AFC Announces National Director for State Teams and Political Strategy

The American Federation for Children (AFC) and Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC) announced that Darrell Allison, the founding president of PEFNC, will join AFC as the National Director for State Teams and Political Strategy, effective March 1. The American Federation for Children, the nation’s voice for educational choice, released the following statement.

Statement from Greg Brock, CEO of the American Federation for Children, and John Schilling, President of the American Federation for Children:

“We are incredibly pleased to welcome Darrell Allison to the American Federation for Children. We have had the privilege of working with Darrell as an ally for most of the 13 years that he led Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, during which he played an integral role in the expansion of educational choice for families and children in North Carolina. Working with our team, Darrell will now be in a position where his leadership and expertise can help even more families and children across the country access a quality education. With nearly 500,000 students enrolled in private school choice programs and 3.1 million students enrolled in public charter schools across the country, coupled with the demand from millions of families wanting these offerings, AFC is committed to helping as many families as possible access the education environment that best meets their child’s needs. Darrell will be a key leader in driving these student-centered reforms, working with our national and local partners in dozens of states.”

Statement from Darrell Allison:

“When I joined PEFNC as president on July 5, 2005, you could have knocked me over with a feather had you told me then that North Carolina would be where it is today—one of the leading states in the nation in K-12 education reform. During the past 13 plus years, our diverse school-choice coalition— Black, White, Hispanic, Democrat, and Republican—has achieved numerous victories for parental school choice. I am honored and humbled that, since 2011, you’d be hard pressed to find another state that has implemented more new education reform programs than North Carolina. I am excited to join the team at AFC, enabling me to potentially build on the great work we’ve accomplished here in the Tar Heel State and duplicate efforts in other states. Nationwide, AFC promotes sound, sustainable school choice policies that empower parents to choose the school best suited to their child’s needs. After much discussion, prayer, and reflection, I decided that I would humbly take on this new opportunity. AFC has been leading the way nationally to make parental school choice a reality in many states through policy and political support of candidates who stand firm on this ideal, but there’s still much more work to do. While almost 500,000 children in the United States now attend a private school by way of a state-sponsored scholarship, thousands more are in desperate need of better educational options.”

Background on Darrell Allison:

Allison assumed the role of President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC) when the organization launched in 2005, and he has worked to reform and redefine K-12 education throughout the state. His work, focused on expanding educational opportunity for all children, is based on a fundamental premise: Parents, regardless of address or income, should be free to choose the best school for their child. Allison has not only been impactful in the K-12 landscape in North Carolina, but he also serves on the Board of Governors for the University of North Carolina System that oversees 16 university campuses serving nearly 250,000 students.