Democracy Prep Public Schools, also known as Democracy Prep, is a charter school management company which manages a network of 25 Charter Schools in New York City, New Jersey, Nevada and Texas. Over 7,000 students are enrolled in its schools.[1]
History
editDemocracy Prep Public Schools was founded in 2005 and opened its first school in 2006 as Democracy Preparatory Charter School.[2][3][4][5] Democracy Prep schools primarily serve students of color who live in poverty.[6][7][8] In 2019, Natasha Trivers was appointed Democracy Prep's CEO.[9][10] In 2021, Democracy Prep announced a major expansion in the Bronx.[11] Teachers at Democracy Prep attend trainings throughout the school year.[12]
The charter operator is one of five designated in Florida's Schools of Hope program.[13] A school it operates in Nevada has been sued on First Amendment grounds over a civic class curriculum it requires.[14]
Seth Andrew Theft Case
editDemocracy Prep was founded by Seth Andrew. Andrew stepped down as head of the school network in 2013 to work as an advisor to U.S. president Barack Obama's administration.[15] In 2017, Andrew severed ties with the Democracy Prep organization.[15] In 2022, pled guilty to wire fraud, admitting to diverting money from the charter school organization's accounts in 2019 to other non-profits.[16]
References
edit- ^ "Our Schools – Democracy Prep".
- ^ Phillips, Anna M. (2011-09-30). "Pushing for More Independent Charters". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
- ^ "Former Obama adviser Seth Andrew accused of stealing $200K from charter school network to buy Manhattan apartment". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ "Education Next: Q&A: Seth Andrew". Vol. 19, no. 3. Education Next. Summer 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Pondiscio, Robert (May 1, 2018). "Contributing to a 'More Perfect Union': Mathematica Study of Civic Engagement of Students at Democracy Prep Is Encouraging but Only a Beginning". The74. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "Democracy Prep charter school growing NYC presence". January 13, 2021.
- ^ Mahnken, Kevin (April 10, 2019). "Photo Tour: The Students, Educators, Classrooms & Activism That Define Democracy Prep, a School Network Built Around Civics". The74. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Mahnken, Kevin (April 10, 2019). "How Democracy Prep Is Drawing Upon Civics to Challenge Its Students to 'Change the World' — Before They Graduate". The74. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "Former Obama adviser Seth Andrew accused of stealing $200K from charter school network to buy Manhattan apartment".
- ^ "News". The K12 Search Group. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
- ^ "Democracy Prep Public Schools announces major expansion in the Bronx". January 20, 2021.
- ^ Gould, Willie (2017-09-11). "Opinion | A Way to Get Great Teachers Into the Classroom". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
- ^ Buie, Lisa (July 15, 2021). "Countdown to opening day at IDEA Public Schools, Tampa's first 'Schools of Hope'". redefinED.
- ^ "Las Vegas charter school sued for curriculum covering race, identity". January 21, 2021.
- ^ a b Mangan, Dan (2021-04-27). "Former Obama White House advisor Seth Andrew arrested, accused of stealing from charter school he founded". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
- ^ "Exclusive: Founder of NYC-based charter school chain accused of stealing $218,000+". ABC7 New York. April 27, 2021.