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.
Why Educators at This ‘Failing’ High School Believe It Can Be Turned Around
Roswell, New Mexico’s University High School was one of the lowest performing schools in the state—then it switched to the community schools approach. Read more
Apr 11, 2024
Universal Pre-K Is Harder Than We Thought
But that doesn’t mean we should give up on it. Read more
Apr 3, 2024
Who’s to Blame for Nex Benedict’s Death?
Anti-LGBTQ+ Republicans contributed to the hate that led to the death of a non-binary teenager in Oklahoma. Read more
Mar 12, 2024
The Right’s Long Game to End Public Education
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona finally said the quiet part out loud. Read more
Feb 26, 2024
Giving Students the Tools to Fight Hate
When politicians remove historical and cultural context from education, we need to help students build resilience. Read more
Feb 14, 2024
Teachers Have the Right to Criticize Israel Without Censorship
Academic freedom is under assault when educators who criticize Israel or support Palestine are punished, writes Glenn Sacks. Read more
Jan 31, 2024
How Moral Distress is Eating Away at Teachers
The culture wars have taken a toll on the profession, but public education is still the best hope for democracy. Read more
Jan 23, 2024
A Tale of Two Federal Grants for Public Education
The Department of Education has separate grant programs for funding either charter or community schools; the latter provides money for what schools and families really need, the former, not so much. Read more
Jan 20, 2024
Replacing Social Studies With STEM Is a Terrible Idea
Humanities in public schools help students understand, and engage with, the world. Read more
Jan 3, 2024