In our first year, the Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund turned a bold idea into a growing movement advancing stronger public schools for students across the nation.
When I served as a Georgia state legislator, I worked to champion bold, innovative solutions for public school students.
But too often, I felt alone...
I vowed that it would become my personal mission to do for other leaders what was not done for me.
Alisha Thomas Searcy
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
allocation through the Georgia Literacy Act.
charter facility funding.
in future funding for public charter schools.
new charter authorization.
overall public school investment.
additional funding in the FY27 budget.
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The Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization with a presence in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
In less than a year, we have built lasting, meaningful relationships at every level of Georgia's education ecosystem, establishing ourselves as the go-to resource on public education, cultivating a stronger bipartisan understanding of public school choice, and hosting Georgia’s first and only gubernatorial education forum in the 2026 election, focused exclusively on public education
DR. KEN KEMP
GEORGIA POLICY AND ADVOCACY DIRECTOR
Before we launched, we conducted a landscape analysis to hear from the DC community about what roles needed filling in the education space. As was asked of us, we've recruited, trained, and held elected officials accountable on education in just our first year. We're proud of our impact and of launching, leading, and driving meaningful progress for DC's students.
JESSICA GILES
WASHINGTON D.C. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
For too long, Democratic elected officials who want to champion innovative solutions for public education have lacked the political support and policy expertise they need to succeed. We have spent this year building a center-left movement that fills that gap, providing a home where progressive values meet evidence-based transformation.
GARRY JONES
CO-FOUNDER & TEXAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Center for Strong Public Schools and CSPS Action Fund launch across multiple states, earning coverage from The New York Times, Chalkbeat and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
More than 40 education leaders from five states gather for the inaugural Education Policy Leaders Convening, while the first Strong Schools Policy Fellowship launches in Washington, DC.
State offices deepen their policy presence: engaging lawmakers, submitting testimony and advancing education legislation. Georgia also launches its first Candidate & Campaign Training with 11 participants.
State offices deepen their policy presence: engaging lawmakers, submitting testimony and advancing education legislation. Georgia also launches its first Candidate & Campaign Training with 11 participants.
Endorsed candidates begin winning across Georgia, while CSPS expands its policy advocacy in Texas and elevates education champions across its state network.
Year One closed with major policy gains across Washington, DC, Georgia and Texas, including $42M in additional FY27 funding and $42.3M in future charter-school funding in DC; five new local charter authorizations and $70M through the Georgia Literacy Act; and 3× charter facility funding alongside $8B in overall public-school investment in Texas.
We are shaping policy conversations about empowering and supporting
educators through preparation, recruitment, and retention, so that they can lead in the classroom and beyond.
We are fostering trust and improvement by demanding the collection of clear, measurable student outcomes and carefully responding to data on
issues such as chronic absenteeism, achievement inequities, and student
enrollment.
We are ensuring that students are prepared for college, career, and
life, with evidence-based practices that challenge them to read critically, write clearly, think analytically, and create boldly.
We are protecting students' interests by advocating for funding levels that enable every child to thrive, regardless of their ZIP code,
background, or special needs.
We are encouraging system expansion and innovation, investing in what works and phasing out what doesn’t, so that every family has high-quality public school options to fit their child’s needs, interests, and potential.
