Communities for Public Education Reform (CPER) is a national funders’ collaborative committed to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for students — in particular students of color from low-income families — by supporting community-driven reforms led by grassroots education organizing groups. A project of NEO Philanthropy, CPER has engaged 76 local and national fund members, investing $34 million in 140 community groups, advocacy allies, and national coalitions over the Fund’s eight year lifespan.
Powered by multi-year campaigns that involved organizing, advocacy, research, commu-nications, and alliance building, CPER grantees played a key role in securing more than 90 policy wins at the school, district, state and federal level between 2007 and 2014. This summary of selected wins begins with those achieved at the federal level and follows with district- and state-level reforms grouped by CPER’s six investment sites across the country. Organizations must remain united to defend these wins, monitor their implementation, and ensure that policies will stick.
