Trusting the public, from the point of view of the school board, must mean engaging diverse perspectives in thoughtful discussion about policy issues before policies are shaped by the board or recommended by the superintendent. The Hattiesburg Area Education Foundation is receiving money to help local school districts organize and develop a community plan for education. It also enables the foundation to make sure that students have access to community services that support and enhance their learning.
Numerous barriers exist that prevent citizen involvement and voluntarism.
A poll by Harvard University and University of Chicago researchers has found that Americans, and especially African Americans, believe federal surplus dollars should go toward protecting Social Security and improving public schools. Compare President Bush's plan with two other alternatives. The series includes in-depth school profiles, expert commentary, resources and research about social and emotional learning. This policy brief presents some of the latest research on charter schools that serve predominately minority and at-risk students, and offers guidance to policymakers on balancing school choice with issues of equity and integration. The creation of many effective partnerships between educators and businesses has been a particularly successful aspect of the initiative.