Democracy Prep Public Schools

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

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Democracy 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

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Democracy 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

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  1. ^ "Our Schools – Democracy Prep".
  2. ^ Phillips, Anna M. (2011-09-30). "Pushing for More Independent Charters". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  3. ^ "Former Obama adviser Seth Andrew accused of stealing $200K from charter school network to buy Manhattan apartment". Chicago Tribune.
  4. ^ "Education Next: Q&A: Seth Andrew". Vol. 19, no. 3. Education Next. Summer 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Democracy Prep charter school growing NYC presence". January 13, 2021.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Former Obama adviser Seth Andrew accused of stealing $200K from charter school network to buy Manhattan apartment".
  10. ^ "News". The K12 Search Group. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  11. ^ "Democracy Prep Public Schools announces major expansion in the Bronx". January 20, 2021.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Buie, Lisa (July 15, 2021). "Countdown to opening day at IDEA Public Schools, Tampa's first 'Schools of Hope'". redefinED.
  14. ^ "Las Vegas charter school sued for curriculum covering race, identity". January 21, 2021.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "Exclusive: Founder of NYC-based charter school chain accused of stealing $218,000+". ABC7 New York. April 27, 2021.
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