Good morning, CharterFolk.
Today we’re excited to start out the week sharing a timely Contributor Column from Jay Artis-Wright, the CEO of the Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools, and a Board Member at CharterFolk.
We provide a bio for Jay below.
Jay Artis-Wright is a visionary leader, serving as the Executive Director of the Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools (FCCS). FCCS stands as a beacon for Black and Brown charter school leaders, and under Jay’s guidance, it advocates tirelessly for the enhancement and establishment of high-quality educational choices for students from these communities.
With a rich tapestry of over two decades of experience spanning public policy, education, advocacy, and community mobilization, Jay embodies the essence of a strategic thinker. She played an instrumental role in laying the foundation of FCCS during its formative stages.
Jay’s professional journey is as diverse as it is impactful. From nurturing and mentoring educators, to spearheading pivotal policy initiatives, to crafting influential outreach strategies for education-related legal battles, she has been a force for positive change. Her expertise extends to training advocates in the arts of organization and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Jay’s track record is studded with policy triumphs that have propelled charter schools forward and paved the way for women to explore positions on local school boards. She possesses an innate ability to navigate the intricate legislative landscape, steering it toward resounding victories, and she’s a maestro in the art of coalition building. Her influence reaches across the nation, with her footprint gracing key states like California, New Jersey, and Texas. Jay Artis-Wright is a true luminary in the field, dedicated to shaping a brighter future for Black and Brown students.
Jay is an absolute treasure for our movement, and we are very fortunate to have her right where we do, leading the Coalition. And I will say that she was the last hire I made during my decade at CCSA, a decision reflecting that, while I may not always be the sharpest tool in the shed, from time to time I get things absolutely right.
Let’s get to her post.
Thanks again, Jay.
A Chance Encounter and Mixed Emotions: My DNC Experience
I attended the Democratic National Convention this year and it was an emotional and inspiring experience for me.
I witnessed Kamala Harris make history as the first Black and South Asian woman nominated for a major party ticket. As someone deeply invested in advocating for Black and Latino communities, it was incredibly moving. Yet, Despite the sense of pride I couldn’t shake the frustration I felt over the Democratic platform’s policy on education, particularly regarding charter schools.
In the midst of all of the excitement, I had a chance encounter with Randi Weingarten. We crossed paths in the restroom, and I seized the moment to ask her, “Why don’t you support charter schools, especially those making a difference in Black and Latino communities?” Her response was predictable; she claimed to support charters but emphasized her focus on opposing figures like Betsy DeVos, who seek to defund public schools. I appreciated her willingness to engage, but her response left me unsettled. She is a prominent voice on education that carries significant weight for teachers and has direct access to the White House. Yet, there is a disconnect between her perspective and the real challenges faced by students in public schools.
The convention featured numerous discussions on addressing student loan debt, increasing teacher pay, and investing in early childhood education; all things I support. However, the current push to dismantle charter schools and cut federal funding not only harms schools but also fails to address the needs of Black and Latino constituents. In addition to stressing that charter schools are not the problem but a vital lifeline for many. I shared the recent poll FCCS did on Black and Latino voters, in swing states that found a majority trust Democrats on educational policy and want them to do more.
Despite the obstacles on charter opinion at the DNC, I remain optimistic about the potential for change. I know firsthand the positive impact charter schools have on Black and Latino students and I am committed to sharing these stories and advocating for these opportunities. In fact Kamala Harris’s story resonates deeply with our mission. Growing up in “The Flats” of Oakland, nurtured by a diverse and supportive community, and receiving a culturally competent education at an HBCU, Harris’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of community, representation, and opportunity that charter schools have created.
Michelle Obama’s powerful “Do Something” speech and the nightly rallying cries of “We Are Not Going Back” also struck a chord with me. I am committed to “doing something” to ensure policy makers know that public education should be a priority and that charter schools are recognized for their successes. The right to choose quality public schools, including charters, is crucial for our future. We can not go back to schools that have historically failed our students and that are complicit with the status quo. We must continue to advocate for and uplift the stories of students whose lives have been transformed by our schools.
The charter school narrative is far from complete, and our mission to provide quality educational alternatives still needs fighters in the trenches, at the state house and within the next administration. I attended the DNC because I believe the next phase of this charter movement should be finding opportunities to stretch our voices in other policy and political arenas; outside of committee hearings and the statehouses. We have to be willing to challenge power dynamics at every chance we can, because (just like the Harris/Walz campaign slogan) we need to “move forward and we are not going back” to education systems that don’t work.