FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Vasuki Wilson
vasuki@risepublic.com 202.294.2342
(Washington, D.C., September, 2, 2025) – The Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund (Action Fund) and Center for Strong Public Schools (CSPS) officially launched today in Washington, D.C. with a mission to ensure every student attends high-quality and well-run public schools, no matter their neighborhood. At a time of unprecedented federal interference and growing local challenges, these organizations will serve as a new voice for equity, urgency, and accountability in public education.
The Action Fund DC and CSPS DC advocate for improved academic outcomes through data-driven solutions, equity-focused policy proposals, and accountability for elected officials and education leaders. The Action Fund DC identifies and supports courageous leaders who are passionate about transforming public education. CSPS DC elevates data and research, advances policy, provides leadership development, and supports coalition-building.
While Washington, D.C.’s public education system is making remarkable progress, far too many students remain underserved by schools that lack the necessary resources and support to deliver on the promise of public education. High student absenteeism, declining federal education support, and persistent inequities necessitate a bold, evidence-driven approach so all students in the District have an opportunity to succeed in life.
The CSPS DC and Action Fund DC leadership team brings a strong record of impact. Founding executive director Jessica Giles spent a decade serving District students and successfully advocated for high-impact tutoring funds, science of reading investments, and mobilized public support for equity in education. This work contributed to DC students achieving the strongest post-pandemic academic recovery in the nation. She will build on that foundation to further improve outcomes for students across all eight wards.
Victor Horton will serve as deputy director. Horton previously served as Director of Leaders of Color DC and deputy director of a national education organization. As a former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in 7E, he led major community projects, including public library renovations, advocating for equitable school funding, and leading neighborhood development initiatives. He will continue to work with leaders to effect change.
“All of our children are bold, brilliant, and bursting with promise and potential,” said Jessica Giles, founding executive director of Action Fund DC and CSPS DC. “If they are struggling, we know it’s not a failure of the child, it’s a call to action for adults. Some schools are not meeting expectations, and we must demand of every leader: “What are you going to do about it?
“We’re not here to defend the status quo,” said Victor Horton, deputy director of Action Fund DC and CSPS DC. “If we want different results, we have to make different choices, and that means challenging old assumptions and putting students first.”
Action Fund DC and CSPS DC are part of a growing national network committed to transforming public education by making it more effective, more equitable, and more responsive to the students who depend on it. The organizations oppose vouchers and privatization efforts that divert funding and attention away from the schools that serve the majority of our nation’s children, and promote evidence-based innovation within the public education system.
“At a moment when our nation’s future depends on bold action, especially from elected leaders, we are proud to expand our work to Washington, DC. This is more than a geographic milestone, it is a commitment to advancing education transformation alongside Jessica Giles and Victor Horton, some of the most respected leaders in the movement,” said Alisha Thomas Searcy, chief executive officer of the Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund. “By collaborating with the Mayor, members of the DC Council and other elected officials, as well as our elected leaders in our target states, we aim to advance bold, student-centered policies that ensure equity, innovation, and opportunity for every learner. Together, we can help set a national standard for what is possible in public education.”
For more information about the Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund visit StrongSchoolsAction.org. Learn more about the Center for Strong Public Schools at StrongSchoolsNow.org.
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ABOUT CENTER FOR STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACTION FUND
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.
