When Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) was founded in 2007, the group claimed to represent progressive values in education: fighting for better funding, stronger public schools, and equal opportunities for all students. But increasingly, its agenda has taken a hard turn away from public schools and toward vouchers and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) — a move that threatens the very foundation of public education in Texas.
The DFER website now proudly displays support for ‘school choice’ initiatives, including vouchers and ESAs, which divert public money from traditional public schools to private and charter institutions. This shift is both ideological and strategic. DFER’s political action committee (PAC) has poured millions of dollars into state and local races, backing candidates who support their privatization agenda. In Texas alone, DFER has funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into campaigns aimed at shifting public school dollars into the hands of private interests.
We urge all elected officials and candidates who seek the endorsement of Texas AFT COPE to be mindful about taking endorsements and support from organizations like these; they are not friendly or supportive of public school educators and their communities. DFER is funded by billionaires who believe they know more about our schools than the people who work in them.
DFER’s embrace of vouchers and ESAs aligns them with conservative groups that have long championed the privatization of public education. Despite claiming to be champions of equity, DFER’s new stance undermines the very concept of equal opportunity. Vouchers and ESAs disproportionately benefit families who can already afford private education, leaving public schools with fewer resources to educate the students who need it most. Special education services, bilingual programs, and extracurricular activities are often the first to suffer when funding is siphoned away.
The political implications of this shift are enormous. With deep pockets and powerful donors, DFER is positioned to reshape local school board races, legislative campaigns, and even statewide elections. Their financial influence threatens to install voucher proponents in key decision-making roles, paving the way for sweeping changes that prioritize privatization over public investment. In the last election cycle, DFER’s contributions helped elect candidates across the country who have consistently voted to defund public schools in favor of privatized options.
This is not just a policy debate; it’s an attack on public education as we know it, one similar to the billionaire-funded attacks from the extreme right-wing that we’ve come to expect. Public schools are the cornerstones of our communities. They educate every child who walks through their doors—regardless of income, ability, or background. They serve as community hubs, offering meals, after-school programs, and social services to families in need. Diverting public funds to private entities erodes these essential services, widening inequities and leaving our most vulnerable students behind.
Texans should be asking tough questions of DFER and its allies:
- Why support a system that cherry-picks students and leaves public schools underfunded?
- Why back candidates who would rather enrich private interests than invest in public classrooms?
- And why pretend to be advocates for education while gutting its most critical institutions?
The time to hold DFER accountable is now. Texas AFT will continue to fight against voucher schemes and ESA proposals that undermine public education. We stand with the educators, parents, and students who know that strong public schools are the backbone of a thriving, equitable society.
It’s time to draw a line in the sand: Public money should be for public schools. If DFER has decided to walk away from that principle, Texas educators and families will stand up and fight back.