MORE THAN 1,300 TO GATHER IN UNPRECEDENTED,
CITYWIDE CALL TO ACTION! City Leaders, VIPs, Charter School Founders, Parents, Students and Advocates Ask Mayor to
Open Doors - Unlock Opportunity

Dear Friends:

IT'S UNUSUALLY COLD IN WASHINGTON, DC, BUT IT'S ABOUT TO HEAT UP TO EPIC TEMPERATURES. 

That’s because dozens of educators, predominantly leaders of color who run schools dedicated to advancing educational excellence for the children who most need it, will dominate 14th Street and Pennsylvania Ave, NW tomorrow, steps from the City Council and a stone’s throw from the White House.

The event will feature the most important asset the city has - its children. From Rocketship to KIPP to Friendship Public Charter Schools, “A Major City-Wide Call to Action in Support of DC’s Public Charter Schools and Appeal to the Mayor to Open Doors and Unlock Opportunity for Thousands of DC Students,” these innovative charters and more will entertain, engage and elevate the challenge to educate all our youth. 

The event is sponsored by the DC Association of Public Chartered Schools and the #EndtheList campaign.  Students from more than 39 schools have competed in a Student Excellence Competition and the winners in Art, Poetry, Music/Rap will be announced, while all finalists will have their works of art on display for all to see.

The throngs of students and parents will also learn first hand why US Senator Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana 1998-2015), and Dr. Howard Fuller, former Milwaukee Schools Superintendent and a civil rights leader, believe that without charter schools our children and their future are in peril.

Like so many cities and states, Washington DC has thrived with the expansion of exceptional learning opportunities that charter schools made possible just 23 years ago. But 11,000 students are shut out of such opportunities, and the current Mayor, Muriel Bowser, is the first to not follow her legal and moral responsibility to turn over empty and underutilized buildings to charters who need them and furthermore will pay for and maintain them almost exclusively on their own!

It’s not just Washington. From Boston to Philadelphia to Los Angeles, the attacks on charters are unprecedented and they will no longer be tolerated. This is one of dozens of efforts of the education opportunity movement who are now having to turn from their real work to politics and advocacy to make it clear that anyone who comes between kids and education will no longer get their support.  

It’s a message whose time has come.  The whole CER team is proud to have played a substantial role in making this event happen. If you’re in Washington, join us at The Atrium Hall of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, tomorrow morning, Nov 14, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm or follow along on Twitter @edreform and #OpentheDoors.

This is just the beginning - again. 

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Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom and flexibility throughout U.S. education.