Community Voice or Captive of the Right? A Closer Look at the Black Alliance for Educational Options

The BAEO board is composed entirely of African-American voucher supporters. It includes founder and president Howard Fuller and executive director Lawrence Patrick, along with a range of pro-voucher activists from the national, state and local levels.

The BAEO board of directors includes many high-profile advocates, such as Former Rep. Floyd Flake (D-NY) and right-wing radio host Armstrong Williams. Some, like J. Kenneth Blackwell and Dwight Evans, are elected state officials. Others have made a career of working in charter or voucher schools or in private management companies that stand to gain from privatization of public schools.