Formal reports on data, work sessions, demonstrations by students and presentations by staff can build your understanding and focus community and media attention on achievement. Commit your time and talents. Take part in public speaking, volunteer on a communications committee, write an opinion piece for the newspaper or serve as the board spokesperson with the media, as appropriate. Demand clarity and simplicity. Press for jargon-free, concise, readable presentations of data.
Good communication is two-way.
Be alert for misperceptions, misunderstandings and common questions and pass them on to administration so that they can be addressed. Visit schools and learn first-hand how students are being taught and tested. This will also provide you with an opportunity to meet personally with teachers and listen to their concerns as well as hear about their successes. Stress the message of improvement. Use your credibility as an elected community representative to frame the discussion of achievement results about improvement, not comparisons or penalties for low performance.