WE BELIEVE

EVERY CHILD DESERVES A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION.

The future is in today’s classrooms. We’re making sure every child has what they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.

WHO WE ARE

DFER (Democrats for Education Reform) TX is an organization created to support elected Democrats and candidates for office who seek to expand policies that improve the quality of public education for Texas students.

We, along with our affiliate organization Education Reform Now, conduct policy research and develop the innovative and bold policies that can transform the public education system. We lobby and lead campaigns to pass legislation that will advance our policy goals.

FOCUS AREAS

School Funding

We support student-centered, equity-focused school finance policies that increase overall public education funding, provide targeted support for economically disadvantaged, first-generation, and academically at-risk students, and improve access to equitable resources for the historically marginalized so that all students are finally given the tools for success.

Assessment & Accountability

We advance and defend policies that will equip families, educators, and public officials with clear, objective, and comparable to identify struggling schools, close opportunity and achievement gaps, and support continuous school improvement.

Workforce Preparation

We support policies that promote innovation and improvements in teacher preparation, reward high-quality teachers who teach in high-needs schools and subjects, and diversify and strengthen the teacher pipeline, so that no student is denied the opportunities unlocked by excellent educators.

Postsecondary Access and Opportunity

We support policies that improve access to affordable, meaningful post-secondary opportunities so that all students the ability to be successful after high school graduation. We seek to strengthen postsecondary pathways between K-12, higher education, and workforce institutions at all levels to maximize the potential of every student.

Innovation

We support and defend policies that provide for free, innovative public school options to ensure all students—particularly Black, Latino, and economically-disadvantaged students—are able to access a high-quality public school that meets their unique and diverse needs, regardless of their assigned school zone.

Early Education

We are committed to supporting evidence-based policies that target struggling students in early grades so that all students are at or above grade level in reading and math by the third grade.

OUR VALUES

Equity-Focused

We believe a family’s income or zip code should never dictate the quality of education their child receives. We fight to alleviate the effects of poverty for all students—whether they live in urban communities, exurban, or rural communities—so that resources are equitably distributed, and all students can access the highest quality public education, regardless of income.

Student-Centered

We believe in a compassionate, whole-child approach that puts students and their experiences first. A student’s race, gender, zip code, or disability should not impact the quality of the public education they receive. We prioritize the needs of every student to ensure they reach their fullest potential.

Collaborative

We believe in the power of coalitions, bipartisanship, and collaboration. Improving student outcomes can only be realized when we work together across perspectives, at all levels of our work, with others who share our “student-centered” approach.

WHAT WE DO

Working at the intersection of advocacy, policy, and politics, DFER TX participates at all levels of policymaking, from providing resources to fund campaign operations to helping articulate and deliver messages in-office.

DFER TX also helps elected officials lead their districts. We serve as a clearinghouse of data, best practices, and advocacy to help lawmakers and their staff share their policy successes and learn from each other.

TEXAS LEGISLATIVE CHAMPIONS

Meet the Texas legislative champions who are fighting for high quality-public education opportunities.

State Rep. Christian Manuel
District 22

State Rep. James Talarico
District 50

SBOE Member Staci Childs
District 4

State Rep. Liz Campos
District 119

State Rep. Harold Dutton
District 142

MEET THE DFER TX TEAM

We are Texans—committed advocates, policy professionals, and neighbors—dedicated to expanding academic opportunities, fostering equity, and supporting innovative solutions for a brighter future for every student.

Garry Jones
Executive Director

Tracy Johnson
Director of Policy and Advocacy