Democrats for Education Reform

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DFER is a New York-based center-right political action committee and advocacy group that works to persuade the Democratic Party to back public education reform and charter schools. It formed around the same time as the Education Equality Project. Its co-founders include Whitney Tilson, a hedge fund manager, and Kevin P. Chavous, a lawyer and former politician.

DFER says its main goals cover five policy areas:
- Resource equity
- Teacher quality and preparation
- Accountability
- Public school choice
- Higher education quality and affordability

In 2018, the Colorado Democratic Party asked the Colorado DFER chapter to stop using "Democrats" in its name.

Shavar Jeffries became president in 2015. Since 2023, the group has been led by Jorge Elorza, former mayor of Providence, Rhode Island.

In Washington, D.C., DFER ran attack ads against Janeese Lewis George, a progressive candidate for the D.C. city council. After polling showed voters were worried about crime, DFER mailed materials claiming George would defund the police. The organization apologized after the election.