Public Schools Advocate is a project of The Progressive magazine that aims to pull back the curtain on those individuals, foundations, and groups working both to privatize our public schools and to limit the role of schools in creating a critically democratic citizenry.
Launched in 2013, and originally called Public School Shakedown, the project covers the fundamental struggle for democracy going on around the country, as teachers, parents, and others rally to protect our public schools.
We changed the name to Public Schools Advocate in 2021, embracing a broader goal to empower teachers, parents, and other community members to organize and advocate for strong public schools that serve all students well.To that end, we work with a diverse group of fellows—teachers, advocates, activists, thinkers, and others in the progressive education movement. We regularly publish their writings, support them in attending conferences and other events, and assist them in getting the word out about one of the most important issues facing our democracy today.
Banning ‘Angels in America’ in Temecula
A drama teacher was placed on leave for assigning Tony Kushner’s iconic play. Read more
Nov 27, 2023
AI Technology Threatens Educational Equity for Marginalized Students
Education technology powered by artificial intelligence appears to make classrooms more equitable, but the tech may do more harm than good. Read more
Nov 25, 2023
How Can Anyone Afford to Teach Anymore?
As a teacher, I’m astonished that we expect educators to take on loads of debt only to wind up with exceptionally low pay, writes Jacob Goodwin. Read more
Nov 20, 2023
Educators Must Be Truth Tellers About Israel-Palestine
The right to give an honest account of Israel's crimes against the Palestinian people has come under threat. Educators must be peacemakers and truth tellers when it comes to teaching about Israel-Palestine. Read more
Nov 13, 2023
People Power Vs. the Far Right Education Movement
Democracy Forward’s Skye Perryman talks about how to fight back against the far right’s movement to undermine public education. Read more
Oct 5, 2023
PragerU’s Propaganda Is Now Being Taught in Schools
The media group was just approved to spread its brand of historical disinformation to classrooms in Florida, Oklahoma, and New Hampshire. Read more
Sep 18, 2023
Charter Schools Can’t Claim to Be Public Anymore
A recently-passed bill in North Carolina allows the charter industry to screen students and charge tuition, just like a private school. Read more
Sep 13, 2023
The Movement for Public Schools Isn’t Dead
In 2018, the Red for Ed wave of teacher strikes was driven by community momentum. We need to keep that going. Read more
Sep 5, 2023
Public Schools’ New, Uneven Landscape
As students return to classrooms, schools are more expensive, more conservative, and more local than before. Read more
Aug 29, 2023