The Albert Shanker Institute is a nonprofit organization established in 1998 to honor the life and legacy of the late president of the American Federation of Teachers; we are committed to three fundamental principles:

Vibrant Democracy

Strengthen, defend, and extend democracy as the best guarantor of universal civil and human rights, at home and around the world, in every facet of life and for every person.

Quality Public Education

Strengthen and recognize public education as a cornerstone of democracy, where schools encourage critical thinking enabling all students to be well-informed and engaged citizens.

A Voice for Working People

Strengthen the essential role of unions in a democracy as organizations that offer workers a voice, lift living standards, enhance institutions, and promote the common good.

Research | Commentary

December Dec3, 2025

What Would Bayard Rustin Do? Part 1

Our guest author is Eric Chenoweth, co-director of the Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe (IDEE) and the principal author of Democracy Web, a civics education curricular resource project of the Albert Shanker Institute. Part I of “What Bayard Rustin Would Do” describes the new Bayard Rustin exhibition and the context to Rustin’s work up to 1965. Part II describes Rustin’s work and writings in the last 25 years of his life as he faced the increasing backlash to the gains of the Civil Rights Movement. The full article is posted on the Albert Shanker Institute’s March on Washington Resources page.

 

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November Nov12, 2025

When Educators Confront Authoritarianism

Guest authors Adam Fefer and Maria J. Stephan highlight how historically educators have played an important role in defeating dictators and paving the way to more free and just societies.

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October Oct20, 2025

Reading Legislation in California and Massachusetts – Is There a Third Path?

There is no single formula for literacy legislation, could embedding robust principles and research findings into statute make a difference?

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Briefs | Reports