Explore Issues and Connect
ALEC Exposed A website dedicated to exposing the American Legislative Exchange Council. Check out their page on school privatization.
Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools (AROS) An alliance of parent, youth, community, and labor organizations that represent more than 7 million people. Organizes nationwide days of action to reclaim the promise of public education as our nation’s gateway to a strong democracy and racial and economic justice.
American Civil Liberties Union Works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) At local and national levels this teachers union works to promote public schools and to stop privatization.
Alternet Education Page Numerous articles on school privatization from around the country.
Badass Teachers Association (BATs) A network of over 80,000 teachers and education activists throughout the United States who fight for communities to have strong, sustainable, and well-funded public schools.
Black Lives Matter’s Statement on “An End to the Privatization of Education and Real Community Control.” Center for Popular Democracy Works with high-impact base-building organizations, organizing alliances, and progressive unions to envision and win an innovative pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda. Check out these education publications.
Center for Popular Democracy/strong> Works with high-impact base-building organizations, organizing alliances, and progressive unions to envision and win an innovative proworker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda.
Economic Policy Institute A nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank created to include the needs of low- and middle-income workers in economic policy discussions. See their “Exploring the Consequences of Charter School Expansion.”
Education Commission of the States ECS conducts research, delivers reports, and provides expert counsel on the full spectrum of education policy issues—from early learning through postsecondary and workforce readiness.
Education Law Center of NJ Education Law Center (ELC) serves as a leading voice for New Jersey’s public school children and is one of the most effective advocates for equal educational opportunity and equitable school funding in the United States. See Is School Funding Fair?
Education for Liberation National coalition of teachers, community activists, researchers, youth, and parents who believe a good education should teach people—particularly low-income youth and youth of color—how to understand and challenge the injustices their communities face. Organizes “Free Minds Free People” conference.
In the Public Interest A research and policy center on privatization and responsible contracting. It has issued several reports on dangers of school privatization.
Journey for Justice (J4J) An alliance of grassroots community, youth, and parent-led organizations in 21 cities across the country pushing back and demanding community-driven alternatives to the privatization of public schools systems. See Death by a Thousand Cuts: Racism, School Closures and Public School Sabotage.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NAACP, the oldest civil rights organization in the United States. The fundamental goal of the NAACP’s education advocacy agenda is to provide all students access to quality education. NAACP Resolution and statement on charter schools.
National Center for Education Statistics Collects data from many sources covering all areas of education. See the National Assessment of Educational Progress reports.
National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education Provides nonpartisan documentation and analysis of privatization in education.
National Education Association (NEA) On local, state, and national levels, this teachers union works to improve and defend public schools.
National Education Policy Center Sponsors research, produces policy briefs, and publishes expert third-party reviews of think tank reports. A great place to find responses to pro-privatization reports.
National School Board Association NSBA advocates for equity and excellence in public education through school board leadership. It believes “education is a civil right necessary to the dignity and freedom of the American people.”
Community Schools
Coalition for Community Schools An alliance of national, state, and local organizations in education K-16, youth development, community planning and development, family support, health and human services, government, and philanthropy, as well as national, state, and local community school networks.
National Center for Community Schools The Children’s Aid National Center for Community Schools is a practice-based technical assistance organization that builds the capacity of schools, districts, and community partners to organize their human and financial resources around student success.
Standardized Testing Issues
Defending the Early Years An organization of early childhood educators and advocates who rally educators to take action on policies that impact the education of young children, especially around testing and standards.
FairTest National Center for Fair and Open Testing Excellent materials in English and Spanish on alternative forms of assessment and problems with standardized testing.
Learning Policy Institute Works on a range of policy issues, particularly assessment.
NY Performance Standards Consortium A network of schools using high-quality assessment alternatives to standardized testing.
Rethinking Schools Articles in their quarterly magazine and on their website critique standardized testing and offer suggestions for authentic forms of assessment. See their book Pencils Down: Rethinking High-Stakes Testing and Accountability in Public Schools.
Philadelphia-based Groups
Education Law Center of Pennsylvania The ELC-PA’s mission is to ensure access to a quality public education for all children in Pennsylvania.
Juntos A community-led, Latinx immigrant organization in South Philadelphia fighting for our human rights as workers, parents, youth, and immigrants.
Youth United for Change A youth-led, democratic organization made up of youth of color and working-class communities, with the “people” and political power to hold school officials and government accountable to meeting the educational needs of Philadelphia public school students.
Philadelphia Student Union Runs city-wide campaigns that bring together students from all of their chapters and additional schools to improve school district policies and practices.