February 2020
#WHATABOUTUS
As the leading candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination gather for the debates, charter school parents, advocates, and leaders from throughout the country are calling on the debate moderators and the candidates to give education opportunity the attention it demands.
With signs and placards asking #WhatAboutUs?, #PowerfulParentNetwork and #SaveCharters, parents of Latino and African-American students and education reform advocates are on their way to the sixth presidential debate, their third effort to draw attention to the most critical issue facing America’s youth: the quality of their education.
HELP SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO OPPOSE CHARTER SCHOOLS
Please Download and Share
BACKGROUND
Since this past summer, charter school advocates – including parents, teachers, and students – have rallied their voices before major debates and events to increase awareness of the need for education innovation and opportunity and to facilitate a productive dialogue between presidential candidates and elected officials.
- October 14, 2019, in Westerville, OH, charter school parents, teachers, and students rallied outside of the presidential debate venue to make their voices heard.
- November 20, 2019, in Atlanta, dozens of charter school champions rallied near the debate venue. The next day, parents of charter school students confronted Sen. Elizabeth Warren for her anti-charter school rhetoric and policy proposals.
- December 14, 2019, in Pittsburgh, while many of the Democratic presidential candidates were participating in “Public Education Forum 2020,” more than 200 charter advocates marched to make their presence and stories known. After Sen. Michael Bennet left the forum, he met with the activists to hear their concerns.
- February 19, 2020, in Las Vegas, the Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools broadcasted live from Las Vegas right now before the debate, fighting for public charter schools.
LATEST PRESS RELEASES
February 24,2020
ACTIVISTS & FAMILIES MARCHING TO SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
Tomorrow’s rally in Charleston, South Carolina, led by civil rights leader Dr. Howard Fuller and members of the Freedom Coalition for Charter Schoolsnear the site of the next candidate debate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination — hosted by CBS News and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute — is sure to capture the attention of the candidates and their supporters.
February 18, 2020
CER APPLAUDS CHARTER SCHOOL FAMILIES TAKING A STAND AT LAS VEGAS DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
Parents of minority students – put at risk by anti-charter platforms – to rally tomorrow, demand answer to #WHATABOUTUS?
December 19, 2019
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ASKED TO LISTEN TO VOICES OF STRUGGLING PARENTS FOLLOWING THEM ACROSS NATION
Democratic Candidates Asked to Listen to Voices of Struggling Parents Following Them Across Nation. Minority parents, advocates, and school leaders demand an answer to #WHATABOUTUS?
December 13, 2019
CHARTER SCHOOLS IN PITTSBURGH & LEADERS THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA UNITE
Charter school leaders in Pittsburgh, joined by others throughout Pennsylvania, and by key state democratic officials issued strong message to special interest sponsors of “Public Education Forum 2020” and the Democratic candidates ignoring parental demands