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.
[UPDATES] Teachers and Port Workers Have Taken over an Oakland School
Resisting the billionaire-ification of their city, workers and their families are offering a community-centered vision at Parker Elementary. And it’s working. Read more
Aug 5, 2022
The Merit Pay Zombie Rises Again in North Carolina
Teachers in the state are fighting a proposal that would peg their pay to a dubious evaluation system instead of experience or certification. Read more
Jul 28, 2022
A Private Christian College May Take Over Public Education in Tennessee
Hillsdale College, with Republican Governor Bill Lee’s support, is planning to open dozens of charter schools to spread rightwing propaganda. Read more
Jul 15, 2022
Debunking Historical Myths with My High School Students
I told my class to write about misconceptions in U.S. history—what they came up with gets to the heart of the “Critical Race Theory” panic. Read more
Jun 16, 2022
How Surveillance Capitalism Is Spreading to Schools
Ed-tech companies are mining and exploiting students’ data while sidelining the role of teachers. Read more
Jun 11, 2022
Our Vision of School Safety Must Include Mental Health
The pro-gun crowd wants to beef up school security, but we can’t shoot our way out of this crisis. Read more
Jun 2, 2022
School Choice and the False Promise of Parent ‘Empowerment’
Though school choice is touted as liberating, charter and private schools offer parents less power, not more. Read more
May 21, 2022
Teaching Media Literacy Is the Only Real Answer to Fake News
We can’t stop disinformation, but we can teach students to think more critically. Read more
May 14, 2022
Biden Takes Aim at Wasteful Spending on Charter Schools
For years, charter schools have gotten away with wasting billions in federal funding, but a wave of new proposals would end the grift. Read more
Apr 11, 2022