Table of Contents
COVER LETTER ........................................................................................................................... 2 PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................... 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 4 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 8 Overview of Task Force Hearings .................................................................................................. 8 A Primer on Charter Schools ........................................................................................................ 10 FINDINGS .................................................................................................................................... 12 Lack of quality education in central cities .................................................................................... 12 Perceived benefits of charter schools ............................................................................................ 14 Perceived problems with charter schools ...................................................................................... 16 Accountability concerns ............................................................................................................... 23 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................................. 27 More equitable funding for schools serving students of color...................................................... 27 Productive investments in low-performing schools ..................................................................... 28 More robust charter school accountability measures .................................................................... 28 Greater fiscal transparency ........................................................................................................... 30 Elimination of for-profit charter schools ...................................................................................... 30 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 30 Task Force Members Biographies ................................................................................................ 32 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... 36 Endnotes ........................................................................................................................................ 37
July 26, 2017 Honorable Leon Russell Chairman, Board of Directors, National Association for The Advancement of Colored People 4805 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21215 Dear Chairman Russell: The NAACP Task Force on Quality Education is pleased to present its final report to the Board members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This report would not have been possible without support from you, the vice chairman and the entire National Board. The Task Force members are also grateful to Chair Emeritus Rosalyn Brock for her vision and leadership in creating and selecting its members. We
are thankful for the opportunity to work on one of the board’s most significant issues, public
education. We urge you to make this a living NAACP action plan with a mandate and roadmap for
saving America’s public schools by advocating for public quality e
ducation in every sector. With the work of this task force, we are well-placed at the center of the education reform movement, and the public awaits our subsequent actions. Therefore, as you receive this report, the task force members are recommending several follow up items: 1.
Immediately develop goals and create a plan of action around the recommendations. 2.
Create a new, formal alliance of like-minded national groups to work in coalition with us - a National Alliance for Quality Education. 3.
Convene mass meetings across the country in conjunction with our local units to communicate to the public and local policymakers in an effort to gain support for our goals. 4.
Seek immediate dialogue and negotiations to have the recommendations of the report recognized and fulfilled with national policymakers - including the President, his appointees and members of Congress. 5.
Strategize on how to finance this action and keep it alive until we accomplish our goals. Under your direction, we look forward to continuing this work with the Board in the implementation of the recommendations and the development of future strategies. Again, on behalf of the task force members, thank you. It was indeed a privilege and honor to serve the board and this nation at such a critical time. Sincerely, Alice Huffman,
Chair
Derrick Johnson,
Vice Chair of the Board
Adora Obi Nweze, Hazel Dukes,
Task Force Vice Chairs
Task Force Members
: Gloria Jean Sweet-
Love, Da’Quan Love, Scot X Esdaile,
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