they seem to not know that Booker is NOT a progressive (not only a DFER, but named as one of the Top 10 Senators receiving $$$$ from Big Pharma).
Especially bad, as this group solicits money, & is a PAC.
Anyway, I am sending them this.
Here in California, it looks like Tuck and Thurmond will battle again in November. We have to do a better job of mobilizing against Tuck. However, I can’t believe that my union (CTA) supported candidates who endorsed Tuck.
Maybe I’m being a purist, but it seems to me that if you’re supporting Tuck, you’re not a friend of public education and shouldn’t get union money or endorsements. And yet I don’t come across many teachers who agree. What am I missing? I’m so depressed and angry about this and my union. Ugh.