In part because more women have entered the labor force, parent associations have been less able to play this role. This is the case for several reasons. Second, many community organizations already collaborate with local schools on after-school activities. As a result, they often have a clear sense of how schools can change their practice to serve youth and involve families more effectively. Third, improving schools is consonant with their essential mission of rebuilding the social and economic capital of their community.
Successful schools create effective citizens with productive skills.
RCI Conference on Education Reform Representatives of the five RCI sites met in Denver in June for a cross-site visit, to discuss how their communities could tackle the issue of school reform. Education reform, he said, is about trying to change that. Fruchter emphasized that the public education system is run as a closed system in most cities, and leaders of the school districts are very defensive about opening up to parents and the community. Schools have to come together with communities and community organizations if they are to change in such a way that allows them to better address these inequities and challenges, he said. A representative from each RCI site gave a presentation on their neighborhood's involvement with school system reform.