• The Civic Index for Quality Public Education

    0 Comment

    Many have lamented the loss of public support for public education.  Indeed, Dave Matthews 1996 book, Is there a Public for Public Schools? tackled this question head on.  Now, the Public Education Network, long a leader in promoting civic engagement in public education, has published The Civic Index for Quality Public Education.  This tool:

    • Helps communities define and measure their support of their public schools
    • Helps communities identify what they are doing right and what they can do to improve their support for their public schools
    • Offers strategies and other resources for communities to increase their support for their schools

    I was particularly impressed with the resource section which offers ideas for how to increase support for public schools in your community.  These materials, which are supported by a diverse array of education organizations, can be found at:  www.civicindex4education.org. 

  • Enough is Enough

    0 Comment

    Enough is enough.

    America's politics should be driven by the priorities of the people, not sound bites, special interest money, partisan gridlock, and polarizing rhetoric.

    It is time for a change.

    We believe that politics cannot and should not be a spectator sport. No politician, party or ideology will solve America's mounting problems alone. Only by providing authentic opportunities for the people to be part of the solution can we rebuild trust in our political institutions and create mandates for meaningful action on the critical issues facing our nation.

    So begins the introduction to the November 5th Coalition, an all-partisan alliance, committed to civic partnerships that address our biggest challenges. Check out the website, and sign the petition, for this promising effort. Members include American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), AmericaSpeaks, Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), Mobilize.org, National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation, National Civic League, National Wildlife Federation, Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network, Take Back our Citizenship (student group), and the Study Circles Resource Center.

  • Family Engagement in Schools is More than Advisory Councils

    0 Comment

    Civic engagement, we often forget, is more than residents and stakeholders offering their perspectives on the issues. As many think about how to best engage families in DC public schools, we can learn from the lessons of Families and Schools Together (FAST), an evidence based intervention that strengthens families and schools. The cover story in this month's magazine from the National School Board Association, FAST is an outreach and multi-family group strategy for building protective factors around children as they grow up in stressful, isolated, and often toxic environments. Rooted in 30 years of published mental health research, FAST has been demonstrated to have a predictably positive impact on the socio-emotional functioning of children. To read the magazine article click here or download the attachment. To visit the FAST website, click here.