FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2025
CONTACT:
The Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund (CSPS Action) and a non-partisan think tank, the Center for Strong Public Schools (CSPS), launch today
CSPS Action will support courageous center-left elected officials fighting for a new path to strengthen public education while prioritizing high outcomes for every student
Both new organizations founded by acclaimed public education champions, former Georgia state lawmaker and school superintendent Alisha Thomas Searcy and veteran Texas political operative, advocate Garry Jones
CSPS Action will focus political, policy work in GEORGIA, TEXAS, ALABAMA, TENNESSEE & more where public education faces greatest threats from opponents
CSPS Action plans substantial investments in 2026 Democratic primaries including GA-GOV to elevate public education champions
Non-partisan think tank CSPS will shape the future of public education by driving policy and research that strengthen the nation’s schools
Searcy on CSPS Action: “There’s a political opportunity to seize here—but only if Democrats can offer voters a bold, clear vision for transforming public education and the leadership it will take to deliver on it”
ATLANTA, GA – As recent federal funding freezes have left millions of students and families without critical educational support, today two prominent Democratic advocates for public education announced the launch of complementary organizations designed to defend and strengthen public education at the state level. The Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund (CSPS Action) and its partner organization, the Center for Strong Public Schools (CSPS), were created to be a powerful new force for transforming public education by supporting courageous elected officials who combine progressive values with evidence-based approaches to improving student outcomes.
The organizations are co-founded by Alisha Thomas Searcy, a former Georgia state lawmaker and former school superintendent, and Garry Jones, a veteran Texas political strategist who previously served as Executive Director of a statewide education advocacy organization and Chief of Staff in the Texas Senate. The launch comes at a critical moment for public education, amid waning federal leadership for public schools, decreasing support nationwide for the Democratic Party, and growing public sentiment that public education is headed in the wrong direction.
“I believe in public education’s extraordinary potential to transform lives, strengthen communities, and advance our democracy,” said Searcy, who serves as Chief Executive Officer of both the Center for Strong Public Schools and CSPS Action. “We believe center-left lawmakers can transform public education with and because of their values, not in spite of them. That’s why we’ve built two complementary organizations—one to elevate bold, evidence-based ideas, and one to build the political will to enact them. They offer a home for leaders who are ready to reimagine what’s possible for our public schools, and fight for the future our children deserve.”
“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,” said Jones, highlighting the organizations’ unique approach. “We’re filling that critical gap in the center-left movement by providing a home where progressive values meet evidence-based transformation.
“From Texas to Georgia, we’re building a movement of leaders who refuse to accept that any child’s future should be limited by their zip code,” Jones added.
CSPS Action, a 501(c)(4), will focus on building political power at the state level to elect champions for public education, while CSPS, a 501(c)(3), will elevate policy research and connect elected officials with thought leaders to advance innovative, data-driven ideas that defend and strengthen public schools. The organizations will initially operate in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas—states where “both the threats to undermine public education and the opportunities to strengthen it are greatest,” says Searcy, given the significant challenges they face from privatization advocates and other public education opponents. “In the current environment where there’s no interest at the federal level to lead on public education, it’s obvious the states are the primary lever for achieving a transformation in our public schools, so that’s where we’re focusing our work,” added Searcy.
Regarding immediate priorities, Searcy highlighted CSPS Action’s plan to be active in upcoming legislative sessions and make substantial investments in the 2026 midterm election, including focusing resources in Georgia’s Democratic primaries for Governor and State School Superintendent, as well as key state legislative races in Georgia and Texas to defend education champions and partner with Democratic caucuses to flip vulnerable seats. Similar investments are planned for Tennessee and Alabama as CSPS Action identifies additional center-left education champions and opportunities.
On the policy front, Jones emphasized that CSPS will engage in state-level education policy conversations during the 2026 legislative sessions. The organization will focus its research and public education efforts on expanding access to high-quality public school options, strengthening data-informed accountability systems, promoting equitable funding formulas based on student need, supporting effective teacher development and retention, and advancing holistic approaches to school safety.
“Unlike the privatizers on the right and other defenders of the status quo, we’re working to chart a new path for Democrats that’s focused squarely on strengthening public education while at the same time demanding better outcomes for every student, including those who have most consistently been left behind,” Searcy explained, in reference to CSPS Action. “That’s why we’re committed to building a movement of courageous Democratic officials and center-left leaders who are willing to challenge the status quo and fight for transformational change in our public schools.”
Noted public education champions will serve on the 501(c)(4) organization’s board, including: Emily Shultz, Executive Director of Alabama Families for Great Schools; Daiana Lambrecht, Executive Director of Futuro San Antonio; and The Honorable Peter Groff, former Colorado Senate President and former director of faith-based initiatives for the U.S. Department of Education under President Obama.
The 501(c)(3) organization’s board also includes several distinguished center-left leaders and education advocates. In addition to the Honorable Peter Groff, its members include: The Honorable Rahn Mayo, former Georgia state representative and current Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at the Georgia Charter Schools Association; and The Honorable Curtis Valentine, Director of the Future Learning Network for the Progressive Policy Institute and former At-Large member of the Prince George’s County Board of Education.
“There’s a political opportunity to seize here—but only if Democrats can offer voters a bold, clear vision for transforming public education, and the leadership it will take to deliver on it. That’s where CSPS Action comes in. At the same time, CSPS is focused on equipping leaders with the evidence, ideas, and support they need to make that vision real in classrooms. We aim to win the future for our public schools—and most importantly, for our kids,” added Searcy.
For more information about the Center for Strong Public Schools visit strongschoolsnow.org, and for more information about the Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund, visit strongschoolsaction.org.
About the Founders:
Alisha Thomas Searcy served six terms as the first African American elected to the Georgia House of Representatives from Cobb County, and is a former school superintendent of a network of public charter schools in metro Atlanta. She brings over 20 years of experience as a non-profit executive, policymaker, and education leader, and is a frequent media contributor on politics and education issues.
Garry Jones moved to Texas more than a decade ago and has remained deeply engaged in Democratic politics at state, district, and local levels. Prior to co-founding CSPS Action, he served as Executive Director of a statewide education advocacy organization in Texas and spent over three years as Chief of Staff in the Texas Senate, successfully managing the state’s most competitive Senate race in 2018.
###
The 501(c)(4) Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund and its non-partisan 501(c)(3) affiliate, the Center for Strong Public Schools, provide a home for courageous leaders and bold ideas to strengthen our public education system. We partner with elected officials who are committed to ensuring every child has access to a great public school. Learn more about the Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund at strongschoolsaction.org, and learn more about the Center for Strong Public Schools at strongschoolsnow.org.
